Octane Boost
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 191
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From: Yorba Linda, CA
Octane Boost
Still having a pinging problem with my 06 Glide. Installed the OIEDs, but I haven't been able to notice much of a difference. Pinging less now because of the cooler temperatures I reckon. Any of you used an octane booster? Brand? The gas here in SoCal is horrible as even my Ranger (4.0) will ping like crazy when I get a "bad" tankful. Thanks.
I live in the same area of OC as you, and I've never had a fuel-related problem... even in my Corvette with a built 402 stroker. My experience has been that the fuel is fine as long as you avoid Arco. I would suspect clogged in-tank fuel sock, injectors, or spark plug gap problems first.
In any event, OTC octane boosters are worthless. They only raise octane a few points (i.e., 91 to 91.3). If you want to prove to yourself whether it's an octane issue, here's a trick we use in the vettes. Homebrew your own octane booster by mixing 1 gallon of xylene (available at Sherwin Williams) with 1oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. Xylene is a petroleum aromatic already present in small amounts in pump gas, and has an octane rating of 117. It is safe to mix in concentrations up to 30%. If you mix it with 4 gallons of 91 octane, that's a 20% mixture and an average octane number of 96.2. See how your bike runs then. The xylene also has a slight solvency action, so may help a mild case of clogged injectors as well. GL!
In any event, OTC octane boosters are worthless. They only raise octane a few points (i.e., 91 to 91.3). If you want to prove to yourself whether it's an octane issue, here's a trick we use in the vettes. Homebrew your own octane booster by mixing 1 gallon of xylene (available at Sherwin Williams) with 1oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. Xylene is a petroleum aromatic already present in small amounts in pump gas, and has an octane rating of 117. It is safe to mix in concentrations up to 30%. If you mix it with 4 gallons of 91 octane, that's a 20% mixture and an average octane number of 96.2. See how your bike runs then. The xylene also has a slight solvency action, so may help a mild case of clogged injectors as well. GL!
I live in the same area of OC as you, and I've never had a fuel-related problem... even in my Corvette with a built 402 stroker. My experience has been that the fuel is fine as long as you avoid Arco. I would suspect clogged in-tank fuel sock, injectors, or spark plug gap problems first.
In any event, OTC octane boosters are worthless. They only raise octane a few points (i.e., 91 to 91.3). If you want to prove to yourself whether it's an octane issue, here's a trick we use in the vettes. Homebrew your own octane booster by mixing 1 gallon of xylene (available at Sherwin Williams) with 1oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. Xylene is a petroleum aromatic already present in small amounts in pump gas, and has an octane rating of 117. It is safe to mix in concentrations up to 30%. If you mix it with 4 gallons of 91 octane, that's a 20% mixture and an average octane number of 96.2. See how your bike runs then. The xylene also has a slight solvency action, so may help a mild case of clogged injectors as well. GL!
In any event, OTC octane boosters are worthless. They only raise octane a few points (i.e., 91 to 91.3). If you want to prove to yourself whether it's an octane issue, here's a trick we use in the vettes. Homebrew your own octane booster by mixing 1 gallon of xylene (available at Sherwin Williams) with 1oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. Xylene is a petroleum aromatic already present in small amounts in pump gas, and has an octane rating of 117. It is safe to mix in concentrations up to 30%. If you mix it with 4 gallons of 91 octane, that's a 20% mixture and an average octane number of 96.2. See how your bike runs then. The xylene also has a slight solvency action, so may help a mild case of clogged injectors as well. GL!
p.s. Excellent looking Softail. I like the smoked tail light!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,036
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From: Temecula, CA
Now, many may poo-poo this notion and normally I would too but I have a my race car that was seeing a bit of knock when ran on 91 octane at wide open throttle. I have a computer that was scanning it so I could see that the computer was pulling about 3 degrees of timing to combat the knock that it was seeing. I added the NOS stuff thinking maybe it would at least take it from 3 degrees to 2 degrees...it didn't. With the NOS stuff in the tank I saw 0 knock! Not just for one pass, but every pass I made that night down the track...which was at least 10.
So yea, most stuff is crap like was said and the alternative meathod works too but I do recommend the NOS OTC stuff.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 191
Likes: 8
From: Yorba Linda, CA
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Richmond, VA
Wait, just hold on. Every speed shop in the nation sells race gas in 5 gallon cans not to mention many have live pumps where you can fill up your own can. Like many have said, its the tune, not the octane but just for piece of mind, buy a few gallons and dump a couple in a half full tank. That way you will find the answers your looking for. Either way, if you have to run race gas on a street motor, somethings wrong and you should know for sure one way or another.
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