My 95 disco I was really sputtering and struggling in idle with 91 octane gas. (That's all I can find around Boulder.) But a $4 bottle of octane booster has it running smooth as silk. $4 dollars isn't much more than a gallon of gas these days and the performance boost is incredible! I guess these old Buick engines are pretty octane-thirsty.

Anyone have any favorite octane boosters? I used STP, which has a fuel injector cleaner additive as well.

~dj

 

Maybe I'll give that a shot. (See my other thread: ELEVATION.) Thanks

 

STP is at the bottom of the list when it comes to a true octane Booster.
If you want a short term Boost go to the Lucas octane Booster.
For the long term consider some tune related parts and you will get a little extra punch that will last awhile.
Mike

 

You can make your own too, I do: Toluene and ATF.

Toluene is the main ingredient in octane boosters and gasoline - it's 114 octane. And the ATF lubricates and has detergents in it.

About 4 ounces ATF to a gallon of Toluene.

Optional: Puta quartin your tank and get on the highway (radiooff)- in less than 15 minutes your truck will have less vibration and be quieter.

 

I'll be the ignorant one; is the AFT o.k. in the gas tank?

 

I would be too concerned that you were cleaning out too much lacquer and carbon too fast which may cause problems with the 02 sensor and or cats.
Mike

 

ATF is good, even without toluene. Gas is so "clean" now that there are no libricants in it - engines like to be lubricated, everywhere.

I've never had a problem with 02 sensors or cats: The first time my VW 1.8t got my special juice it had 40k miles (up to 120k now). Used it in my sweetie pie's Escape at 30k. My dad's 626 at 50k, and his CL type S at 30k.

And when I began making this magic potion I would put 1/2 to over 1 gallon in at a time.

Note: putting it in a motorcycle makes the exhaust smell bad.

 

So, what sort of mileage are you getting in town and on the road and at what speed?
Mike

 

Great post Aquaholic thanks for the recipe! I've been using the Lucas / Seafoam combo the past 6 months that we've owned the disco & it's been great. I try to stay on top of it because the Wife drives it and a lot of the time slips up & puts in regular unleaded so I've been buyying octane booster in bulk.... Anyway thanks for the tip & hope everybody has a great holiday weekend

 

I usually keep my foot in it too much to see the mileage gains. And I haven't run it in the Disco yet - I'm waiting to resolve the issue with my knocking at start up.

If mileage in my VW drops to 26 MPG @ ~80mph I'll run some toluene through it, and get ~25mpg for that tank, then I'm back up to ~28MPG for a few months. All mostly highway @ 75-80 MPH