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Any of you familiar with octane boosters?

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Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:05 PM
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Any of you familiar with octane boosters?

I was thinking...instead of trying to get 100 octane gas (or something like that) and paying ~$5/gallon, why not fill up your car with cheaper gas (like 87 octane) and use octane booster? They're only ~$5 a bottle (at least in Cali where I live) that can fill up 20 gallon gas tanks (but Evo is only 12)...

Just my 2c...
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:08 PM
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Do a search for Toluene Xylene if you want some more information.
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:09 PM
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retail octane boosters are bad news...read your owner's manual

if you're going to use any kind of octane booster, use pure toluene, or don't use anything at all...

just my $0.02
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:20 PM
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i heard they are dangerous
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:22 PM
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why dangerous? does it clog the fuel injector? does it leave deposits?
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:34 PM
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I just read some of the posts...so I guess everyone recommends xylene/toluene since u can get em at places like home depot for around 5 bucks per gal (and they have 117ish Octane Rating) but some people also posted to use marvel's mystery oil...what is that and where can i get some anyway?
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:46 PM
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what is that marvel mystery oil and why do we neeed it?
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:47 PM
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is there any negative effects of mixing xylene/toluene in the gas? also can i buy it in bulk and save it or does it go bad quick?
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:47 PM
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Originally posted by TwoMix9900
I just read some of the posts...so I guess everyone recommends xylene/toluene since u can get em at places like home depot for around 5 bucks per gal (and they have 117ish Octane Rating) but some people also posted to use marvel's mystery oil...what is that and where can i get some anyway?
Marvel Mystery Oil isn't an octane booster. It's a lubricant which is added to the fuel and which does a pretty good job of lubricating the engine parts exposed to the combustion chamber -- the valves, rings, etc. Think of it like a few squirts of WD-40 right into the combustion chamber.

Regarding toluene/xylene -- I've run xylene in the Evo. It ran just fine. One gallon of xylene boosted a tank of 94 octane to about 96 octane. It did seem to make the engine run a little smoother at low RPMs, but I couldn't tell any difference other than that. I suspect there would be a much more pronounced difference by boosting a tank of 91 octane to about 93 octane (or higher).
Old Feb 11, 2004, 06:54 PM
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Originally posted by mifesto
is there any negative effects of mixing xylene/toluene in the gas? also can i buy it in bulk and save it or does it go bad quick?
Used in moderation, xylene/toluene will have no negative effects. Note that some gasoline sold in other countries may contain as much as 40% aromatic hydrocarbons (like xylene/toluene). That isn't done in the USA because of environmental concerns, but your car doesn't really care. It's a hydrocarbon, it burns...

Xylene/toluene should be stored in a controlled temperature range, and only in sealed metal cans -- which is how they are sold. They should have a shelf life longer than gasoline.
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