Drivetrain 15% pulley question: Gas?
Agree with all of the above: use what the MFG recommends.
A word about octane boosters: DON'T!!!!!
Most of them (99%) will have a negative effect on your catalytic converter; as in plug it up. If you really, really feel the need for higher octane, drive out to the airport and buy some AVGAS. At 2-3 times the cost of premium, you will tire of this quickly; about as quickly as you notice that it really doesn't help that much on a pretty-much stock car.
If you are running a turbo-only and pushing 25lbs boost, by all means get the AVGAS. You gotta pay to play.
A word about octane boosters: DON'T!!!!!
Most of them (99%) will have a negative effect on your catalytic converter; as in plug it up. If you really, really feel the need for higher octane, drive out to the airport and buy some AVGAS. At 2-3 times the cost of premium, you will tire of this quickly; about as quickly as you notice that it really doesn't help that much on a pretty-much stock car.
If you are running a turbo-only and pushing 25lbs boost, by all means get the AVGAS. You gotta pay to play.
Just find a station that sells unleaded 100+ octane...and although its a bit pricey....you will notice a difference in how the car runs, much smoother and no timing retard.
On a side note, have you guys ever heard of or used Toluene as a fuel additive to increase octane? When I had my Audi, all the B5 S4 guys used to be into that...haven't heard anyone talk about it here though.
Last edited by ThumperMCS; Apr 8, 2007 at 05:06 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 2
From: SoCaL (Agoura Hills)
Agree with all of the above: use what the MFG recommends.
A word about octane boosters: DON'T!!!!!
Most of them (99%) will have a negative effect on your catalytic converter; as in plug it up. If you really, really feel the need for higher octane, drive out to the airport and buy some AVGAS. At 2-3 times the cost of premium, you will tire of this quickly; about as quickly as you notice that it really doesn't help that much on a pretty-much stock car.
If you are running a turbo-only and pushing 25lbs boost, by all means get the AVGAS. You gotta pay to play.
A word about octane boosters: DON'T!!!!!
Most of them (99%) will have a negative effect on your catalytic converter; as in plug it up. If you really, really feel the need for higher octane, drive out to the airport and buy some AVGAS. At 2-3 times the cost of premium, you will tire of this quickly; about as quickly as you notice that it really doesn't help that much on a pretty-much stock car.
If you are running a turbo-only and pushing 25lbs boost, by all means get the AVGAS. You gotta pay to play.
AV Gas used for GA Piston Engined Aircraft is 100LL, the LL standing for Low Lead. You will FRY your cat in less than one tank running AV gas in your car... Using octane booster in a tank generally won't move your octane rating more than a few points... (From 91 to 91.6 for a bottle or two). I'm not sure what effect this stuff has on the engine, I don't use it, I just use top teir premium fuel as recommended in the owners manual.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: SoCaL (Agoura Hills)
AVGAS is leaded...100LL. That will be way worse for your cat and o2 sensors than a simple bottle of octane booster.
Just find a station that sells unleaded 100+ octane...and although its a bit pricey....you will notice a difference in how the car runs, much smoother and no timing retard.
On a side note, have you guys ever heard of or used Toluene as a fuel additive to increase octane? When I had my Audi, all the B5 S4 guys used to be into that...haven't heard anyone talk about it here though.
Just find a station that sells unleaded 100+ octane...and although its a bit pricey....you will notice a difference in how the car runs, much smoother and no timing retard.
On a side note, have you guys ever heard of or used Toluene as a fuel additive to increase octane? When I had my Audi, all the B5 S4 guys used to be into that...haven't heard anyone talk about it here though.
The problem with stuff like that is that it eats up the rubber in the fuel system. That's why many cars need signifigant modification to run E85 Ethanol (Alcohol dries EVERYTHING out).
Last edited by Guest; Apr 10, 2007 at 02:39 PM.
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Actually toluene isn't an alcohol - it's one of the many hydrocarbons that make up 'gasoline'. Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) are some of the most common constituents of gas. That said, I'm still not sure that a LOT of extra toluene in the tank is a good idea, although I have also seen other forums (corvette, audi, etc.) talk about adding toluene or xylene for octane improvement.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: SoCaL (Agoura Hills)
Actually toluene isn't an alcohol - it's one of the many hydrocarbons that make up 'gasoline'. Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) are some of the most common constituents of gas. That said, I'm still not sure that a LOT of extra toluene in the tank is a good idea, although I have also seen other forums (corvette, audi, etc.) talk about adding toluene or xylene for octane improvement.
. (Based on my completely unscientific knowledge of it's effects)
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Yea, I'm quite familiar with brain farts in the morning 
! I saw some article, I think it was European Motoring or something, where they tested some different octane boosters & tried the toluene or xylene trick, but it only helped in large quantities (like 10% of your total fuel or something). I think mothballs are naphthalene - which is also found in gasoline, but I'm sure as h*ll not popping any mothballs in there
!
! I saw some article, I think it was European Motoring or something, where they tested some different octane boosters & tried the toluene or xylene trick, but it only helped in large quantities (like 10% of your total fuel or something). I think mothballs are naphthalene - which is also found in gasoline, but I'm sure as h*ll not popping any mothballs in there!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: East SF Bay Area, CA
Like AZ, premium is also 91 octane in CA. A dynotuned Unichip helped eliminate 95% of the pinging I had after getting the 2% crank pulley installed on top of the 15% SC reduction pulley. If you're planning to go water injection, get it done before you do a custom tune, so you can optimize the timing and A/F in one shot.
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