Octane booster in a bottle does it work?
 

I am asking the Pelican brain trust, does it work?

Think its a load of crap.

How could you tell if it does? I have often wondered that. If there is more power to be had, it can't be much. If you can advance the timing more before it starts to ping, again, it can't be much. I run mine fairly conservatively as it is. I'm curious too...

I am running a DE this weekend and have 6 gallons of 100 octane on hand. I usually mix it 50/50 with 93 and make some 96 out of it.

I am not running it for more power, I am running it for safety for my engine. This is for my RX-7 and I like to use the higher octane to reduce the chance of detonation when things heat up.

Worse case scenerio I buy my gas at the track for an inflated price. :(

In order to be able to take advantage of higher octane, you have to have a computer controlled engine or an engine built for it. Extreme example: I could put avgas in my VW bus, and it wouldn't make one bit of difference with my 7:1 compression.

I run 100 in my 3.6L for track events, and it's happier that way. I can feel the difference between 100 and 91 consumer-grade pump gas.

The stuff sold at auto parts stores is complete crap; you'd be better off spending that 10-spot on a bottle of Techron.

If you're looking for an over-the-counter octane booster, a gallon of toluene or xylene (found in the paint aisle at your hardware store) would be more effective and more economical.

Octane booster in a bottle is basically snake oil.
When they claim it raises the octane by up to 4 points, that does not mean it will go from 91 to 95, it means it "might" go from 91 to 91.4

Not worth the money IMO.

I run 102 in my boat( my motors are 12.5:1 compression)
I've ran 105 and higher. and really had no increase in performance.

Isn't octane just a detonation inhibitor? I thought the only thing octane did was make the flash point higher so high compression cars did not suffer from pre-ignition.

Is that too simplistic?

Yup, thats what I need it for. My car runs fine on 93 and it is tuned for 93 I just like the extra insurance of the higher octane, especially when she heats up on the track I see 230° water temps when on the track for 30 minutes.

BTW - Holy Ferrari!! I just checked the track roster and there is goinf to be over 8 Ferrari 360's there. This should make for either a really fun day or a really dangerous one.

If you are planning on getting gas in mexico you should take some with you. It did help stop pinging on mexican petro

In a word, no.

Get Xylene or Toluene for real effect. Also check this:

http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/ (the "Octane" stuff)

Simple answer, no.

You're better off buying either racing fuel or if you have access to it, and no catalytic converter, aviation fuel

They even have the stones to say that on the bottle in fine print!