Octane booster

[Whacko]

Has anyone used toluene as an octane booster? I've seen reviews with 20% toluene added pushing 91 octane to 99.

 

[Whacko]

Ran the Beemer today on 20% Toluene/fuel. What a improvement! Seems like the high compression and our sheit fuel reverts the ECU to a low power map. With the octane booster there is a big difference as far as feel goes. It's raining here in Cape Town so I can't do any 0-100's, too much wheelspin. Will test as soon as the roads are dry again.

 

[ANiMOSiTY]

I used to run a mixture in my Astra Coupe Turbo.

50% Toluene
25% Xylene
25% Methanol

 

[STREETRACER]

I used 20% toluene with 95octane with a 100ml 2stroke oil on every 20L mixture!

 

[ANiMOSiTY]

I used to run a mixture in my Astra Coupe Turbo.

50% Toluene
25% Xylene
25% Methanol

Just to be clear.. The above fluids were all mixed together in a 25L drum.
I then used to run about 5L of the mix in a 40L tank of 95 pump fuel

 

[STREETRACER]

I used to run a mixture in my Astra Coupe Turbo.

50% Toluene
25% Xylene
25% Methanol

Just to be clear.. The above fluids were all mixed together in a 25L drum.
I then used to run about 5L of the mix in a 40L tank of 95 pump fuel

hectic mix.. but methanol doesn mix with petrol as it is waterbased!

 

[Skwinty]

Don't you mean that methanol is hygroscopic. ie it draws water vapour from the atmosphere.

 

[STREETRACER]

no i mean methanol mix with water not with petrol! it mixes with waterbase fluids like nitromethane water etc.. does not mix with oil basis fluids!

 

[Skwinty]

Streetracer, I beg to differ.

Methanol is carbon/hydrogen based, not water based. Methanol mixes easily with water for sure and will mix with petrol although it doesn't mix as easily with petrol as it does with water.
If you try and mix 1:1 ratios then it becomes problematic, but with lower dilutions there is no problem with mixing.

 

[Whacko]

Methanol does mix with petrol, it is the water in the methanol that don't mix, so if you get a high purity 90% and above, shouldn't be a problem. It is very expensive though. That's a hectic mix Animosity, did you benefit a lot from it? Obviously you ran that mix with increased boost? I took the beemer on a 200km trip to Worcester and back on a 20% toluene rest 95 pump fuel. There is definetly a big difference in power, so my theory is this, I think the M has good compression, so the pump fuel on it's own must cause detonation and this leads to the ECU choosing a lower map to compensate. Fuel consumption is better too, from 8.5 +- km's per liter to 9.7 +- on open road.
@Streetracer, do you use the toluene mix when you go to ODI? Have you done any dyno test with and without? Will be interesting to know if there is a kw gain.

 

[STREETRACER]

@WACKO No bud i run 95 octane on my car.. i used toleune in my 13.8s Golf 13.0-1 compresion ratio!
My M3 i can take the timing past the point where i make power before it pings so no use for octane up here!
At the coast i will do some funny mixes!

I worked with methanol every day at my hobby shop and i can asure you hobby methanol is the pures methanol you will be able to get! and if you mix it with fuel and wait a while the methanol and the petrol become 2 again!

Also you need twice as much methanol just to get back on the same power you make with petrol!
N/A petrol optimal Air fuel ratio is 13.1-1 and the optimal air fuel ratio for methanol is 6.0-1 so it will be useless to mix
for a wild fuel if you can not supply much more in the engine VIA bigger injectors!

Toluene has an octane rating of 114 and Xylene 117
Methanol will work and make nice power if you can supply 1KG of methanol for evey 6kg of air coming in!

 

[Whacko]

Methanol as 100% pure is rare, as Methanol and Ethanol is highly hygroscopic. What you see layering out is the water. So if you use a seperation funnel or devise one, this is one way of purifying the Methanol. Hobby Methanol at its best is 80% proof. In the States and Brazil it is common for people to mix petrol with ethanol, which is chemically very close to Methanol and mixes the same with petrol.

---

This thread might help with this http://www.envocare.co.uk/ethanol.htm
:thumbsup:

 

[STREETRACER]

yes ethanol mixes very well with petrol! but senceless to mix methanol in a fuel mix to think you upping the octane!

 

[clutchplate]

pee in the petrol tank, that up's the octane rating. but only on a full tank.
give it a go ..

 

[Skwinty]

pee in the petrol tank, that up's the octane rating. but only on a full tank.
give it a go ..

Ha ha ha, how much Stroh rum do you need to drink the night before? :spit:

It does make more sense to have a seperate tank for direct methanol injection. I remember mixing methanol and oil for my RC helicopter and it always was a messy and unpleasant business. But that is 2 stroke for you.

 

[STREETRACER]

jip, Methanol, nitro methane, castor oil and full synthetic 2 stroke oil!

 

[Skwinty]

Streetracer,
What hobby shop do you have? I love hobby shops. Sometimes I buy, but mostly just look and drool.
I have enough toys and to get more means entering a financial contract with my wife who doesn't want to be outdone. :hammerhead:

 

[STREETRACER]

LOL know the feeling! Xtreme R/C Planes in witbank.. i closed my shop last year coz of recesion but still runing sideline!
Will open a shop as soon as the work count in witbank settles again! Still have all my acounts at the importers so let me know if you what or need something!