Octane Boost - Anything Wrong with Using??
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 682
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From: South East
Octane Boost - Anything Wrong with Using??
Because of the gas panic/shortage we have many gas stations without gas or unleaded 87 only so I had to fill my tank with 87 gas. Can I put some 104 octane boost from Pep Boys to balance it out or can it cause any harm to the bike engine? 2008 Softail Heritage.
Thanks
zuma
Thanks
zuma
From the manufacturer's website:
If this is going to be a regular thing, you are better off making your own octane boost. Here's a formula we've used in racing Corvettes for years (and we've proved on the dyno that it works):
1 gallon toluene (=R+M/2 octane of 117)
2 oz mineral spirits (cleaning agent)
1 oz Marvel Mystery Oil (lubricant)
One gallon of this homebrew added to 4 gallons of 87 octane = tankful of 93 octane. This is absolutely safe to use... will not harm pistons, seals, hoses, etc. as long as you do not exceed 30% by volume. Toluene is what's known in the petroleum industry as an "aromatic" and is already part of the gas you buy (albeit in much smaller quantity). A gallon of toluene costs ~ $13 at the local paint store. Not inexpensive, and not something you'd want to add at every fill-up, but it's good in a pinch.
Can I use a lower grade of fuel than is recommended by the manufacturer and add 104+® Octane Boost products to make it a higher grade?
No, we recommend that you follow the fuel grade suggestion in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
http://www.goldeagle.com/104plus/faq...t=104%2B&ID=63
The reason being that it only raises the octane 4 points... meaning decimal points (i.e., it takes 87 octane to 87.4, not 91 octane)!No, we recommend that you follow the fuel grade suggestion in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
http://www.goldeagle.com/104plus/faq...t=104%2B&ID=63
If this is going to be a regular thing, you are better off making your own octane boost. Here's a formula we've used in racing Corvettes for years (and we've proved on the dyno that it works):
1 gallon toluene (=R+M/2 octane of 117)
2 oz mineral spirits (cleaning agent)
1 oz Marvel Mystery Oil (lubricant)
One gallon of this homebrew added to 4 gallons of 87 octane = tankful of 93 octane. This is absolutely safe to use... will not harm pistons, seals, hoses, etc. as long as you do not exceed 30% by volume. Toluene is what's known in the petroleum industry as an "aromatic" and is already part of the gas you buy (albeit in much smaller quantity). A gallon of toluene costs ~ $13 at the local paint store. Not inexpensive, and not something you'd want to add at every fill-up, but it's good in a pinch.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Waste of money. I run my 07 FXSTC on E10 regular without any probem. In fact I run 4 power cruisers, a hemi truck, two vettes- an 02 LS1 and an 08LS3, and a Honda S2000 without any problem. I have been running regular gas all the way back into the 90's.
I have never experienced trouble but I have gained mpg and easier starting.
Performance. My softail will stay with my VTX1800 until about 80. My 436 hp vette is scary fast and no pinging ever.
I have never experienced trouble but I have gained mpg and easier starting.
Performance. My softail will stay with my VTX1800 until about 80. My 436 hp vette is scary fast and no pinging ever.
Last edited by lh4x4; Sep 25, 2008 at 11:17 PM.
As long as you don't get "on it" to the point that it pings, probably nothing.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 579
Likes: 3
Does anyone know what these would do to the O2 sensors? As I understand it some of them can damage the sensors.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: HangTown/NorCal
Higher octane fuel will reduce pinging, help prevent pre-ignition, and lower emisions. As Mr. Lucky started to mention, alot of people are misinformed on octan rating and how much a booster product will actually raise octain level. For example: The difference between 91 and 92 octane is actually 10 points! Therefore, when your reading the back of the bottle of booster and it "claims" to raise octain by "up to 5 points" it is only going to raise octane level by half a number (91 would become 91.5)
The best off-the-shelf product IMO is made by Lucas and yes it is O2 sensor safe. Here are a couple links...
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=2&loc=show
http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/octane...ers_lucas.html
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...ted/index.html
The best off-the-shelf product IMO is made by Lucas and yes it is O2 sensor safe. Here are a couple links...
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=2&loc=show
http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/octane...ers_lucas.html
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...ted/index.html
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville..soon 2 b
Waste of money. I run my 07 FXSTC on E10 regular without any probem. In fact I run 4 power cruisers, a hemi truck, two vettes- an 02 LS1 and an 08LS3, and a Honda S2000 without any problem. I have been running regular gas all the way back into the 90's.
I have never experienced trouble but I have gained mpg and easier starting.
Performance. My softail will stay with my VTX1800 until about 80. My 436 hp vette is scary fast and no pinging ever.
I have never experienced trouble but I have gained mpg and easier starting.
Performance. My softail will stay with my VTX1800 until about 80. My 436 hp vette is scary fast and no pinging ever.