A friend of mine suggested to me that I try runnin a mixture of Toluene in my Z car along with 92 octane. He said run the car til the low fuel light comes on, then add about 1 to 1.25 gallons of Toluene to my gas. Then fill the car up with premiuim gas. I ve done some resaerch on TT.net. But I still want u guys opinon bc i know u guys better than them. Have any of you guys ever delt with the stuff??

 

Never heard of it.

 

Toluene is what the refinerys use to boost the octane of gasoline. It's also paint thinner. It comes from cruide oil so used in fuel as a octane booster well pass fuel tests at the races. Straight toluene is like 114 octane. I've usd it for years and we've used as much as 85% toluene and water/alky injection for boost levels above 5 bar.
The follow site well give you some mix ratio's

http://www.easyperformance.com/Octan...d_Frameset.htm

Here's alittle something i just found on this subject. Damn web amazes me sometimes what you'll find.

http://www.elektro.com/~audi/toluene/

 

ok heres the thing...I added a little less than 20% of the 19 gallons to my car. A total of 2 gallons in my car of that toluene. I havent put enough miles on the car to get a true feeling for the car to tell if there are any improvements..but that crap is expensive. I paid $23 for two gallons. I ll post back when i get some results back..maybe throw it on the dyno

 

To get the most out of it you'll need to advance your timing. Thats where the most power for a slower burning rate fuel lays. If your turbo'd then try a little more boost at a time.
If N/A play with advancing the timing. And if your using spray go the next larger jets.

 

We use Sherwin-Williams paint to paint the concrete mixers that we bulid for our customers, (which is who sells Toluene) and one of their Reps said that one thing to watch out by using Toluene is that it will deteriorate rubber components.

At what concentration level was not know by this Rep. for this reaction to be harmful to the fuel systems. I just wanted to share this information, I would hate to see someones car catch fire.

LATER

 

Thanks for sharing Topless03, but I'm afraid your Sherwin-Williams Rep is giving you some bad information. Toluene comes from crude oil just as gasoline does. I've been using it for over 40 years and have never experianced what he talks about. The fact is gasoling companys use it to boost the octane level of gas and most of the octane boosters that come in a car are basic toluene.
Also in racing limited to gasoline only it well pass inspection as it comes from the same scorce as gasoline.
Make a test. Take 2 rubber parts and 2 containers, one with gasoline and the other toluene. Place the rubber parts into the liquids and see what the difference is after a week or two.
Then go back to the Rep and tell him the results. Bad information being passed around only causes confusion.

 

All adding toulene does is up your octane numbers. Which in turn...higher octane rating, more resistance to detonation, allowing you to run more boost, more aggresive timing, etc. So with that said, by simply adding toulene and not changing anything else, you won't see a power increase.

 

oh yeah...

Sport compact car, as worthless as they are, just got a new head editor, and they supposedly will be having a lot more tech articles. I suggest you buy the most recent sport compact car because it has a very interesting article concerning octane and the actual effect adding toulene has on 91 california pump gas. They run tests...with some octane testing machine...with like 5%, 10%, 20% toulene. Otherwise just check out the article next time ur at a magazine rack.

They also test off the shelf octane boosters, and I was very suprised to see that they work. The "outlaw" octane booster you can get for like 4 bucks brought 91 cali gas up to 93. Seems like an alternative for you cali guys, and it takes the question out of whether or not it works...

 

I don't believe that the S-W Rep gave bad information. Yes you are right Toluene is used to boost the octane of refined gasoline. 92% of Toluene is used as a component of gasoline, but Toluene is also classifided as a solvent (that is 1%), the other 7% is used to make other products. Any time rubber is exposed to solvents, it swells and softens the surface and some plasticizers may also be removed. This leads to the eventual harding of the surface over time, making it brittle.

The Toluene that is avalibile to the general public is still a solvent, not the higher grade 92% that is put into the production of gasoline.

Your two week test is not enough time to see the effects. How many individuals would change the rubber in their fuel systems in 5 years....6 or even 10 years....much less 2 weeks.

You have to take into consideration that most of the individuals asking about this product have Z's that are getting to be over 10 years old, how many of them do you figure have changed out the rubber components in their fuel system for new. I believe it's close to none, so you introduce a compound that will further accelerate the deterioration of their already old fuel system.

It's not bad information, there is some risk in any thing that is done out of the norm, but people need to be informed of the maintenance issues involved in persuing the use of this product.

I'm not doubting your experience of using this product in your racing endeavors. In fact, I applaud you efforts, but are you still using the same rubber in your fuel systems from 10 years ago ? I hope not.

LATER

 

Your so right and I'm wrong. Don't use Toluene it will distroy your engine and eat up all the rubber from the gas tank to the engine.

