I found these here: http://bbs.clubplanet.com/cars-bikes/141798-how-make-relatively-cheap-octane-boost-race-fuel.html Be careful with this***** - you'll put yer eye out, kid (or probably melt a hole in a piston, at any rate). This is more fun than the "Improvised Munitions Handbook" I used to keep in the bathroom as a teenager. I'm 35... and I still have all my fingers. People don't know just how significant that really is! Have fun with these "Unwise Chemical Experiments". And for the record (and so I can say I added it): "These are for reference purposes only, and should not be made, let alone used... by anyone. Kids, don't try this at home." ~Jason Homebrew Gasoline Octane Boosters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's note: I would NOT suggest that a person use the following fuel mixtures without considering the detrimental effects on your engine, vital engine components (O2 sensor, etc), and other potential damage. That said, the information is interesting. Originally published in: GS-Xtra 1213 Gornto Road Valdosta, GA 31602 (912) 244-0577 Editor: Richard Lasetter, president Gran Sport Club of America (GSCA) Formula #1 - Toluene R+M/2.........114 Cost...........$2.50/gal Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium 10%...........94.2 Octane 20%...........96.4 Octane 30%...........98.6 Octane Notes: Common ingredient in Octane Boosters in a can. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*, i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Often costs $3-5 for 12-16 ounces, when it can be purchased for less than $3/gal at chemical supply houses or paint stores. Formula #2 - Xylene R+M/2.........117 Cost...........$2.75/gal Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium 10%...........94.5 Octane 20%...........97.0 Octane 30%...........99.5 Octane Notes: Similar to Toluene. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*, i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Usually mixed with Toluene and advertised as *race formula*. Formula #3 - Methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE) R+M/2.........118 Cost...........$3.50/gal Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium 10%...........94.6 Octane 20%...........97.2 Octane 30%...........99.8 Octane Notes: Oxygenate. Very common in octane booster products. Has lower BTU content than toluene or xylene, but oxygenate effect makes the gasoline burn better and produce more energy. Formula #4 - Methanol or Ethanol R+M/2.........101 Cost...........$0.60 - $1.75/gal Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium 10%...........94.3 Octane (Methanol) 10%...........94.7 Octane (Ethanol) 20%...........Not Recommended Notes: Methanol is wood alcohol. Ethanol is grain alcohol and found in Gasohol in 10% ratios. Both alcohols are mildly corrosive and will eat gas tank linings, rubber and aluminum if used in excessive ratios. Main ingredient in "Gas Dryers", combine with water. Formula #5 - Isopropyl Alcohol and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol R+M/2.........101 Cost...........$0.60-$1.50/gal Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium 10%...........94.5 Octane 20%...........Not Recommended 30%...........Not Recommended Notes: Similar to Methanol/Ethanol. Isopropyl Alcohol is simply rubbing alcohol. Sample Mixture To make your own octane booster, it is easiest to make up a large batch, and then bottle it up in "dosage-size" uses. Below is the basic formula of one of the popular octane booster products. To make eight 16 ounce bottles (128 oz = 1 gal): 100 oz of toluene for octane boost 25 oz of mineral spirits (cleaning agent) 3 oz of transmission fluid (lubricating agent) This product is advertised as "octane booster with cleaning agent *and* lubricating agent!". Diesel fuel or kerosene can be substituted for mineral spirits and light turbine oil can be substituted for transmission fluid. Color can be added with petroleum dyes.
i remember reading back in the day in a quad magazine that someone said from vp fuels that 2 oz of acetone will give u a cheap boost. but acetone is very similiar to the other stuff u have posted.
When I used to work at a major oil Co.'s research center, the chemists there advised some of us "hot rodders" that we could build a decent octane booster with "commonly available chemicals". I believe the*****tail was mostly toluene, xylene, and benzine. We were advised to use the*****tail in small amounts. Why? Because none of the involved ingredients has the same energy mass as gasoline. So in replacing gasoline with other liquids that don't have it's properties, you are changing the air/fuel ratio. Most guys already know this because of the availabilty of alcohol laced fuel. Too much of it, and you'll start to run REAL lean, and have big time trouble. On computer controlled vehicles, the computer cans sense the change in A/F and compensate (to a point). But on OUR cars, with fixed (non-feedback) carbs, you're not compensating for a lean mix, unless you run bigger jets. Bigger jets, means worse gas mileage. and unless you use a gas*****yzer, you're pretty much guessing whether it iwll be optimum or not. You could easily melt pistons if you aren't carefull here.
No doubt, man! I totally agree - you get that mixture too far off, and your pistons won't even be good enough for ashtrays! ~Jason
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