California Gas Alternative?

SlickmisterN · 08-14-2003, 03:25 AM

I live in California where the highest octane pump gas is 91 octane. I was wondering what alternatives there are to using store baught octane boosters from Kragen. I live right near Sears Point/Infineon Raceway, do they sell race gas? I heard so one talking about buying drums of chemicles from Sherwin Williams and mixing it up. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?

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SlickmisterN · 08-14-2003, 06:25 PM

No-one has any info?

happasaiyan · 08-14-2003, 06:33 PM

move to a place that has better gas...(i.e. chicago

)

chicago = great gas...but for a price. i think we have the 2nd highest price per gallon?

but as long as it doesnt cause me to ping, its allllll good.

CreoWRX · 08-14-2003, 06:59 PM

You can go to the Unocal76 web site, and search for a station that has 100 octane "race" fuel. I have ~2 76 stations near me in Los Angeles that carry it.

-Mike-

Darwood · 08-14-2003, 07:26 PM

There is supposed to be a 76 station with 100 octane in Fairfield. http://www.76.com has a station finder which will tell you were to find 100 octane.

Darwood · 08-14-2003, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by happasaiyan
move to a place that has better gas...(i.e. chicago )

Yeah but then you have to put up with the crappy weather.

happasaiyan · 08-14-2003, 07:45 PM

the price you gotta pay for a smoooooth engine

j/k. its too dang cold in chicago in the winter. cant have your cake and eat it too, i guess. lol

wolverine · 08-14-2003, 07:51 PM

One word: toluene!

Mr. Grinch · 08-14-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlickmisterN
I live in California where the highest octane pump gas is 91 octane. I was wondering what alternatives there are to using store baught octane boosters from Kragen. I live right near Sears Point/Infineon Raceway, do they sell race gas? I heard so one talking about buying drums of chemicles from Sherwin Williams and mixing it up. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?

The guys going to the Sherwin Williams or other paint depot are buying drums of Xylene or Toluene, which is an effective octane booster.

Do a search on octane and Xylene or Toluene and you'll come up with a lot of info, even on this forum.

pio!pio! · 08-14-2003, 09:09 PM

Sears Point has a gas station in it w/ 93/94 and I believe 98 octane gas

toobee1 · 08-15-2003, 12:41 AM

I live in Calif and really really want an STI, will the cars ECU allow the car to run on 91 Octane or not? The owners manual on page entitled Gas Station Reference say the car requires 94 octane and can run temporarily on 91 octane. SOA in a reply to my email inquiry said the octane rating only effects horsepower and the car will run perfectly on 91 octane. They also do not recommend the use of octane boosters. Race fuel is $5/gal-about $75 for a tankful (not economically feasible; in my opinion handling Toluene or Xylene presents unacceptable health risks.

Red Rocket · 08-15-2003, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlickmisterN
I live in California where the highest octane pump gas is 91 octane. I was wondering what alternatives there are to using store baught octane boosters from Kragen. I live right near Sears Point/Infineon Raceway, do they sell race gas? I heard so one talking about buying drums of chemicles from Sherwin Williams and mixing it up. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?

1. Mix in unleaded race gas.

2. Toluene

(both as mentioned above)

3. Water+Methanol injection and proper tuning....

Kevin

cgroppi · 08-15-2003, 01:01 AM

You don't strictly need to do any of this. I drove a friend's STi this weekend in 115 degree heat in Tucson, AZ with 91 octane gas. He just got it back from the dealer with the ECU flash a few days before. No pinging. And I took it to a deserted twisty road and drove it for real. Mind you it wasn't my car and I couldn't believe he let my wife and I drive it at all, much less without him in it. I took it a bit easy, but not that easy

If the thing was going to ping, it would have in that heat, being driven in a "spirited" fashion.

Maybe it lost some power compared to running 93+ octane fuel, but it still had plenty left.

SlickmisterN · 08-15-2003, 02:03 AM

Ok it took me hours of searching online and a trip to Sears Point/ Infineon Race way but I got some great information. The raceways gas station carries 104 OCTANE!!!

But the price was more than $7 a gallon. They have cheaper fuels as well, 93, 95....etc. I also went in to a local paint store and found Toulene, the guy there was very noligable about its octane boosting capabilities. He told me to ad 1 gallon of Toulene to every 4 gallons of 91 octane gas to get ~ 94 - 95 octane. Can anyone verify this? Thanks for all the help and replies.

Crzykdd · 08-15-2003, 01:21 PM

Have you tried just plain ol Unocal 76 91 octane gas? Its much better than everyone elses 91 gas right now, as they are the only ones using an ethanol based gas. I noticed a difference when I switched to 76 gas.

