I've heard many debates about how octane boosters work great.
On the other hand, i've heard many debates about how octane boosters don't work at all and they are simply scams.

Does anybody know of data that shows whether octane boosters work or not?
Discuss.

 

MMT is the most common booster....
It DOES work....but it can leave deposits behind...when you use it...and then change your spark-plugs, they will have a reddish powder on them (this is why it is usually not a component is gas station fuel sold by most company's). All the tests I have seen usually base the octane increase on 87 octane...so if you add it to premium fuel, the gain is not known.
Octane is a measurable thing...easy to test in a lab environment.

 

I have read that if you are already running 93 octane, putting a "97+" octane booster will BARELY produce higher octane (maybe .2 or .3 increase) or maybe even none.

I went to a nearby autozone and was looking at a can and even a worker at autozone whispered "don't buy that, octane boosters don't really do anything to be honest.."

I know many autozone workers don't know much, but some do. To the extent of knowledge this man had, I don't really know. But based on this and other things I have read online about octane boosters I am still unsure if adding octane booster when going to a track would even make a difference...?

 

It does work! Cured my 2005 mini 17% Alta pulley pinging under load. Using a $3.00 STP Octane booster. No problems in Germany until I got to WA.

 

did horsepower increase as it claims tho?

 

HP increase depends of if the computer is able to take advantage of the octane......I have heard from folks that have used a bit of race gas, the change was noticeable. Not sure Like I said how much gain you will get already using 93 + booster...
I do know folks that carry a bottle or two of octane booster for long trips...so if they get a load of crappy gas...or stop someplace without high test, they are fine. That having been said...I don't think it is cost effective to buy 87, and "increase" it to 91-93.

 

These cars do really well with higher octane...but a bottle of octane booster will only raise premium gas a point I think.

You've better off throwing 100+ octane in it....careful though, it's like crack for your car

And if you don't want to do a whole tank, just wait till you're basically out of gas and just put in a few gallons of 100. With our boost and high compression ratios, it really helps.

 

Correct answer: "It all depends"

It depends if the ECU has enough range in the maps to get more aggressive on the advance and boost. Only the professional tuners will know for sure.

Higher octane or additives change the conditions that preignition ( knock) will occur. It does not have any more energy. Actually higher octane has lower energy per gallon. It just allows more aggressive timing which at high RPM can cause the 1/10inch fireball, the point where a spark generates enough energy that the rest of the cylinder fires quite quickly, to flash over closer to TDC allowing you to extract the available energy. It is a pretty complicated process. Glad we have computers to do it. If you have a system that can take advantage of higher octane, it will produce more power.

If you never jump on your MCS very hard and live close to sea level, try a couple tanks of mid grade. I bet your mileage goes up a tad.

" I love the smell of Cam2 in the morning"
M. Rubin. RIP.

 

If you are already running 91+ octane there is no reason to add anything to it as some have been shown to interact badly with certain additive packages that the gas companies use.

By adding up to half a tank of 100+ UNLEADED fuel you will really see some benefits. Boy will ya! !

 

I can say running in the NE where we get 93, I could tell the difference in 91 and 93, and that was before the tune...so Octane does help.

Dr O found out years ago, that a car with a 15% pulley will always run a bit retarded in most temps with 91.....fine with 93. His article and stuff is still available, and a very good read, as is his IC stuff!!

On a turbo car...not sure how aggressively MINI tunes them, but knowing that BMW software is often DE-Tuned for US use....so the car will not be destroyed IF/WHEN a consumer puts in 87....I would suspect it would help!! But before you spend much money on fuel additives to save a few tenths, there are many places to spend $$ to get better times...mostly skills!!

 

What type of skills are you referring to Zippy?

 

Practice, practice, practice!!
The fact it is kinda fun too helps!!

 

You could always try a gallon of toluene and a gallon of Xylene for a tank of gas. There are a few how tos online for using them to raise your octane. You can buy Xylene by the gallon at Lowes or Home Depot and Toluene by 1 or 5 gallons at most paint stores like Sherwin Williams.

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