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Homemade Race Fuel

7K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  mindless 
#1 ·
For all you guys out there who run really high boost, advanced timing, or have a race gas setting I thought this may be useful and would like to know if anyone can confirm this


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.
 
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#2 ·
where did you get this info? good info tho either way!
 
#6 ·
people at g2ic.com were doing this for along time and often said they find xylene for $15-20. not in my area shit was expensive. whole sale price around here in nyc was $30 a gallon at a paint shop. paint thinner can be used as race fuel too but its mixed with other compounds.
 
#5 ·
Dave Coleman/Jay Chen wrote an article on octane boosters in Sport Compact Car magazine. Super street also ran the article. Toluene/Xylene
are cheap but anything more then a 30% mixture with gas you'll do harm and no good. Anyways moral of the article was that bottled octane boosters are worthless and the benefits aren't worth carrying around a couple gallons of paint thinners. Just buy race gas.
 
#7 ·
Toluene varies from 15-20$ a gallon and 5-7$ per quart. I saw Xylene for around 30$ give or take. Not cheap stuff. And its not easy getting a solid octane number either. Those are all rough estimates or you could say "in perfect conditions" would be the only time those numbers are accurate.
 
#10 ·
around here a gallon of C16 is $22.

shits pricey.



i messed around with Toluene/methanol/iso mixed in with 94 for a while....

lets just say that my waste gate boost source line broke in half and my stock block was still good after... :)
 
#12 ·
Bah they sell cam2 10 seconds from my house.
 
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