If you have an older model vehicle, chances are that you’ve considered using octane boosters. If you’re like me, you’ve had doubts about whether they work or not.
Octane measures a gasoline’s ability to resist the knocking or pinging noises you sometimes hear. It happens especially during acceleration.
When detonation of the fuel/air mixture occurs too early, it can cause knocking or pinging sounds. If can lead to serious engine damage if it goes on long enough.
Nobody wants holes in your pistons! No, I am not kidding.
Most unleaded gasoline sold in the US is between 87 and 94 octane. A good octane booster can increase those numbers by a full 3 points, meaning that if your “premium” gasoline has 94 octane, you can bump it up to 97 octane.
While most people who use octane boosters have older vehicles, it might be worthwhile to try one in your newer ride. Most octane boosters also clean the fuel injection system. That’s always a big plus, regardless of your car’s age.
If you walk into your automotive store and check out the fuel additive aisle, you might feel overwhelmed.
Which one of the thirty or more brands will work for you?
I’ve done some research in this area. This article will tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about octane boosters and which one(s) I feel work best.
BOOSTane Professional Octane Booster
Boostane says this proprietary product (which means they have a patent on the ingredients) is a real octane booster and not street legal.
This doesn’t mean that it contains racing fuel or that it can’t be used in your commuter car. It simply means that this product will increase the octane higher than what the standard used by the federal government.
Boostane says it can increase your octane up to 116. That’s assuming you’re already using 93 octane and you are willing to dump the entire contents of the can into a single gallon of fuel.
That would mean using 10 of these in a 10 gallon fill up to get that 116 octane. I’m not sure anyone wants to do that, but it’s nice to know that you CAN if you want to.
The mixing amounts are on the container. For someone who is using 93 octane and would be happy to boost it to 100, this can will treat just shy of 40 gallons. That’s a 7 point boost! For the average driver, that would make your average car or truck feel like a race car!
I like this product because it’s quite clear and exact about the boost you will get depending on the gas you are using and how much you add.
Other products simply say, “a boost of up to 3 points.”
This additive also offers anti-corrosion protection from ethanol in fuel. It also contains cleaning agents for the injectors and fuel system.
Perhaps the only drawback is that it turns spark plugs, O2 sensors, and other items orange.
Someone said that this “isn’t your daddy’s octane booster” and he is absolutely right! If you want some real heavy duty engine booster in a can, this is it!
Lucas Oil Octane Booster
Lucas Oil products have been around for decades. They are well known for making excellent products that work. This octane booster designed specifically for motorcycles is no exception.
Lucas says that this product is safe for turbos and all types of gasoline engines. They also claim that this product is not street legal. It will offer “three times the boost” but they don’t say how many points or give any other information.
This octane booster also prevents ethanol damage. If you’ve ever been on the road and all you can find is the regular 87 octane, you will appreciate having some of this in one of your saddlebags or backpacks.
Most modern motorcycles prefer a 91 or higher octane. Adding Lucas Oil Octane Booster when you can only find 87 octane gas will prevent that low octane rattle that is so common.
I did find some users who say that while they trusted the Lucas Oil name, this product did nothing to stop their bikes from pinging.
A few others complained that the bottles leaked.
You can’t beat this product for motorcycles. It comes in a convenient size that allows you to fill your tank and dump one bottle (for the average 4-gallon gas tank).
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment
Most of us think of octane booster and other fuel treatments as something only for cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Any four stroke engine can benefit from octane boost, including boat motors.
Star Tron says that their product will stabilize fuel for up to two years and prevents ethanol fuel problems. It will also remove water and break down sludge so it can be burned.
It will feel as though you are using a higher-octane gasoline.
This is not your ordinary additive. It contains enzymes that eat sludge and other deposits. That will allow you to start your boat motor easily, even after storing it all winter.
Many users noted that they had stored gasoline for 3 or 4 YEARS! But because they used Star Tron, as opposed to the ever-popular Sta-Bil, and they had zero problems.
Other users praise this additive for a multitude of other engines including lawnmowers, snowmobiles, and generators.
It was hard to find a complaint about Star Tron. A few users said it did nothing for their car or truck. But this was designed more with a boat in mind than for the everyday car.
If you own a boat or other small engine that doesn’t get regular use, Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment is what you have been dreaming of.
Torco High Octane Unleaded Fuel Accelerator
If you’ve been checking out some of these products, you may have noticed that true octane boosters aren’t exactly cheap. There is almost always a less expensive option.
Torco brand octane booster has a unique blend of components that can raise octane as high as 105.
