Toluene octane boost in LT-1

[jpanek]

I'm getting about 5 degrees spark retard at 90 mph, 100% throttle from the knock sensor, according to the SnapOn computer. If it's real and not some other resonance, I'd like to get that octane above the 93 I get at the pump.

Anyone here run the 30% toluene mix written up in the thread by grumpyvette at http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46415 in their LT-1? I'd like to get just a little faster at the track to dip into the 12s, but don't want to melt the fuel system. Maybe I'll try a 20% mix to start and see if that knock goes away.

 

[Vettelt193]

I thought that Toulene was the stuff that was sold to investors in the 70's as a 'miracle fuel'... just mix it in with water and your car will run great! As it turned out, the engine only ran great for about a half hour... I could be wrong on this though.

My honest opinion is if this very cheap method of gaining octane is so great, why doesn't gas already have it in it? Or, why don't engines that require high octane use it? I am thinking because it is not good for the engine.

 

[Mad-Mic]

I thought that Toulene was the stuff that was sold to investors in the 70's as a 'miracle fuel'... just mix it in with water and your car will run great! As it turned out, the engine only ran great for about a half hour... I could be wrong on this though.

My honest opinion is if this very cheap method of gaining octane is so great, why doesn't gas already have it in it? Or, why don't engines that require high octane use it? I am thinking because it is not good for the engine.

guys do use toluene for racing applications. i'm not sure the mix as i haven't read the above post but from what i hear they also mix it with some mystery oil because the toluene is a dry liquid similar to water or alcohol and the oil needs to be mixed in so you don't damage the cylinder walls from the dry toluene. you can buy toluene at sherwin williams. i know guys that buy 55 gallon drums and mix it at their house before they go racing. it's ALOT cheaper than 100+ octane fuel at the track.

 

[jpanek]

I thought that Toulene was the stuff that was sold to investors in the 70's as a 'miracle fuel'... just mix it in with water and your car will run great! As it turned out, the engine only ran great for about a half hour... I could be wrong on this though.

My honest opinion is if this very cheap method of gaining octane is so great, why doesn't gas already have it in it? Or, why don't engines that require high octane use it? I am thinking because it is not good for the engine.

I will consider it a miracle fuel if it gets me into the 12s! Gas doesn't have it because regular cars don't need it, and it's slightly more expensive than regular gas. Engines that require high octane do use it.

I'll trust Grumpyvette on this one. Mad-Mic, thanks for the reminder on the toluene washing out the oil film on the cylinder wall. I was going to be lazy and run straight toluene, but now I'll add the oil as per Grumpy's recipie. I miked the cylinder bores during my recent head gasket change, and they were 0.0001" over at 93K miles, so I don't want to ruin that. Hooray for Mobil 1!

 

[Mad-Mic]

I will consider it a miracle fuel if it gets me into the 12s! Gas doesn't have it because regular cars don't need it, and it's slightly more expensive than regular gas. Engines that require high octane do use it.

I'll trust Grumpyvette on this one. Mad-Mic, thanks for the reminder on the toluene washing out the oil film on the cylinder wall. I was going to be lazy and run straight toluene, but now I'll add the oil as per Grumpy's recipie. I miked the cylinder bores during my recent head gasket change, and they were 0.0001" over at 93K miles, so I don't want to ruin that. Hooray for Mobil 1!

higher octane on a 9.5:1 compression motor will not make you go any quicker. however it will help the knock. you should hook it up to a scanner because i am thinking your knock sensor is bad. if your LT1 doesn't have any tuning thru the ECM you should not be getting any knock.

 

[redc4corvette]

I'm getting about 5 degrees spark retard at 90 mph, 100% throttle from the knock sensor, according to the SnapOn computer. If it's real and not some other resonance, I'd like to get that octane above the 93 I get at the pump.

Anyone here run the 30% toluene mix written up in the thread by grumpyvette at http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46415 in their LT-1? I'd like to get just a little faster at the track to dip into the 12s, but don't want to melt the fuel system. Maybe I'll try a 20% mix to start and see if that knock goes away.

I use nos fuel addative it adds about 7 points to the fuel
I also installed an lt4 knock sensor.
94 lt1 barry grant 125 shot
11.87 117.02 mph
307 rearend.

 

[mjsrun]

I just wanted to comment on using Toluene. I add 1 gal per tank full and get an amazing result with my 90 vette. Believe it or not Toluene is used at the pumps to increase the octane along with other things of course. Probably could add 2 gal per fill up but at 5 bucks a gallon minimum from the paint store it can get pricey. I generally use Toluene during the winter when the oil refineries goof up the gas.

 

[motorman]

I'm getting about 5 degrees spark retard at 90 mph, 100% throttle from the knock sensor, according to the SnapOn computer. If it's real and not some other resonance, I'd like to get that octane above the 93 I get at the pump.

Anyone here run the 30% toluene mix written up in the thread by grumpyvette at http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46415 in their LT-1? I'd like to get just a little faster at the track to dip into the 12s, but don't want to melt the fuel system. Maybe I'll try a 20% mix to start and see if that knock goes away.

i would try some race gas first to see it that cures your problem before becoming a chemist without a degree. they sell no lead 100 octane in most large cities and if you are near a drag strip or circle track i bet they have it there. even a tank of leaded race gas will not hurt your engine.

 

[truxell3]

i go to circle tracks alot,they all sell race gas,sunoco race or turbo blue.105 or 110 octane.to find a track near you go to www.whowon.com

 

[jpanek]

Thanks guys - the race gas definitely helps. It doesn't retard the spark now until 115 mph at 100% throttle. The ET's have gone down 0.1 second or so!

 

[grapeknutz]

I'm getting about 5 degrees spark retard at 90 mph, 100% throttle from the knock sensor, according to the SnapOn computer. If it's real and not some other resonance, I'd like to get that octane above the 93 I get at the pump.

Anyone here run the 30% toluene mix written up in the thread by grumpyvette at http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46415 in their LT-1? I'd like to get just a little faster at the track to dip into the 12s, but don't want to melt the fuel system. Maybe I'll try a 20% mix to start and see if that knock goes away.

What mods do you have on you vette? if you have headers that might be a problem. You might what to replace the knock sensors to the LT4 type, they are not as sensitive as the LT1s The LT4 sensors were used to "quell" the "noise" the roller rockers made.