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Can Adding Octane Boost Raise 91 Octane Gas To 94?

AMSOIL Dominator Octane BoostA reader asks: My car is now tuned for 94 octane gas. My local stations only provide a premium gas at 91 octane. Can I use AMSOIL Octane Boost to bring the 91 octane gas up to 94?

Our answer: We would not recommend attempting to use an octane boost to bring 91-octane gasoline up to 94-octane. With your engine tuned for 94-octane, damage from engine knock is a real concern if the fuel is not up to the task.

Therefore, the smartest option would be to re-tune your car for the locally-available 91-octane fuel.

Aren’t Octane Boosts Designed To Raise Gasoline Octane Levels?

Yes, but there is more to the story. For example, AMSOIL suggests that their Dominator Octane Boost product raises octane by “up to 4-points”.

But there are two reasons as to why using an octane boost additive may not bring the octane from 91 to 94.

First, gasoline quality can be very inconsistent. There’s no way of knowing that one is really starting with 91-octane. The actual octane at the pump may not be as advertised.

The second important factor is that there is a law of diminishing returns with octane boost products. The higher the octane starting point, the fewer octane numbers gained. Therefore, an octane boost will deliver a greater octane-number increase when 87 is the starting octane. Adding a boost additive to 91-octane gasoline may only yield a one or two octane-number gain.

It’s simply not possible to project whether an octane boost product is actually taking this fuel up to the desired 94-octane goal.

In our opinion, this particular strategy of trying to drag a 91-octane fuel up to 94 with an additive is based on hope and assumptions. The risk of pre-ignition issues far outweighs the benefit of tuning the car for an octane level that isn’t reliably attainable.

More About The Uses Of Octane Boost

We asked AMSOIL Technical Services about the correct applications for their Octane Boost product. They don’t recommend this product for modern, stock automotive applications. In fact, AMSOIL Octane Boost is not compatible with catalytic converters. However, it is compatible with oxygen sensors. This octane additive was created for street-rods, classic cars, off-road and race track use.

AMSOIL tells us that there are three suitable approaches for using this product.

Boosting regular or mid-grade gasoline delivers the largest octane number increase. Again, when starting from higher octane levels, octane boost will offer less actual octane-number gains.

Another main use is starting with fuel which has the correct octane number for the application. Using this octane boost can provide extra insurance against engine knock and optimize performance.

Thirdly, AMSOIL Octane Boost can also be used as a lead supplement for classic cars.

Related: Octane Boost Myths And Facts 

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Octane Boost Myths and Facts

Octane Boost gasoline additives are functional and can be a must in certain situations. But we find that many customers misunderstand exactly how they work and when they should be utilized. Many believe that if they pour a bottle of octane boost in their gas tank, the result will be tire-shredding horsepower gains. Let’s explore the myths and truths regarding octane boosts. Hopefully we can clarify when they should be used and when they can actually be waste of money.

Myth

Octane boosts will increase horsepower in all cases.

Fact

This is the most common fallacy. Octane boost does not increase the energy value of gasoline. Higher octane simply keeps the fuel/air mixture from igniting too early in the face of high compression. When met with high compression and extreme heat, lower octane gasoline can actually ignite before the engine spark occurs. This can cause pre-ignition, engine knock and pinging. In extreme cases, these pre-ignition can cause serious engine damage. Rather than burn hotter, fuel with increased octane actually ignites in a more orderly fashion when met with high compression chamber pressures.

So When Can Octane Boost Be Used?

Increased octane is typically suitable for the following cases:

  • Vehicles that are tuned for high octane fuel.
  • Engines that are modified for higher compression.
  • When ignition timing is advanced.

When is Octane Boost a Waste of Money?

If you have a stock engine that requires only regular-grade fuel, octane boost is not likely to offer any improvement in performance. Also if your engine calls for premium gasoline and it performs properly using it (with no pinging or knocking). Further increasing the octane of the fuel is not likely to improve performance.

Will Increasing Octane Improve Gas Mileage?

Not the case. Again, higher octane fuel is designed to withstand high combustion pressures. But it will not burn more efficiently in vehicles designed for regular grade fuel.

At the pumps, you may be tempted to use mid-grade or premium because marketing claims of better efficiency and fuel system cleaning benefits. If your car calls for regular gas, do not get sucked in by this money-wasting ruse. Instead, clean out your good fuel system on a regular basis. We are partial to P.i. Gasoline Additive. Your mileage and performance will be maintained and you can keep the extra money in your wallet.

Can Adding Too Much Octane Boost Blow My Engine?

Not likely an issue. Again, increased octane actually moderates the ignition process, so you are not going to melt your engine. There are diminishing returns when it comes to octane, so over-doing it is not at all helpful. A bit too much octane boost also isn’t going to cause disaster.

Octane Boost Products Offered by Oildepot

AMSOIL Dominator Octane Boost

A safe, effective and potent octane boost for  2-stroke or 4-stroke engines. Dominator Octane Boost is ideal for racing engines, street rods, classic cars, snowmobiles and more. Also acts as lead replacement in gasoline for vintage cars. Not compatible with catalytic converters.

AMSOIL Motorcycle Octane Boost (4-stroke engines only)

Guards against pinging and engine knock in motorcycles, 4-stroke snowmobiles, ATV’s and more. Also contains cleaning agents to keep the fuel system and combustion chamber clean for optimum performance.

Related Reading:

Can Adding Octane Boost Raise 91-Octane Gas To 94?

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