nitro

Here are the Results of 8 octane boosters and different fuels on a rolling road dyno.

CAR 95 WRX 3" exhaust 197000k's temp 21.8deg
Base fuel Caltex (Vortex 95)
All no's are kw @ the wheels.AV of runs 2 & 3
All tests done with 2 litres of fuel and booster added to the labels instructions. After 4 runs, fuel level taken and rated best as no (1)being with the most fuel left in the tank. Worst or least amout of fuel left no (7)

Base fuel 99.5 (=6)
Nitrous Express 102.0 (=6)
Black 104 super 105.0 (3)
Wynns NEW RACE @3mls per lt 102.8 (=4)
Nitrous Formula Race @5mls / lt 107.0 (=4)
Nitrous Formula Race @2.5 mls /lt 108.5 (2)
Nitrous Formula Race @ 1 ml /lt 106.2 (1)
"AVGAS" 110 octane 101.7
This just goes to show how too much octane is a disadvantage for a basicly std WRX

Sam Elassar

so by how much did these octane booster claim to raise the octane.?

have you done the same thing with a modded car ?

sam

pat

nitro,

it is perhaps worth remembering that some octane boosters actually act as fire depressants, this slows down the flame front and thereby reduces peak cylinder temperature. This is a hack. It will get you out of trouble insofar as it will stop the engine from pinging its merry way to its death but it may actually cost you power. Water injection has the same effect (but in conjunction with a remap can be very effective).

An engineered octane booster does what it says on the tin. It increases the fuel's knock resistance (ie auto-ignition threshold) without reducing flame front speed or peak cylinder temperature; it just prevents the fuel from autoigniting. One example of such a compound is tetra-ethyl lead (TEL), which was used for many years in "leaded" petrol.

Another commonly used additive is Methlycyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl or MMT. Boosters such as Millers are based on this, but it is also a bit of a hack. Like TEL is is very poisonous, unlike TEL is is destroyed during combustion hence a bit more environmentally friendly. In its raw form it can cause symptoms like lead poisoning and Parkinson's Disease. It can damage oxygen sensors and will send any catalytic converter in the system to an early grave. As a plus point it does lower NOx and CO emissions

So, when choosing a booster, consider what is actually in it and think about what it does. Does it allow the same flame speed (and hence greater torque) without pinging or does it slow the flame down to reduce det?

Cheers,

Pat.