Thread: octane booster?

Let me start by saying I ave never tried to use octane booster,but...
I have like a half a tank o 87 octane(fresh gas) in the car I am swapping my VE into.
Instead of siphoning or pumping it out,I figured I would either just add a bottle of octane booster to bring up the rating,and top it off with 93,
so it doesn't start pinging.
The other option would be just to fill it the rest of the way up with 93 without the octane booster,but I am not sure what effect that will have on the octane rating.I assume if you had half 87 and half 93 you would have like90-91 octane?

I am knda leary about octane booster because alot of them use jetfuel,or other harsh chemicals for the boost.
I personally havent run anything other than Redline S1-1 fuel system cleaner through my fuel system.I have read over the years that anything else could damage the injectors.Does the same risk apply to octane boost?

If I use it is there a safer or better one than another.
I bought a bottle for 5 bucks,but some(lucas,104+ were 10-15 dollars a bottle)

any opinions,experiences,suggestions are greatly appreciated.

IIRC it's just more detergent.

I used the Lucas in the Kia before I traded it in, to help with emissions.

Can't say for sure what they'd do for power gain, but I would assume you'd be okay to top off the tank with 93. That is in essence mid grade gas, by half 87 and half 93.

^^^not really trying for power gains,just want to use up the gas in the tank without hurting my motor.(or pinging)

i would assume you can use it just dont push it to the limit

You should be able to just top it off with 93 gas and do the trick. Usually you need 91 gas anyway, so with half 87 half 93, you'll be about 89, which is pretty close to 91.

I would just drive carefully and not beat on her. Octane boosters are not suggested, I believe even the manual says that you should use them. It could be similar to why we can't use injector cleaners in our cars.

I successfully raised boost by 3psi safely using the Lucas booster. I found some info on the net about it here: Octane Booster Reviews

I tried going for 5psi but got some detonation so I backed her off a bit.

Don't use octane booster for emissions though, under most circumstances the exhaust reads higher CO and HC. Higher octane burns slower unless it is oxygenated.

^^^emissions??? what is that,.....lol

Top it off with 93 and drive it until you can get another half of tank to add more 93. You can drive it with 87 if you drive it normally until it goes down to a 1/4 tank.

Thats a pretty good link!

Also about emissions, it may boost up CO and HC, but I'm sure it will help with NOX. Since the CAT likes richness over leanness.

It could, but the higher octane doesn't change the amount of fuel going into the engine. So it wouldn't run richer, you would just have more wasted energy going out the tail pipe. Most places don't look at NOx emissions, but this all depends on where you live.

If you run higher octane fuel you have to give it more time to burn, so advance the timing a bit. This will raise NOx levels a bit, but HC and CO should drop back down.