Toluene??

[MasCam]

Just a quick question, where do you get it from and how much do you use?

From information from using the search function it should be about 20-25% for how much to use but I can't find any information on where to get it.

Oh location Dunedin if you didn't notice the info in my avatar.

Thanks
Chris

[sergei]

don't bother using it in 98, as 98 is already saturated with it, as it smells like toluene...

[RedMist]

You wont get an accurate octane increase. IE you will detonate one day and run wet the next. Toluene is already present in fuels and is used to up the octane rating to that on the pump. As such there can be little or lots dependant on the quality of the base fuel. By adding more to a batch with little toluene it sygnificantly increases the octane. By adding more to a batch already high in toluene you may get no effect... gettit?
Your much better off using a regulated octane fuel. Such as av-gas, or if needed dedicated racing fuels.

[MasCam]

The main reason that I was interested was that I make semi regular trips to third world states (Invercargill) where they don't sell 98.

I'm not to keen on running the caldina on 95 which is 5 points below what it was desinged for, even if the guys at toyota told me that it was safe to run it on 95 as it had knock sensors which would keep it from detonating to much yeah that sounds great

chris

[nite b]

Fast dry enamel thinners is toluene, paint supply shops may sell to you if not sniffing or making a p lab.
I think your caldina will be fine on 95 though, plenty running around on 91 even, it will deal with it.

But at around $30 a litre I think your wallet may have a fit before your car!

[Mr Revhead]

his caldina is a st246 with hi comp 3sgte... 91 not recomended!

[nite b]

Ah.. i see. I shouldve picked that up on the avatar pic

Nulon does a good octane booster, might be the easiest answer..

[Elmendorf]

I use to use a toluene based mix in my starlet when racing but now run race gas, slightly easier on the old wallet

So unless your prepared to spend around $140+ on 20 litres of toluene and go through all the security checks race gas is the easier way to go. And theres no mixing involved with race gas so easier to use all round.

[fivebob]

Nulon does a good octane booster, might be the easiest answer..

No that is not a good idea, it contains Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT) which is well known for fouling spark plugs and it's best to avoid it.

[MasCam]

So any other idea's for relitivly easily boosting the octane of 95 up to around 98? Or am I kind of stuffed without resorting to race gas

[Mr Revhead]

the st215 can handle 95. im not 100% on the exact differences between the st246 and st215 but id doubt 95 would kill it.

[fivebob]

You wont get an accurate octane increase. IE you will detonate one day and run wet the next. Toluene is already present in fuels and is used to up the octane rating to that on the pump. As such there can be little or lots dependant on the quality of the base fuel. By adding more to a batch with little toluene it sygnificantly increases the octane. By adding more to a batch already high in toluene you may get no effect... gettit?
Your much better off using a regulated octane fuel. Such as av-gas, or if needed dedicated racing fuels.

Toluene content does not vary as much as you might imagine, and not by enough that it would make more that 0.5 octane difference. So external conditions like air temp/pressure/humidity will be more likely to affect the engine more than any inaccuracy in toluene levels. eg a 6°C increase in air temp requires 0.5octane increase.

Also toluene is much better in turbo engines as an octane improver, it's effect at higher cylinder pressures is better than most other octane improvers.

With regard to the levels already in fuel, if you're living in the upper half of the North Island toluene levels do not vary that much, lower North Island and the South Island are a little bit more variable, but still not enough to cause issues. According to test conducted in 2001-2002 ( http://www.ess.govt.nz/rules/pdf/petrol ... 1-2002.pdf ) Toluene levels were 13.58% average with a standard deviation of 1.98%. 95% of samles were in the 10-15% range. If you're adding 25% additional toluene the difference in octane increase is less than the variability of octane rating of fuel supplied

[tatsumaki]

Toluene was used by F1 teams in the '80s running up to 60psi boost on smaller engines. Since Toluene had a octane rating of 114 they would mix just over 82% with n-hepthane (basically a 'filler' liquid with no octane rating).

Doing this allowed them to run the insane boost pressures they did.

When we were using it on the Starlet we mixed 8 litres of pure Toluene with 2 litres 98 Pump fuel to get 10 litres at around 110 octane.

A little Synthetic trans fluid was added to help protect the seals in the fuel system as seal failure can be a downside to using Toluene.

At the end of the day there were more cons to using racegas.

Besides, I think you'll find even Motorsport NZ disallow it in Schedule A for all events, if antone here decided to try it on the track these days.

Happy tuning,

PB.

[MasCam]

So looking at this from a cost effective point of view and still not wanting to run my baby on 95 (even though it is still under warrenty ), If toluene is $140 odd for 20 litres it may just be best to use the off the shelf octane boosters and change the plugs regularly?

Chris

[Bling]

how about you just dont wear your lead boots when driving down there?

seems best option to me, give it an easy time and it wont have an issue running on 95 i'm sure.

my 2c

[MasCam]

Yeah well the problem is that my wife drive's it sometimes and shes a complete hoon. Plus I get to drive her (the car) little enough so when i do i like to enjoy her.

Chris

[Mr Revhead]

when shes drivng it, whip out and adjust the throttle cable a little

[tatsumaki]

Now there's a novel idea Warwick

I'd just not allow the partner to drive it

PB.

[fivebob]

when shes drivng it, whip out and adjust the throttle cable a little

Better solution, fit a Motec and use a fingerpint switch to set the redline

[strx7]

the st215 can handle 95. im not 100% on the exact differences between the st246 and st215 but id doubt 95 would kill it.

exactly the same compression ratio according to everything i've found