-Jason

08-14-2003, 03:25 AM	#1
SlickmisterN Scooby Newbie Member#: 40673 Join Date: Jul 2003	California Gas Alternative? I live in California where the highest octane pump gas is 91 octane. I was wondering what alternatives there are to using store baught octane boosters from Kragen. I live right near Sears Point/Infineon Raceway, do they sell race gas? I heard so one talking about buying drums of chemicles from Sherwin Williams and mixing it up. Can anyone shed some light on this subject? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

08-15-2003, 12:41 AM	#11
toobee1 Scooby Newbie Member#: 7439 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles Vehicle: 2002 WRX Blaze Yellow	Will it run on 91 octane or not???? I live in Calif and really really want an STI, will the cars ECU allow the car to run on 91 Octane or not? The owners manual on page entitled Gas Station Reference say the car requires 94 octane and can run temporarily on 91 octane. SOA in a reply to my email inquiry said the octane rating only effects horsepower and the car will run perfectly on 91 octane. They also do not recommend the use of octane boosters. Race fuel is $5/gal-about $75 for a tankful (not economically feasible; in my opinion handling Toluene or Xylene presents unacceptable health risks. Last edited by toobee1; 08-15-2003 at 12:48 AM.

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08-14-2003, 06:25 PM	#2
SlickmisterN Scooby Newbie Member#: 40673 Join Date: Jul 2003	No-one has any info?

08-14-2003, 06:33 PM	#3
happasaiyan Scooby Specialist Member#: 37731 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Rolling Meadows, IL Vehicle: '07 TL-S 6MT '07 RDX-T	move to a place that has better gas...(i.e. chicago ) chicago = great gas...but for a price. i think we have the 2nd highest price per gallon? but as long as it doesnt cause me to ping, its allllll good.

08-14-2003, 06:59 PM	#4
CreoWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 19024 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: West L.A. Vehicle: 2011 Audi S4 Ibis White	You can go to the Unocal76 web site, and search for a station that has 100 octane "race" fuel. I have ~2 76 stations near me in Los Angeles that carry it. -Mike-

08-14-2003, 07:26 PM	#5
Darwood Scooby Newbie Member#: 29669 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Vehicle: 2004 Impreza WRX STi White	There is supposed to be a 76 station with 100 octane in Fairfield. http://www.76.com has a station finder which will tell you were to find 100 octane.

08-14-2003, 07:45 PM	#7
happasaiyan Scooby Specialist Member#: 37731 Join Date: Jun 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Rolling Meadows, IL Vehicle: '07 TL-S 6MT '07 RDX-T	the price you gotta pay for a smoooooth engine j/k. its too dang cold in chicago in the winter. cant have your cake and eat it too, i guess. lol

08-14-2003, 07:51 PM	#8
wolverine Scooby Newbie Member#: 36571 Join Date: May 2003 Location: NorCal Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi Black & gold	One word: toluene!

08-14-2003, 09:09 PM	#10
pio!pio! Scooby Specialist Member#: 4190 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: San Jose, CA Vehicle: 2008 Impreza WRX STi Aspen White	Sears Point has a gas station in it w/ 93/94 and I believe 98 octane gas

08-15-2003, 01:01 AM	#13
cgroppi Scooby Newbie Member#: 37002 Join Date: May 2003 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Tempe, AZ Vehicle: 2004 STi Silver/Gold	You don't strictly need to do any of this. I drove a friend's STi this weekend in 115 degree heat in Tucson, AZ with 91 octane gas. He just got it back from the dealer with the ECU flash a few days before. No pinging. And I took it to a deserted twisty road and drove it for real. Mind you it wasn't my car and I couldn't believe he let my wife and I drive it at all, much less without him in it. I took it a bit easy, but not that easy If the thing was going to ping, it would have in that heat, being driven in a "spirited" fashion. Maybe it lost some power compared to running 93+ octane fuel, but it still had plenty left.

08-15-2003, 02:03 AM	#14
SlickmisterN Scooby Newbie Member#: 40673 Join Date: Jul 2003	Ok it took me hours of searching online and a trip to Sears Point/ Infineon Race way but I got some great information. The raceways gas station carries 104 OCTANE!!! But the price was more than $7 a gallon. They have cheaper fuels as well, 93, 95....etc. I also went in to a local paint store and found Toulene, the guy there was very noligable about its octane boosting capabilities. He told me to ad 1 gallon of Toulene to every 4 gallons of 91 octane gas to get ~ 94 - 95 octane. Can anyone verify this? Thanks for all the help and replies.

08-15-2003, 01:21 PM	#15
Crzykdd Scooby Newbie Member#: 11617 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA	Have you tried just plain ol Unocal 76 91 octane gas? Its much better than everyone elses 91 gas right now, as they are the only ones using an ethanol based gas. I noticed a difference when I switched to 76 gas. -Jason