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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Satsuma, AL
Posts: 72
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Do octane boost additives work?
I have a '69 GMC p/u with a '65 283 V8, which doesn't like the gas we've been able to get lately! I was told by someone to get an octane booster & add to the fuel to improve the engine's ability to use the crap from the pump. Since gas has come down in price, this sounds still less of a monetary outlay, even once a week (when I fill up), but is it worth it or safe to use? What do I have to watch out for and what's best to use, if at all?
Thanks a bunch! Bud |
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#2 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
They work great if you actually need it. Have you tried tuning the motor a little? Onless you have like 10 to 1 compression, pump gas should do the truck.
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#3 |
"See the U.S.A....."
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Richmond TX.
Posts: 269
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
High octane means it resist detenation better. Use the lowest octane your vehicle will run on for best performance.
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1970 short bed fleetside 1949 all origional chevy 3600 1974 camaro Richmond , Texas(just S.W.of Houston) |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 2,696
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
When the bottle says it raises your octane by 4 points, that means by .4 points. E.G. 93 octane plus 4 points octane booster = 93.4 octane... NOT 97 octane.
As said above, run the lowest octane you can. Otherwise, you're wasting $. |
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#5 |
13lazers' blazers
![]() Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: San Pedro, CA
Posts: 152
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
here in california they sell us some awful gas. i have a mild 383 stroker and some cast iron world products heads in my 1970 blazer. i was constantly moving my timing back and fourth to stop all the detonation. the warmer the day the more it would ping. i threw in the cheapest octane boost i could get on a recommendation from a buddy that runs a 12:1 datsun motor around. i was instantly convinced. i started to get much better mileage and my motor runs much smoother. if you are running a 283 from 1965 i think you need some lead substitute and some octane boost because of your old valves and your smaller combustion chambers. the extra $ is worth it to me mostly to avoid detonating and all the damage that causes inside the engine.
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![]() 1970 2wd blazer 1972 1ton blazer 4x4 in progress 1966 mustang coupe (modified) 1985 c20 suburban tow rig 1996 462 ranger with a 150 efi merc. a former B.A.S.S. tournament boat ![]() ![]() |
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#6 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SOMERSET KY.
Posts: 6,427
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Quote:
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junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. ![]() LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST |
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#7 |
Dork For Days
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 407
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Bottled octane boost is crap. Adding a gallon of race fuel will increase your octane as much as 4 bottles of that stuff.
I had a ping issue on my toy car, but swapping to a 160* thermostat fixed that problem. It's either that or pull 2* of timing out of it.
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1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! ![]() 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! |
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#8 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Yeah, we all have access to race gas.
![]() Bottled octane booster will in fact increase your octane, it isn't crap. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 2,746
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Get some Toulene from your hardware store. Works way better and way cheaper.
Read here: http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html
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![]() ![]() 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: NC
Posts: 987
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
I tried Toulene in my car and noticed a big difference. However, on that link neonlarry provided, notice that you need 10% of the total volume of fluid in your tank to be Toulene to increase the octane rating from 92 to 94.2. I used about a gallon in my 12 gallon tank.
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#11 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 100
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Like Longhorn said--you only need the higher octane if you're running high compression--10 and up--otherwise it's probably a tune up or engine temp issue.
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#12 |
Dork For Days
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 407
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
I say again, octane boost is crap. What I mean is, a bottle will give you about half a point of octane increase for $4-6, depending on brand. A gallon of race gas will give you about 2 full points of octane (mixed with 10-12 gallons) for the same $6. That's 4X return per dollar.
Unless you're located in BFE, it's fairly readily available. Maybe not as easy as the auto parts store, but most areas have places that sell it.
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1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! ![]() 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! Last edited by MrC1; 10-11-2006 at 11:38 AM. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 16
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
What octane is racing fuel? We have one station offering 101 but it's a drive to get to it
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Leander, Texas
Posts: 850
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
On that 283 I'd first try to take a degree or two out of the innitial timing.
I don't really have much of an opinion on additives as I haven't really tried them on anything high performance. I have however added a gallon of race fuel to a full tank and it does make a difference. It also cleans the crap outta your carb and plugs. My local performance shop has anything from 101-112. I'd start out with the lowest first to see how it affects things. Also, as mentioned before, those old school heads really need to be updated or replaced. New gas is mean to them ![]() |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ca
Posts: 1,110
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
are you filling up at the same place or are you trying different gas stations? i know many people who simply bought gas at a different station and their problems went away.
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68 short step, 406/700r4, 9" w/discs. |
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#16 |
Dork For Days
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 407
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
Different places have different grades of race fuel. I've seen anywhere from 100-118 octane.
__________________
1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! ![]() 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Satsuma, AL
Posts: 72
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Re: Do octane boost additives work?
I've settled on two main places where I buy fuel...the previous station has lower prices, but since it changed hands, the gas smells like sewage and all three of my vehicles ran badly, until we ran it out. My wife also gets good gas from two of her favorite places. BTW, we DON'T buy Citgo gas (raspberries to Chavez!). I'm going to have to change plugs soon, but even so, the truck is NOT detonating, just seems a little sluggish....
I use Lucas products as well. The truck had a new cam put in it less than 10K miles ago & everything's been adjusted. The engine was rebuilt before I got it. After it was installed, it was found to have a knock & I took it back- the folks thet rebuilt it had the crank turned .010 but put standard crank bearings in it! They corrected this free of charge. So, I feel the heads were rebuilt using up-to-date componants I just feel some little "oomph" may be needed...I'll change the plugs & see, but I feel like our gas isn't what it should be....Thanks! |
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