Toluene as octane booster

[codprawn]

Anyone tried it and what would it do to fibreglass tanks?

It is cheap enough to buy and F1 teams used to use it in concentrations of up to 86%!!!

As it's not taxed it could be an interesting fuel additive.............

http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

It seems to me as long as you don't go mad it could be quite useful - and it's not as toxic as people think - far better than Benzene which is already in your fuel..............

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Anyone tried it and what would it do to fibreglass tanks?

It is cheap enough to buy and F1 teams used to use it in concentrations of up to 86%!!!

As it's not taxed it could be an interesting fuel additive.............

http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

It seems to me as long as you don't go mad it could be quite useful - and it's not as toxic as people think - far better than Benzene which is already in your fuel..............

Never used Toulene myself but used to use Xylene in a 1:3 ratio in my turbocharged drag cars.

Here's a page with some info on using both of the above (and a few others) for home brew hi octane fuel.

Regards!

Chuck

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html

[matt h]

is that the stuff in Red Bull,??? stick a can of it n the tank and my Sib will flyyy!!

[mdt]

From what I remember (starting to become a dim and distant memory now) I don't think this stuff actually increases the octane rating, it works as a flame retardant. Not as daft as it sounds. As you increase the compression ratio in an engine it becomes more and more liable to suffer from detonation (or pinking), so adding some of this to your fuel allows you to either run a higher compression ratio or run it with more advance with the ignition timing. And up to a point more power.

I think it was this stuff we used this years ago to prevent detonation in a high compression race engine got it from a motorbike shop where they use it for two stroke trial bikes. I seam to remember lots of guys shaking fuel cans before they fuelled there cars....

So yes it is worth while if you have made changes to an engine, I seam to remember that when BP lunched its 102 octane fuel all the cars they tested showed an increase in BHP but only after they had had there ignition re-mapped. Seeing as how a manufacturer sells its cars knowing that it will have to run faultlessly on many different octane fuels so compromises it's set up is hardly surprising?

[codprawn]

Yes without mods to the engine it's pointless BUT many new high performance cars and outboards need high octane fuel. Petrol is expensive enough as it is without buying some super unleaded.

Commercial octane boosters aren't much good and cost the Earth. The only good ones seem to contain Toulene or Xylene and they charge a fortune for a small bottle. Much cheaper to buy it buy the drum.

[codprawn]

Just noticed this if you have money to burn

http://www.aaoil.co.uk/racing-Racing-fuels-Leaded

119 octane leaded for £3.55 per litre!!!

[mdt]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Just noticed this if you have money to burn

http://www.aaoil.co.uk/racing-Racing-fuels-Leaded

119 octane leaded for £3.55 per litre!!!

at the current rate of things this will be a good deal by the end of the year.

[codprawn]

Toluene happens to be about 60p per litre and you can use up to 50%..............

[Richard B]

Tesco 99 octane is generally cheaper than other retailers 97 octane fuels (eg Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate).

[codprawn]

The more I look into this the more I realise Toluene is one of the best kept secrets around.

Normal unleaded has about 12% toluene - super unleaded is about 16% - as super unleaded is at least 10p per litre more expensive why not just add the toluene???

In Australia petrol stations were adding up tp 50% to make more money. Of course using it in a car would be illegal in the UK.............

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by codprawn

The more I look into this the more I realise Toluene is one of the best kept secrets around.

Normal unleaded has about 12% toluene - super unleaded is about 16% - as super unleaded is at least 10p per litre more expensive why not just add the toluene???

In Australia petrol stations were adding up tp 50% to make more money. Of course using it in a car would be illegal in the UK.............

Around here North East USA, Toulene is a little harder to come by than Xylene so we use that instead. But in any case, it works fantastically.

I actually run a 25% mix for two tank fill ups, in anything I buy used that has a motor. Cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, what ever. The Xylene breaks down deposits and eliminates varnish in carburetors as well. Nice stuff.

[codprawn]

My only worry is that I have fibreglass tanks - is it likely to be a problem??? I suppose as long as I don't put too much in as it's in the fuel anyway!!!

[Rodan]

So it is cheaper, you can add it in in large quantities without harming an engine?

Where do you get it then!?

[codprawn]

Chemical supply firms. It should be legal if it's only used in a boat. Minimum order is probably a 205 litre drum though!!!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Chemical supply firms. It should be legal if it's only used in a boat. Minimum order is probably a 205 litre drum though!!!

You can buy it in much smaller quantities - but probably not at the price you quoted.

I thought you had (in theory at least) to pay fuel duty on any product you intended to burn in your engine e.g. I was told 2-stroke oil has fuel duty on it but 4-stroke doesn't.

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by codprawn

My only worry is that I have fibreglass tanks - is it likely to be a problem??? I suppose as long as I don't put too much in as it's in the fuel anyway!!!

I've no experience with fiberglass, but the stuff is friendly with the plastic used in fuel cells for drag cars, and friendly with the plastic my fuel jugs are made of.

Originally Posted by Rodan

So it is cheaper, you can add it in in large quantities without harming an engine?

Where do you get it then!?

I've run as high as 1/3 Xylene with no ill effects on the motor. At that quantity I was able to run 30psi of boot in my Grand National I took a pass down the 1/4 mile strip with a passenger and his response was "That was FOOKING scary!!!"

We can get it here at hardware stores in the paint section. Both Toluene and Xylene are used as paint thinners and are available in 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Polwart

You can buy it in much smaller quantities - but probably not at the price you quoted.

I thought you had (in theory at least) to pay fuel duty on any product you intended to burn in your engine e.g. I was told 2-stroke oil has fuel duty on it but 4-stroke doesn't.

I am not really sure - it is not classified as a fuel and the duty is only payable on certain types of fuel.

I only intend to use it as a booster if I get a 300 or 350 outboard that needs super unleaded. It would be much cheaper to turn 95 into 99 than to buy the 99 octane stuff.

[Bigmuz7]

Arent these hydrocarbons more prone to give a lot of sooty deposits after being burnt .. particularly Toluene ?

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Arent these hydrocarbons more prone to give a lot of sooty deposits after being burnt .. particularly Toluene ?

Well they seem to manage in Super unleaded and we don't have cats to worry about!!!

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Yes without mods to the engine it's pointless BUT many new outboards need high octane fuel.

To my knowledge every outboard sold in the UK does not need high octane fuel, they will all run on standard unleaded - unless you know better?