Anyone had ever tried making octane boost or using toluene?

[KeeperJones]

I just wondered if anyone had ever tried making their own octane boost or using toluene? I get to drive my buddies 993 quite often and it is 93 min, 95 recomended. He is always looking for good prices on octane boost. I was looking around online for him and came across pages like the following:

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html

http://www.team.net/sol/tech/octane_b.html

I am probably going to pick up a MarkD chip myself and am wondering about a getting the higher octane because 93 is almost impossible to come by in Washington state. I noticed in a different thread Jordan posted the same site I listed first already:

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octaneexplained.html

but no one here claimed using the methods listed. Anyone ever tried it or heard that it is not that simple?

Just curious,

KeeperJones

[MinkerVR6]

Doesn't seem like it would be easy at all...then again, I might be wrong.

[Rob]

How could Porsche sell a car that is recommended to use fuel that isnt readily available? Sounds like a non-US spec car to me.

[C ///M]

A kid in a local car club of mine does it. I didn't bother read your links, because I won't waste my time reading stupid shit. You do know what toluene is right? It goes through a Nitration process in order to create TNT, otherwise known as Trinitrotoluene, also known is big fucking explosives. Don't be stupid, you want octane booster, go buy it off the shelf if your car really needs it. We don't need a bunch of dumbasses playing chemist in their backyards playing with toluene. With some of the really dumb comments I read, I'm sure somebody would find a way to do something incredibly stupid.

EDIT: Also, toluene by itself just isn't a great chemical to be exposed to for great periods of time. Inhalation can cause brain damage or something.

EDIT 2: ah, here we go, did a quick search.
Toluene:
Highly flammable
Vapour/air mixtures are explosive
Inhalation: Cough. Sore throat. Dizziness. Drowsiness. Headache. Nausea. Unconsciousness.
Skin Contact: Dry skin. Redness
Eye Contact: Redness. Pain
Ingestion: Burning sensation. Abdominal pain

-The vapour mixes well with air, explosive mixtures are formed easily. As a result of flow, agitation, etc., electrostatic charges can be generated.

-Reacts violently with strong oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard

EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE:
The substance is irritating to the eyes and the respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. If this liquid is swallowed, aspiration into the lungs may result in chemical pneumonitis. Exposure at high levels may result in cardiac dysrhythmia and unconsciousness.

EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE:
The liquid defats the skin. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. Exposure to the substance may enhance hearing damage caused by exposure to noise. Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.

Had nothing better to do tonight.

[Jordan]

Chris do you want to live forever? I know I don't.

That point aside... buy a couple gallons of toluene and mix it in with some premium fuel. I did this on my mothers M3, made a very notable improvement in power.

I ran the car till empty then put 8gallons of 92oct in it, and 1.5 or so gallons of toluene. Not sure what the resulting octane was, but it made a difference.

Be warned the smell of toluene being burned off in a engine is horrid. I deluted the mix in the tank pretty quick with more fuel.

[E30godz]

toluene has an octane rating of 114 if im not mistaken


do the math

[e30Matt]

toluene has an octane rating of 114 if im not mistaken


do the math

Yep, RON (121) + MON (107) / 2 = 114.

[KeeperJones]

Check out the link!

A kid in a local car club of mine does it. I didn't bother read your links, because I won't waste my time reading stupid shit. . . .

Check out the link, it probably could have saved you some time doing the research.

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octaneexplained.html

It talks all about the heath risks and is very interesting and informative. The guy obviously is not a kid and has done some research. He talks about its use in Formula 1 racing and gives links to the EPA, the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the National list of Toxic substances, etc. He talks about pretty much everything you posted and a lot more.

As far as your EDIT 2 goes, everything you listed also applies to gasoline at only a slightly lower level.

I think one of the points is that you can't go buy a can of octane boost off the shelf and put it in your tank and expect results. A 16 ounce can of 108 octane boost will raise the octane level of a 15 gallon tank of 92 octane gas to about 92.132 total. You would need 8 cans to get it up to 93 octane. And there is a chance the 16 ounce can has toulene in it anyway.

I am not conviced that buying a big barrel of the stuff is a good idea and even though this guy seems to know what he is talking about, I am still here asking questions. I am not some kid and I would not recommend that kids mess around with these types of chemicals. At the same time, if I can get the octane level I need in a safe manner, both health wise and engine wise, at a reasonable cost, I am interested. In the end, I may not find it worth the trouble getting the MarkD chip. Just doing the research up front.

[hoofmonger]

With some of the really dumb comments I read, I'm sure somebody would find a way to do something incredibly stupid.

hell yea!! and when they do i ask them to keep a video camera running. as far as it having negative effects on you keep in mind it is c7h8 which in the chemical world is only 1 carbon and a couple of double bonds away from octane (c8h18) which by the way can make you blind and do serious damage to your nervous system (hence blindness) and to a lesser extent liver and kidneys......if you feel like taking a bath in it or may-bee a tall glass of it on a hot day. the bottom line is unless your dealing with this stuff for a job for 4 hours a day or so you should be cool. cheers.

[Spencer]

Can I just dump in 100% toluene into the tank like the F1 racers? vroom vroom vroom

[Charlie]

I think we need to get a bunch of 16 and 17 year olds mixing toulene in their parents unventilated garages this winter.

Maybe use a kerosene heater to stay warm while you're at it.

-Charlie

[trent]

I think we need to get a bunch of 16 and 17 year olds mixing toulene in their parents unventilated garages this winter.

Maybe use a kerosene heater to stay warm while you're at it.

-Charlie

hahaha

[pig4bill]

If you want to know about octane, talk to a turbo guy.

http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/

From the Fuel FAQ section:

http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/Fuel-WhatsOctane.html

Xylene may be a better answer than toluene.

[kylebes1]

Where do you buy it? My step dad's Explorer Limited says it takes Flex fuels, wonder if it would take this buff fuel?

[Mystikal]

Re: Anyone had ever tried making octane boost or using tolue

I am probably going to pick up a MarkD chip myself and am wondering about a getting the higher octane because 93 is almost impossible to come by in Washington state.

If you have a 93 close to your place, as in somewhere you can regularly fill up conveniently, go for the chip. If you really get stuck somewhere, have the stock chip on you and swap it, it'll take 5 mins tops once you get used to it. Even if you can't, with 91 in the tank you won't ping unless you're damn near WOT above 3500. Part throttle crutching it to the next station won't do any damage.