I 've been using Toluene in my Boss 351 Mustang for over 30 years and haven't changed one hose or rubber seal.

 

I never said that I was right & also never said that you were wrong, and I never said it would destroy your engine. (no need for drama, I can at times hold a civil conversation) All I was trying to do was piont out just a little tid-bit of information that I feel that individuals should be aware of when using a product that is not normaully used in most every day cars. I will be asking the S-W Rep. for more details on this.

I just happened to come across a article on this product, that seems pretty interesting. I'm sure that you have already read this, but would like to share with those that haven't. ARTICLE


Dang, a BOSS 351 Mustang, I have read that Ford only made 1,806 in "71". I'm so jealous, but really, with such a rare car, I would have changed the rubber fuel line to the carb. within 30 years. Shoot, my Z is only 12 years old and I've already changed that part of the fuel system to the injectors.

Does this mean we're not friends.

LATER

 

Sorry you can't get rid of me that easy and (blushing) I guess were still friends. That artical you posted is killer. It just about tells it all.

I have to tell you alittle about the Boss351. I got it from a bank friend in Dec. 1970. It was a repo. and had 931 Miles on it. I wanted it for one reason, racing on the Salt Falts. The fastest it's ever gone is 194MPH. Not to bad for a stock production car. Never sold it cause the damn thing keeps going up in value. In all my years of cars, I've only keep 2cars. This one and my '27 Blown Hemi "T" roadster which I sold this year to a very close friend.
As for changing hoses and rubber parts on the 351, I guess by just normal ware and tear I've changed some of them, but not to the use of toluene.

LUKassZ, This is amazing. I never knew it was ever possible to put 12 oz. of anything in a tank of fuel that would raise the octane from 91 to 93. This must be a new product and I'd like to know more about it, if you can find more information on it.
Hot Rod magazine did a test on 15 octane boosters, and the best they could come up with is 3 tenths of a point raise in octane while most it was the same or lowered the octane rating.
They did have one that was nitro based that raised the octane 1 point but it's illegal for racing unless the rules state you can use nitromethane.
Please give us more information on this booster.


I hope everyone who has any interest in toluene or octane boosters reads the artical you posted topless93. If you dont mind I'd like to post that thread again for those that might have missed it.

http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

 

I use octane booster, 12 oz. to 5 gallons............. in my motorcycle. I don't know how much it boosts the octane rating but it sure helps reduce the pinging when I have to run that pemex **** water that you get in mexico.

 

Was never my intent.
Here is another article about the "Outlaw octane booster" and others. Its active ingredient is "Ferosene". At the bottom of the article is two charts, but I believe the "Outlaw" brand takes 91 octane and increases it to 92.4, not a full three, but still quite a bit more than most."octane boost test"

 

I had always been skeptical about that Outlaw octane booster. I just figured it was another gimic. I'll have to pick up that magazine to check out that article.

 

Hey guys I ve been away for a while...I am not sure aboutt he Sherwin Williams guys comment about it eating rubber hoses. I have heard that occasional usage of Toulene is ok. But if used on a regular basis it can DRY out some types of rubber, mainly those around the injector seals. I read the TT.net acticle and they suggested that you add a thing of marvel mystry oil to the mix. This so to prevent the drying out prrocess.

The only bad part I have heard about those off the shelf fuel additives additives is that they contain alot of lead normally, which is the key ingrediant to killin some cats and o2 sensors. Other than that, octane boost is mostly toulene!

I did also read that tech article from Sport Compact car, I m glad that they are doin more tech articles. I wish Z magazine would do more of them. That way I know they would pertain to our vehicles. I want to go back to the dyno soon and try out this toulene additive and see if it really makes any difference. I cannot really advance my timing anymore bc the Crank angle sensor is nearly maxed, but my timing is correct. I havent messed with the timing belt, so i assume my mechanic did it when i first bought the car a few years ago. i am gettin close to needin a new timing belt anyway...so I ll fix the probem then.

 

I'm with you 91zxtt. My only concern is if it will pass a fuel test at the drags. I know toluene well. Topless93 posted a test conducted and it's like the 5th one I've read and everyone I've read differs from each other. Hot Rod magazine did a test with boosters only (no toluene) and the best they could get was 3 tenth's of a point boost in octane, but Outlaw wasn't listed. That's why I have a interest and well persue this alittle more.

I know Honda an Porsche used toluene in there fuel for there racing program. It's not the perfect fuel for the internal combustion engine but it sure does a good job till something better comes along.

And the Mexican Pemex regular gas isn't bad, it sucks only 81 octane. Now there hi-test is somewhere in the 92-93 octane level but hard to find, another reason I use toulene, besides toluene is cheaper than gas here.