Like Boostane, the mixing amounts are on the back label. The product says that if you are using 91 octane gas, adding 32 ounces to 5 gallons of gas will boost it to at least 105 octane.
Unlike some other octane boosters, this one will NOT remove or neutralize ethanol. Like Boostane, this also tends to leave an orange residue on spark plugs and O2 sensors. This residue does not appear to cause any problems.
The majority of users say that they were skeptical when they first tried this product. But they were 100% satisfied with the results afterwards.
There were a few users who say that use of this product made zero difference for their vehicles. Other users complained that the price for Torco is still too high.
Most users were very pleased.
If you want to try an octane booster but you don’t want to pay a premium price, give Torco brand a try. See if it makes a difference in your ride.
Do octane boosters really work?
Yes, octane boosters really work. But you need to be careful that the product you are buying says the additive will boost the octane, not just call itself an “octane-like booster.” Don’t fall for one that says it works similar to octane boosters.
Some octane boosters work better (increase the octane) more than others. Nearly all octane boosters raise the numbers at least 3 points. But it will depend on the current octane level of the gas you are using and how much of the octane booster you are willing to add to the gasoline.
Nearly all octane boosters contain MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl), Ferrocene, and other aromatic alcohols such as Benzine or Xylene. These have long been known to raise the octane levels of gasoline.
But since many companies want to keep their blend a secret, you will probably never know which additive they are using or what mixture.
Can octane booster damage an engine?
No, an octane booster won’t damage an engine if use properly. Detonation or knocking certainly can and will damage an engine if it isn’t controlled.
Some octane boosters tend to leave an orange residue behind on spark plugs and oxygen sensors. This residue doesn’t appear to hurt anything.
If you read forums, a few people claim that octane boosters “clogged” their injectors. I’m betting that they had a very large buildup of deposits that the octane booster was trying to clean off. Older engines often run better if the octane booster is used over several tanks to keep items in the fuel system clean.
I have yet to find anyone who can prove that an octane booster did damage to their engines. But you won’t have any trouble finding people with serious engine damage from uncontrolled pre-detonation, known as engine knock or ping.
How much does octane booster increase octane?
This would depend on the brand and how much you dilute the octane booster.
Nearly all octane boosters have the dilution booster number printed on the bottle. For example, Boostane states that if you are using 93 octane gas and you put the entire 32-ounce bottle into one gallon of fuel, you will increase the octane to 116.
Some manufacturers don’t list an actual number. They simply state that using their product will “increase” octane. I would be very suspicious of those claims.
When should I use octane booster?
Some people are under the belief that octane boosters are strictly for race cars or very old cars that were designed to run on higher octane gas. You will find plenty of other people who say that octane boosters add new life to their vehicles and prevent knocking.
Octane boosters are made to offer greater resistance to engine knock. This will automatically improve engine performance, whether you have that in mind or not.
Think of an octane booster as giving your car the best gasoline you could buy. Octane boosters will give you more power and can give your engine a longer life by preventing detonation or pre-ignition.
If you drive city streets or heavy freeway traffic, you might not notice much of a difference. But your car certainly will.
Using an octane booster is a good idea every time you fill up your tank. If you find the cost prohibitive, you can always add some octane booster to every other tank.
Is higher octane gas better for older cars?
If you have a much older, “classic” or antique car (say from the 1960s) you might find that the higher the octane, the better your car runs.
Older model cars were designed to run on leaded gas to prevent knocking. To keep your classic car running its best, use premium gasoline that does not contain ethanol and use an octane booster regularly. Ethanol can eat rubber in the fuel lines, fuel pump, and carburetor.
While your 1967 Chevy might be able to take engine knock longer than your 2016 Nissan, the fact is that you still aren’t doing your motor any good. By using an octane booster, you can prevent nearly all engine knock, even in older vehicles.
Conclusion
If you can afford it, BOOSTane Professional Octane Booster is the clear winner here.
It has very impressive numbers for boosting the octane of your gas by as much as 23 points! Even moderate use will boost your octane a full 7 points. That is a big boost!
This product will also protect your car from ethanol damage and corrosion. The high detergent levels will keep your entire fuel system clean and running more efficiently.
If you find BOOSTane to be a bit pricey, you can’t go wrong with Torco High Octane Unleaded Fuel Accelerator. This product has received tremendous reviews and doesn’t cost as much.
Remember that octane booster isn’t the same thing as a fuel stabilizer! Save the octane boost for times you know you are going to be driving your car or using your boat.
Don’t store it in gas cans unless you are certain that you will be using it within 6 months.
Whatever type of car you drive, you are sure to notice the power that an octane booster can give your ride.