It seems that some people with boosted vehicles mix Toluene with fuel to increase the octane. Has anyone tried it on their car?

more info go here: http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

Higher compression may be part of our plans to complete our N/A setups, but many of us are concerned with only having 91 octane here in California. I would like to know if anyone has experience with Toluene & what their thoughts are on mixing it with fuel for a high compression engine (I assume its no different than the boosted engine). Also, would this have any negative effects if it were to be a daily driver? if so can you xplain? Thanks

 

If I want higher octane, I use race gas.

Why not just use race gas?

 

My favorite part of the article

 

I run it in my car for important autocrosses. Everything you need to know is in that article. If you're planning on building a daly driver with compression high enough to warrent the need for Toluene then I hope you got deep pockets, that stuff costs $8 a gallon ($5-6 on sale).

Any side effects? I had no problems running it in my car with OBD2. As the atricle mentions, Toluene brakes down just like gasoline.

Any benefits? The car runs much smoother but that's about it. FI cars should feel a bigger difference.

 

To the best of my knowledge I have to drive about 45-60 minutes away from where I live to find race gas. I just wanted to have other options & I was curious to hear people's experiences with Toluene. Thanks for your reply , if I had a gas station closer to me that sold, lets say 100 octane, then I would be more incline to have higher compression in my engine.

 

Ive run as high as 13.5:1 with 93 octane. those california people might want to try it
with CR that high though. Also you should note i use rather large cams which helps
lower the CR a bit

 

I've played around with it a little.

No problems when you are smart about it.

 

Thanks for the replies.

sgt- your car with 13.5 CR, is that your daily driver? you also mentioned that you have larger cams that lower your compression, you have Toda B's or C's?

 

Race gas is more expensive. You can get Toluene in quantities of more than 1 gallon for a very good discount, $4/gallon for example.

So if you figure the price of race gas vs normal gas with toluene mixed, the mix is cheaper.

 

Steve....is...probably going to go with Ds soon....

 

Not sure where you buy yours at, but do you know if I may find it in a Home Depot or a Lowes? Do you know if I'm able to purchase the Toluene in a 5 gallon bucket or something bigger than 1 gallon? The link I posted says that they have 1 gallon, 5 gallon or even 55 gallon drums, but I'm not sure if I can find it in more than 1 gallon.

 

Any paint shop should have it and where you mentioned (Lowe's/Home Depot)should sell it to you in a 5gal "serving." hhehe

Not sure where you are located but I think General Paint is a hot spot to pick this kind of stuff up.

 

Thats what I wanted to know. Maybe buying more than 1 gallon at a time can be cheaper, but then storage of that thing would be something I need to be cautions about I'm sure.

 

Thanks. I have a Home Depot close to me.

 

daily driver yes
toda spec C cams, remember that even the primary and secondary lobes are huge
compared to cams like stock or jun/skunk so you have to keep that in mind as well

 

Chemical supply stores, paint stores, etc should all have Toluene.. maybe try to find Xylene as well and mix (Toluene's R+M/2 rating is 114, Xylene's is 117 and is SLIGHTLY more $$). Also MTBE might be a good choice, but I'd shoot for Xylene, Toluene, or a Toulene/Xylene mix. MTBE's R+M/2 rating is 118 but isn't as "hot" but does have an oxygenate effect which in theory would burn gasoline better.. stick with the good old Toulene or Xylene or mix (oh yeah, I already said that)

 

thanks sgt & everyone else.

Dave ROR - thanks for the tips. I found this information also, https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=286552 it seems that when using Xylene you should mix it with oil (Marvels Mystery oil) because it doesnt contain lubricants like the Toluene. Is this why u said mix Toluene & Xylene?

 

:thimbup: If you look at a lot of the "race formula" octane boosters all they do is add a little xylene to the toluene.

Of course, a 16oz can raises octane an amazing 3 points. lol 30% mix owns.

the only cars I'm using xylene and toluene in also run premix gas with 2 stroke seadoo oil.

a friend runs toluene in his supra without issues.

Another friend that was driving a GN used straight Xylene with no issues, but he did blow the motor (too much boost, not enough fuel).

 

Yea, from 91 Octane to 91.3

People seem to forget that.

I ran Toluene before, no issues at all. Personally I didn't notice a difference, least not like that article says.

 

I would only run it when needed. Raising octane when not needed is pointless.

 

Toda C's when tuned can idle fairly well.

who's CW-R has the Tein logo on it around the DC area? you have a great setup

 

Awesome!

I'm going to try this right now!

 

Be forewarned that prolonged exposure to Toluene can make you sick: http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/ohb/HESIS...0AND%20AFFECTS

But I am sure none of you guys would start snifing this stuff.

 

lol same as most other chemicals. IMO if you sniff any of this ****, you deserve what happens