104+ and 89 Octane
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: WI USA
104+ and 89 Octane
Has any body tried 104+ octane boost and regular unleaded gas with there Superchip. There isn't a cost benefit here but is there a performance gain or better fuel qaulity to be had.
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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
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From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Don't use the additive..just go buy the REAL stuff. I used 104 octane gas for the drags...man after the first pass NO difference. By the second pass, after I let it sit and idle for awhile...my times definently showed a difference. YAHOO!!!
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: WI USA
Just curious what this stuff was like thanks for the info Mike. Oh by the way the Amoco station down the street has 100 octance gas.
I wonder if I could lite up the new year by trying some of that stuff !
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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
I wonder if I could lite up the new year by trying some of that stuff !
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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Dear BigRed2,
I'm not at all a fan of using 104+ or any other octane booster. It's very expensive, and most of them really don't have the ingredients it takes to actually increase octane in the size containers they tend to stick up on retailers shelves. Most of them are little more than ethyl alcohol, and you'd need 2 gallons of that on 18 gallons of gas to bump it up 2-3 points of octane! Then on top of that, alcohol has a very low energy content, about half the BTU's per gallon that you get with gasoline.
Some octane boosters use nitromethane, which does have a good energy content, but it's not a good idea to use on O2 sensor-equipped vehicles.
Tolulene is the ingredient to look for in octane boosters if you absolutely have to use them, since it is the main ingredient that raises octane in premium gasoline. Premium gas can be 40% or more by volume tolulene.
Octane boosters also tend to shorten the life of your spark plugs, and turn them pink and/or purple in the process.
So it's not just that it's a financial bad deal. From almost every angle, octane boosters should be avoided, especially in computer-controlled vehicles. You get a far better value from using high octane gasoline, both financially and in terms of performance, due to the higher energy content of gas over most octane boosters.
Higher octane *can* give you more of a performance gain with your Superchip, but I would do it by mixing in some higher octane racing gas, if you have any tracks or drag strips in your area, If not, try Sunoco stations or Union 76 stations, to see if they carry 100 octane racing gas in your area. If so, it's expensive, usually around $3.50 a gallon, but it's stil far cheaper than any octane booster, and works far better.
To answer your question directly, can you get a performance gain from increasing octane with 104+ with your Superchip, you might be able to, I have not personally tried doing that to 89 octane gas, and for me, I wouldn't.
Good luck, whatever you do!
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 12-30-1999).]
I'm not at all a fan of using 104+ or any other octane booster. It's very expensive, and most of them really don't have the ingredients it takes to actually increase octane in the size containers they tend to stick up on retailers shelves. Most of them are little more than ethyl alcohol, and you'd need 2 gallons of that on 18 gallons of gas to bump it up 2-3 points of octane! Then on top of that, alcohol has a very low energy content, about half the BTU's per gallon that you get with gasoline.
Some octane boosters use nitromethane, which does have a good energy content, but it's not a good idea to use on O2 sensor-equipped vehicles.
Tolulene is the ingredient to look for in octane boosters if you absolutely have to use them, since it is the main ingredient that raises octane in premium gasoline. Premium gas can be 40% or more by volume tolulene.
Octane boosters also tend to shorten the life of your spark plugs, and turn them pink and/or purple in the process.
So it's not just that it's a financial bad deal. From almost every angle, octane boosters should be avoided, especially in computer-controlled vehicles. You get a far better value from using high octane gasoline, both financially and in terms of performance, due to the higher energy content of gas over most octane boosters.
Higher octane *can* give you more of a performance gain with your Superchip, but I would do it by mixing in some higher octane racing gas, if you have any tracks or drag strips in your area, If not, try Sunoco stations or Union 76 stations, to see if they carry 100 octane racing gas in your area. If so, it's expensive, usually around $3.50 a gallon, but it's stil far cheaper than any octane booster, and works far better.
To answer your question directly, can you get a performance gain from increasing octane with 104+ with your Superchip, you might be able to, I have not personally tried doing that to 89 octane gas, and for me, I wouldn't.
Good luck, whatever you do!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 12-30-1999).]
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Dear BigRed2,
Your local Amoco has 100 octane gas??! YAHOO! I'd give some of that a try. I'll bet they want a small fortune for it, don't they? It's still going to be a bargain compared to trying to do the same thing with octane booster.
