91 octane is crap- filled with 91/100 blend

[wwjd15]

Originally Posted by mikelaca

I've been doing some research to see how to get the cost down. Does anyone have any experience with Lucas Oil Octane booster. The idea seems to be the same, as it seems to be a concentrated version of race fuel, and it less than $7 a bottle, perhaps adding one per tank is a good idea.

Anyone have any experience?

Here's a link to reviews and pricing:
http://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-1002.../dp/B001OZL9OQ

Lucas Oil has been supplied me their varies types of Lucas products from last year. According to my testing, they worked better on turbocharged cars.(never test on supercharged). They can help reducing up to about -200 knock sums when knocking happens. It might helped a bit on NA cars during hot days, but I did not feel noticeable difference in terms of power for some reason. I'll do some more testing on NA cars later this summer. So basically it works. However, I would only use it when doing aggressive driving. For DD is pointless. Anyways, it wouldn't hurt to use either.

[kitw]

The Lucas Octane booster claims to raise 25 gallons of gas 3 octane points. From 91-94 octane is probably just barely on the edge of what is noticeable by the butt dyno. I'd be curious to know otherwise.

I used to use octane booster in my supercharged E36 M3 and it made a difference when driving hard... but nothing in daily driving, it never really got hot enough to knock even when I was accelerating hard. I noticed that over a track session, it would maintain the power level better with octane booster.

[e46e92love]

Not to go too OT, but with such strong opinions from some that the S65 does not produce enough torque with others saying its plenty, I wonder if the majority of complaints actually come from CA owners running purely 91?

Interesting....


Cheers,
e46e92

[Marsala125]

Originally Posted by wwjd15

So basically it works. However, I would only use it when doing aggressive driving. For DD is pointless. Anyways, it wouldn't hurt to use either.

Only hurt the Wallet

[duk]

I tried it today, 50/50 mix. I noticed smoother response and a bit more tqiness.

[acuteperformance]

For those using octane boosters... Most of the octane boosters use Toluene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene) to increase the octane. Back in the day, I would actually buy gallons of this stuff and mix it with 91 octane (you can find it at paint stores). It's a lot cheaper than purchasing octane booster and actually increases it by more than 1 point. And yes, I was able to run higher boost with it.

However, using octane booster or Toluene has always left this orangish/redish color on my spark plugs. Don't know if this is good or bad.

BTW, I'm not saying anyone should use Toluene just sharing my experience with the stuff.

Michael
Owner
Acute Performance

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

The Torco stuff is actually pretty good, yes it can turn the spark plugs a little orange but I know of 800rwhp C5 Vettes along with 800rwhp GT500's that burn the stuff with no issues and have been for years.

I have been running a blend of 4 gallons of 100 octane VP unleaded with 12 gallons of 91 cali crap gas and my car runs so much better than with just plain jane 91.

Dave

Dave,

Where do you buy 100 octane gas from? The 76 on Lincoln and 83rd? They advertise racing fuel, but when I checked there about two years ago, they said that they stopped selling it a while back and had simply never got around to taking down the sign.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by aajami

Dave,

Where do you buy 100 octane gas from? The 76 on Lincoln and 83rd? They advertise racing fuel, but when I checked there about two years ago, they said that they stopped selling it a while back and had simply never got around to taking down the sign.

Hey Amir,

Steve still sells 100 VP Racing Unleaded but in 5 gallon containers that run about $60. If you want it from the pump you can get it at the 76 station on Pico and Barrington, as well as the 76 Station at Bundy and San Vincente. The 76 station on San Vincente shuts down the pump after 9:30.

Steve use to sell it from 55 gal. drums that he would put in a 5 gallon gas container that you could put in your tank itself. Steve was great as he used to get 105 F&L unleaded for just $10 per gallon. F&L makes the highest octane racing unleaded fuel, you only needed to blend 2.5 gallons to get to 93 octane and it smelled great if you were running high flow cats or no cats. Nothing smelled like F&L, if I had a garage to store it I would buy it in 55 gallon drums.

Dave

[Dave07997S]

For you Cali guys that are looking for race gas, here's a great website that lists quite a bit of them. Hopefully you find one in your area..

http://www.davebarton.com/Unleaded_Racing_Fuel_in_SoCal

Also, keep in mind you would probably have to burn a 1/4 to 1/2 a tank of gas before the benefits would be realized. As the DME would take some time to adjust timing upwards as it senses the fuel in the tank. Its not something you put in and as soon as you leave the station you notice the benefits. I will say this run it for a tank and then go back to 91, you will notice this much sooner.

Dave

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by acuteperformance

For those using octane boosters... Most of the octane boosters use Toluene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene) to increase the octane. Back in the day, I would actually buy gallons of this stuff and mix it with 91 octane (you can find it at paint stores). It's a lot cheaper than purchasing octane booster and actually increases it by more than 1 point. And yes, I was able to run higher boost with it.

However, using octane booster or Toluene has always left this orangish/redish color on my spark plugs. Don't know if this is good or bad.

BTW, I'm not saying anyone should use Toluene just sharing my experience with the stuff.

Michael
Owner
Acute Performance

One other thing I want to add Michael.

Handling Toluene is very hazardous, be very careful when you putting it in your tank. If it gets on your paint it will need to be cleaned up ASAP and can be a major skin irritant and not to mention a lung irritant for some people who have breathing problems.

