Do Not Use Octane Booster

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by highway star, May 16, 2013.

  1. highway star

    highway star New Member

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    Was reading an article in the June '13 Cycle World magazine: "Octane boosters suppress or retard ignition and are usually a waste of time. But what most people don't know is that a container of octane booster that claims to increase octane 10 points only increases it by one number. Not only that, bikes with catalytic converters have to use octane boosters very sparingly because the MANGANESE used in almost all of those products will destroy the catalyst metals. Manganese is also very harmful to your body, so care needs to be taken not to get any octane booster on your hands".

    I've never used any in the VFR but have in my hotrod, no cats on it.
     
  2. DCS

    DCS New Member

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    Higher octane gas = slower burn rate.

    The only reason to use it is if you are pinging and unable to retard spark, or you want ethanol-free fuel. Otherwise, you are wasting money.

    Buying an octane booster product is simply paying for an additive that slows the burn rate of gasoline.
     
  3. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    I buy ethonal free gas down the street from my house. I used to buy it just for my gen 3 bike and my garden equipment. First time I went to the pumps, I was talking to a town worker who was filling up about 100 gallons, he told me since they switched to ethonal free gas, there were less problems. I fill up my other street bike when I can...

    My experience has been good. Gen 3 bike does not stink after a spirited ride, my two stroke lawn equipment seems happier, (no-more disintigrating primer-bulbs.) So, for an additional 50 cents a gallon, it does not seem like a bad deal...its 90 RON btw...Cheers.
     
  4. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    Most store bought octan boosters only boost octane one tenth of one percent. In other words they don't do anything. There are sites on the web that have octane ratings of stuff like Xylol, toulene and MEK which can be used to raise fuel octane, because some of it is used by the mfg to do so. They have ratings in the area of 107-118. If you take 5 gal of 87 (435) and five gallons of say toulene @ 114 (570) 435+570=1005*10=100.5 octane, supposedly. Do not use with CATS. Though if your motor is designed to run on 87 and you use 93 you may very well drop a little on power/response.

    As was stated before higher the octane the slower the burn. Higher octanes are for higher compression motors for the most part. Except stuff like AV fuel which is designed for high altitude thin air and cold.
     
  5. Keager

    Keager Member

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    I've heard that if you have a catalytic converter, don't run anything over 93 octane. It will destroy it. That's why I miss my old bike - didn't have one. Miss the smell of the 110/112 octane. I couldn't tell any performance issues, or any heat change, mainly because I'd only put in 1/2 gal or so when full. When gas was under $2.00 gal it was over $5. so a 1/2 gal was plenty. Except when I went to the track, then I put in a couple of gallons.
     
  6. stewartj239

    stewartj239 Member

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    After being told that the $200 carb in my Toro commercial mower was ruined by the E10 ethanol fuel, I too have switched to Ethanol free fuel. I'm paying 40 cents more per gallon, but to keep that crap out of your engine is worth it. In addition, both of my cars are getting about 2 more MPG which is common.
     
  7. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    I just want to thank the manganese for their tasty mangoes
     
  8. 2007VFR

    2007VFR New Member

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    I live in Ohio....how do you find a station with no ethanol in their fuel? I thought it was pretty much 10% everywhere, and some places 15%.
     
  9. 2007VFR

    2007VFR New Member

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    And what about the Bell Ethanol Defense product? Anybody know anything about it, like does it really protect your engine from damage?
    Why do they have to put that ethanol shit in fuel anyway? Fucking government and their worthless regulations that do nothing but cause additional hassles and expense for almost everyone. Ethanol has already been proven to not provide any emissions benefit/decrease by a number of different studies, so what's the point?
     
  10. highway star

    highway star New Member

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    2007VFR, Look at this link for your state's gas stations without ethanol: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
     
  11. stewartj239

    stewartj239 Member

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    My eyes were really opened when I researched this because I thought the shop was hosing me about the carb. I thought how the hell can gas ruin the carb. Ethanol is bad. Not only is the whole production subsidized by the government, but it takes more energy to create than it gives in return. In addition, it reduces your fuel economy so it takes more ethanol to go the same distance as pure gas. How does that make any sense? If you look at the facts, without the goverment subsidy, there would be no ethanol production because there is no benefit or financial return - which again is why it is a government project :)
     
  12. Jackstand Johnny

    Jackstand Johnny New Member

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    What about Cam2? Thats a real octane booster with actual results. A gas station about 20 minutes from me sells it at one of the pumps.
     
  13. KizerSosay

    KizerSosay New Member

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    Ethanol gas treatments do not get rid of the ethanol. All it does it prevent the complications of ethanol in your fuel system. It prevents water absorption and other chemical reactions with rubbers and plastics. It does not remove the ethanol from the gas. I use ethanol free gas in my bikes (and cars). It does not stink like e10. If you use e-free gas vs. e10 enough you will be able to smell the difference. All my small motors run better on it. My Suzuki GS even runs quieter on e-free gas. My 4Runner gets about 2-3mpg better mileage running it. Every mechanic I talk to about it says it's just better gas. If you can get it....get it.
     
  14. Keager

    Keager Member

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    Kizer, I tried running no-e in my '08 4Runner, and there was no difference at all. After 4 - 5 tanks of trying, same driving habits, there was no change. I gave up, went back to using e-10. The only two things I use any other gas in without an oil mix is a John Deere gator, and the sucker motor for the tractor. It too is a small Honda engine with a badly cracked head.
     
  15. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    my 800 averages 4-6mpg higher with premium. Not sure if Colorado has ethanol in the premium handle or not as the signage sucks ass.
     
  16. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    Race Fuel is different and not subject to be blended with ethanol. However, most of it is still leaded and will damage a catalytic converter.

    Best run in a machine that is tuned for it or requires it. Otherwise that lovely smell coming out of your tail pipes is not the race gas but the smell of your money burning uselessly.

    BZ
     
  17. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    It should say on the pump itself Tink.

    BZ
     
  18. stewartj239

    stewartj239 Member

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    Keager - I'm not doubting your statement, but double check your math if you decide to try it again. Below is a link to a government website that discusses ethanol. In the E10 section it states "vehicles will typically go 3–4% fewer miles per gallon on E10 than on straight gasoline". Assuming you believe that percentage and assuming that your 4Runner gets 18 MPG on E10, by running non-ethanol fuel, you will gain 7/10 MPG. If you do more research on the actual real world reduction, you will find that the percentages are much greater and are dependent on a number of other real world factors such has engine design, HP, conditions, etc. Many sites put the average between 8-12% and some put it even higher. In both of my vehicles, I average about 2 MPG more on the non-ethanol fuel.

    Ethanol
     
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