Have fun, and do let us know if you try it, all the details, please!
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Your local Amoco has 100 octane gas??! YAHOO! I'd give some of that a try. I'll bet they want a small fortune for it, don't they? It's still going to be a bargain compared to trying to do the same thing with octane booster.
Have fun, and do let us know if you try it, all the details, please!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
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Joined: Jul 1999
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Cool, I was gonna ask this same question eventually 
.
Since I have the Superchip now in my 93 5.0 I have been running nothing but 93 Octane SHELL gas. I don't have any stations around here that sell anything higher than 93-Octane but I do I have a local drag strip it;s real local about 1/2 mile from my house but anyways I know they sell racing gas but I think it's higher than 100octane if I recall it's like really high maybe like 108 is that possible? Around how much more HP would this stuff mixed half and half (1/2 93 and 1/2 racing) give me? Maybe 5hp or what? And would it hurt my engine any? Whenever spring time rolls around and I take my truck to the strip I just may have to try this stuff out
.Since I have the Superchip now in my 93 5.0 I have been running nothing but 93 Octane SHELL gas. I don't have any stations around here that sell anything higher than 93-Octane but I do I have a local drag strip it;s real local about 1/2 mile from my house
but anyways I know they sell racing gas but I think it's higher than 100octane if I recall it's like really high maybe like 108 is that possible? Around how much more HP would this stuff mixed half and half (1/2 93 and 1/2 racing) give me? Maybe 5hp or what? And would it hurt my engine any? Whenever spring time rolls around and I take my truck to the strip I just may have to try this stuff out
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From: WI USA
The Amoco sells racing because gas we have a 1/4 mile circle track two miles away. I will have to give it a try. Mike what do you think 1/2 100 and 1/2 89 ? I don't want to blow the heads off especially with the pain just went though tring to warranty work done.
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99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
------------------
99' F-150 XLT SC 4X4 ORP LS 4.6L K&N Air Filter Air Box Mod (3" intake from fender & silencer removed), Superchip, A.R.E. Cover, Duraliner bed liner, Rapidflow 3" single CatBack exhaust.
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
LOL....I didn't blow up my engine!!! Here's the deal, the dealer for racing fuel I used this summer carried 8 different types. He had specialty racing unleaded:
1. ERC-MAX unleaded - 100 octane 19200BTU/lb.
2.ERC-RUL Racing Gasoline - 104 octane 19100 BTU/lb.
3. ERC-RUL/T Racing Gasoline - 104.5 Octane 18400BTU/lb.
4. EXXON 103 RACING UNLEADED - 103.3 Octane 18,643 BTU/lb
When I used it I had nearly ran my tank empty the night before the races...then I put in 2.5 gallons...ran once and didn't notice any significant change. I told the distributor and he suggested letting it idle and circulate a little more. On my second pass I gained approx. 2mph. There can be a difference. I used the ERC-RUL Racing Gasoline.
The ERC-RUL/T Racing Gasoline is a completely unleaded high density (specific gravity) racing gasoline specifically designed to work in heavily supercharged or turbocharged race engines and/or in situations where high fuel milage with unleaded fuels is desirable.
So there ya have it...fortunately I still have the brochure about all these fuels.
If they had a station around here with anything higher than 91 octane, I'd more than pay the price for it. (personal opinion).
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html
1. ERC-MAX unleaded - 100 octane 19200BTU/lb.
2.ERC-RUL Racing Gasoline - 104 octane 19100 BTU/lb.
3. ERC-RUL/T Racing Gasoline - 104.5 Octane 18400BTU/lb.
4. EXXON 103 RACING UNLEADED - 103.3 Octane 18,643 BTU/lb
When I used it I had nearly ran my tank empty the night before the races...then I put in 2.5 gallons...ran once and didn't notice any significant change. I told the distributor and he suggested letting it idle and circulate a little more. On my second pass I gained approx. 2mph. There can be a difference. I used the ERC-RUL Racing Gasoline.
The ERC-RUL/T Racing Gasoline is a completely unleaded high density (specific gravity) racing gasoline specifically designed to work in heavily supercharged or turbocharged race engines and/or in situations where high fuel milage with unleaded fuels is desirable.