Most of the off the shelf octane boosters raise the octane points by .7-1.0 pts. If you have 91 octane you would need probable 2 cans of the stuff to make 93 octane. This can set you back $20 or more, I would just blend the racing unleaded as at least you get fuel out of the deal, it replaces x amount of gallons of 91 octane that you would have needed to fill up the tank.

Dave

[Nexlevmm]

i really like this thread, i feel like its very helpful for the California guys..

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

For you Cali guys that are looking for race gas, here's a great website that lists quite a bit of them. Hopefully you find one in your area..

http://www.davebarton.com/Unleaded_Racing_Fuel_in_SoCal

Also, keep in mind you would probably have to burn a 1/4 to 1/2 a tank of gas before the benefits would be realized. As the DME would take some time to adjust timing upwards as it senses the fuel in the tank. Its not something you put in and as soon as you leave the station you notice the benefits. I will say this run it for a tank and then go back to 91, you will notice this much sooner.

Dave

Dave, I noticed the smoothness almost immediately but the power got better and better as the tank burned through about 1/4-1/2 like you said. With ~95 in the tank, the car is incredible. Torquey, tons of top end, great all around. Much better than 91.

[mastek]

Im sooo pissed
I just put 6 gallons of 100 octane @ $8.80 p/g .....and it worked, car ran smoother almost immediately and got more tourqier and more powerful.
This sux - im not happy about a $100 tank every week.

[aajami]

Thanks, Dave. I might wait until the winter when gas prices settle back down before attempting this. I don't want to get hooked on $100/tank anytime soon.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by aajami

Thanks, Dave. I might wait until the winter when gas prices settle back down before attempting this. I don't want to get hooked on $100/tank anytime soon.

You think gas will drop a bit by winter? I don't know, this has a feeling that its going to be up there for a bit.

Dave

[m3heaven]

I only put in 100oct when I take my car to the track. IMO I don't think it's necessary to run 100oct when daily driving the car.

[TMR]

Ive been really considering Meth.

http://www.labontemotorsports.com/st...w/ISG-A10.html

[smmmurf]

lol look what i've started

now with all you guys filling your m's up on 100 you're gonna drive the price of race gas up on me!

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

lol look what i've started

now with all you guys filling your m's up on 100 you're gonna drive the price of race gas up on me!

I started my race gas blend back in my E46 M3 days, it is getting expensive. I remember when I started F&L 105 unleaded was $7.75 a gallon back in 02, it went all the way to $12.00 when I could get it last.

Dave

[mikelaca]

Originally Posted by mastek

Im sooo pissed
I just put 6 gallons of 100 octane @ $8.80 p/g .....and it worked, car ran smoother almost immediately and got more tourqier and more powerful.
This sux - im not happy about a $100 tank every week.

Yep, I'm in the same boat. Followup to my post on Page 1, I re-drove the car and you immediately notice
1. Smoother RPM tach increase at all levels
2. Much more low end torque
3. A more instant/peppy acceleration
4. Total reduction in all jerking/bucking bronco effect on the DCT.
5. Smooth like butter in reverse in DCT. Before I'd tap the gas in reverse and it was always too much or too little. Now it just glides back like a Rolls Royce.

While Dave might be right about more HP coming after driving it for a while, more HP has never been my issue with the car. I want all the things above for my $83K.

I just filled up with a full tank of Shell 91 here in LA (since I can't afford $10/gallon when the M3 gets 13MPG) but I'm going to add a can of Lucas Oil Octane booster. I"m going to add one per full tank for 2 tanks, and see if I can simulate/recreate the great feeling performance I got when using 2/3 100 Octane 1/3 91 Octane.

Anyone else wanna try with me? I live in LA BTW if anyones interested in meeting up, swapping stories, testing each others ride. 2008 DCT Convertible.

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by mikelaca

Yep, I'm in the same boat. Followup to my post on Page 1, I re-drove the car and you immediately notice
1. Smoother RPM tach increase at all levels
2. Much more low end torque
3. A more instant/peppy acceleration
4. Total reduction in all jerking/bucking bronco effect on the DCT.
5. Smooth like butter in reverse in DCT. Before I'd tap the gas in reverse and it was always too much or too little. Now it just glides back like a Rolls Royce.

While Dave might be right about more HP coming after driving it for a while, more HP has never been my issue with the car. I want all the things above for my $83K.

I just filled up with a full tank of Shell 91 here in LA (since I can't afford $10/gallon when the M3 gets 13MPG) but I'm going to add a can of Lucas Oil Octane booster. I"m going to add one per full tank for 2 tanks, and see if I can simulate/recreate the great feeling performance I got when using 2/3 100 Octane 1/3 91 Octane.

Anyone else wanna try with me? I live in LA BTW if anyones interested in meeting up, swapping stories, testing each others ride. 2008 DCT Convertible.

Hey, I just filled up with a less aggressive blend (effectively 94-95 octane) and can't tell the difference from 96. So, I think most of the added benefit is going from 91 to 93. You can average your cost per gallon to about $6.00/gal instead of $4.50 a gal which isn't so bad IMO but your 100 is more expensive than mine (mine is $6.50, or $7.99 depending on which station I use).

[RichMattB]

Just to be clear...you guys are getting these results with no supporting mods? If so, I'm considering ordering a drum!

Also, I couldn't locate Pencilgeek's dyno with a search. Does anyone feel like helping me out with a link?

Thanks.