Octane Booster

[dion]

Does it really do anything or is it a waste of money?

[Longhorn Man]

Only good if your engine needs it.
Just like 92 vrses 87. My engine runs great on 87. Only burning money if I fill with 92. Some engines will actually rune notacbly worse with better fuels...my wife's S-10 Blazer does.
Higher octain is resistance to ignition. Therefore, if you are resisting the flame, the mixture may not ignite untill after the ideal point, therefore reducing efficiancy and power. Sometimes it will actually feel like a small miss in the engine.
normally it is not noticable.
Tune your engine to where you want it...best to tune with better gas ratings. Then, run it almost out of fuel, and put in $5 of one grade lower. If you get no pinging, try one grade lower, if you are still detonation free, you can run it. Only put in a little biit of fuel when testing though, that way if you do get some nasty detonation, you can put more of the higher octain in to stop the destruction the pinging causes.

[68 Suburban]

Ok, don't laugh and definately don't try this until you know for sure, but I heard some where that if you put moth balls in your fuel it will drastically increase the octane.

Like I said before, I just heard it somewhere. And if I remeber right, it was from a reliable sorce.

[hanssolo]

Cheapest octane booster I use is a gallon can of Naptha and/or Toluene from Home Depot. If you read cans at the auto store some use these or similar ingredients. And I always mix some marvel mystery oil with it so they don't eat the rubber parts in the fuel system. I only do this when I drive cross-country. Works for me and better than paying $6.00 a pint!

[Longhorn Man]

'68, you are right, that works, but the other chemicals in the moth balls kill your engine. I can't remember what it id does exactly to kill a lump of iron, but it does.
But it does boos your resistance to detonation.

[junkyardjohn]

I'VE GOT A 468 BB IN ONE OF MY TRUCKS WITH QUITE A BIT OF H.P. GOODIES ON IT THAT YOU CAN REALLY TELL THE DIFFERANCE WHEN YOU PUT A BOTTLE OF OCTANE BOOSTER IN. (I RUN 92 OCTANE IN IT ALWAYS & PUT A BOTTLE OF BOOSTER EVERY OTHER TANK FOR JUST EVERYDAY DRIVING) & IT DOESN'T LIKE CERTAIN BRANDS OF GAS.......... ON THE OTHER HAND ...I'VE GOT A 350 THAT I BUILT ALMOST STOCK IN ANOTHER TRUCK, THAT RUNS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ON ANY BRAND OF GAS, NO MATTER WHAT THE OCTANE, SO SPENDING THE EXTRA $ ON THAT MOTOR IS DEFINATELY A WASTE. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS .. ADDING 10 H.P. TO A 500 H.P. MOTOR IS NOTICABLE AS OPOSED TO ADDING 3 H.P. TO A 250 H.P.MOTOR (AT THE SAME COST) IS NOT. AN EASY THING FOR MOST PEOPLE TO FORGET (OR NOT REALIZE) IS THAT A 402 RATED AT 325 HORSEPOWER IN 1972 CAN EASILY (IF YOUR LUCKY & EVERYTHING IS RIGHT)BE MAKING 180 H.P. 30 YEARS & 120,000 MILES LATER.PEOPLE ALMOST NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE AMOUT OF HORSE POWER THEIR ENGINE IS DELIVERING.

[68 Suburban]

I heard the moth balls also keep the moths out of your gas tank and you engine

[70shortnphat]

If you have higher compression, 10.0 or more your engine will probly like a little mor octane.

[Longhorn Man]

LOL 68! Actually, if you have problems with moths in the gas tank...it's time for a new cap. And a lighter for when they fly out.POOF!