So there ya have it...fortunately I still have the brochure about all these fuels.
If they had a station around here with anything higher than 91 octane, I'd more than pay the price for it. (personal opinion).
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
BMW325,
I'd be careful doing that to an older engine. If it's been rebuilt, OK, but if it's original and high miles, you might want to take it easy on it. You know the condition of your motor much better than I do, so let that be your guide. As far as how much more power will you get out of your standard Superchip by using higher octane, it's anyone's guess.
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
I'd be careful doing that to an older engine. If it's been rebuilt, OK, but if it's original and high miles, you might want to take it easy on it. You know the condition of your motor much better than I do, so let that be your guide. As far as how much more power will you get out of your standard Superchip by using higher octane, it's anyone's guess.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Dear BigRed2,
I wouldn't dilute it with 89, I'd combine it with premium, so you get more octane. Try a small batch, mixed say 50/50, premium/racing gas. Just make sure that Amoco's 100 octane racing gas is unleaded!
Good luck, and let us know if you ever try it.
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
I wouldn't dilute it with 89, I'd combine it with premium, so you get more octane. Try a small batch, mixed say 50/50, premium/racing gas. Just make sure that Amoco's 100 octane racing gas is unleaded!
Good luck, and let us know if you ever try it.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 51
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From: S/W Michigan
Hi Mike T.,
You have made mention of the Toluene content in octane boosters. Could you expand on the standard proportions of toluene in pump gas,
and what would be a reasonable amount to add to "spike" a tank full of pump gas. We use this stuff like water at my job. Is this a safe way to boost octane?
Thanks for all your tech. info you really add a lot of value to this website,
Redwing
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2000, F-150, XLT, SC, Flareside, 4x4, 5.4, 3.55ls, ORP,
Tow Package,BFG Allterrain T/A KO's
Downey soft tonneau, Black Westin step bars
Bright REDWINGS red
Rewired driving lights from low beam dependant
to keyed toggle switch
You have made mention of the Toluene content in octane boosters. Could you expand on the standard proportions of toluene in pump gas,
and what would be a reasonable amount to add to "spike" a tank full of pump gas. We use this stuff like water at my job. Is this a safe way to boost octane?
Thanks for all your tech. info you really add a lot of value to this website,
Redwing
------------------
2000, F-150, XLT, SC, Flareside, 4x4, 5.4, 3.55ls, ORP,
Tow Package,BFG Allterrain T/A KO's
Downey soft tonneau, Black Westin step bars
Bright REDWINGS red
Rewired driving lights from low beam dependant
to keyed toggle switch
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
No, I wouldn't want to be your source of info for that, as I really don't have that knowledge. I'm not a gasoline refinery!
Tolulene is commonly seen in concentrations in excess of 40% in pump premium gasoline, but I really can't tell you much more than that. I wouldn't go dumping in tolulene, I can tell you that much, without getting some real specific info, and probably still wouldn't. I prefer to buy whatever octane level of gasoline I require, and not get involved in mixing fuels, it's just so unnecessary these days. I guess in your situation you have access to cheap tolulene, and want to know if you can take advantage of this to up your octane cheaper, right? I wouldn't, simply because I do not have the skills and knowledge to do this type of thing with any real confidence level, in all honesty. The only guys I know mixing fuel are running nitro blends; everyone else gets it at the pump.
I'm sorry I can't be more help to you on this,
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Tolulene is commonly seen in concentrations in excess of 40% in pump premium gasoline, but I really can't tell you much more than that. I wouldn't go dumping in tolulene, I can tell you that much, without getting some real specific info, and probably still wouldn't. I prefer to buy whatever octane level of gasoline I require, and not get involved in mixing fuels, it's just so unnecessary these days. I guess in your situation you have access to cheap tolulene, and want to know if you can take advantage of this to up your octane cheaper, right? I wouldn't, simply because I do not have the skills and knowledge to do this type of thing with any real confidence level, in all honesty. The only guys I know mixing fuel are running nitro blends; everyone else gets it at the pump.
I'm sorry I can't be more help to you on this,
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Besides...Have you ever read the MSDS on toluene...YIKES!!! can be VERY deadly to your life!
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html
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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. Just added (12/16/99) Billit oval rear view mirror, billit master cylinder cover, and billet third brake light cover.For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html