HOw can I compensate for low octane gas?

[cateye5312]

We are planning a cross country ride in a few weeks and I just found out that the only place to get gas (a snowmobile rental shop) decided to switch to 85 octane E10 gas as a cost saving measure this winter. (for those of you in the low country where 87 octane is the lowest you can get, here in Colorado we can go even lower, down to 85 octane, ugh!)

We are going to need to use this guy's fuel - are there any additives we can get to take with us that will help?

We'll end up needing 6 or 7 gallons per machine so there's no way we can carry that much extra and there is nowhere else to get fuel.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Old Scud-doo]

I ran some TORCO Race Fuel Concentrate in my tank when I used to run nitrous on my Rmk9. I think there is one other company....Lucas Oil, they have a good octane booster also. Good luck and have fun.

 

[cateye5312]

There are alot of octane boosters out there - just worried about picking up one that might hurt the motor. Don't they tend to dry things out even worse than ethanol gas does?

 

[xc6rider]

Not really... Most all octane boosters wont even take that fuel from 87 to 88... I do remember researching a concentrate product (may be the torco stuff mentioned above), that seemed like a decent thing to try. If i remember right, its heavily based on Toluene. That may have just been a homebrew fuel tho...

If thats the one stop you have lower grade fuel to get from, Id bring one gallon of c-12 etc if ur overly concerned. Also, unless you pull up to that place on empty, what fuel you do still have in the tank will blend, with the exception of high moisture ethanol. Ive run 87 without ethanol (likely with ethanol and not knowing) here in the low flats of iowa, and just avoid working it too hard. And definitely varying throttle position.

When we ride in rural areas here, we often have to burn whats available.

 

[die hard poo]

Run the sled in the ethanol fuel mode.... Should be fine, that's what it was designed for. Or pack some race fuel or 100LL to mix.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I would run in ethanol mode and just add in some race fuel as others have said. But here is a link on making some octane booster with Toluene.

Linky

 

[JonezyBones]

Just add sta-bil and you should be fine. If your riding higher elevations then the more you can get away with. Anywhere around 10,000 feet and your going to be fine.

 

[v8lover]

I use torco fuel concentrate if i run into a station that doesn't have 91

 

[cateye5312]

Just add sta-bil and you should be fine. If your riding higher elevations then the more you can get away with. Anywhere around 10,000 feet and your going to be fine.

What does Sta-bil do for it and are you talking the new ethanol blend they came out with (blueish green) or the standard red stuff? I have always used the standard red stuff for summer storage by the way.

For the most part except for a few miles at each end we will be above 10,000feet.

 

[KrazyKen]

Lucas Octane Booster

I recall reading a pretty extensive report on octane boosters a year or two ago. One of the very rare, non-alcohol based, octane boosters is the Lucas race product.
If I recall correctly their product is petroleum based not alcohol based so it doesn't add more alcohol to the ethanol that is already in the fuel.


Quote from SLP:
It is normal for your check engine light to flash at you once in a while. However, if it is actively flashing at you, you should unplug your
ethanol wires if running in non-ethanol mode. If the light continues to actively flash at you, try adding some Lucas octane booster to
your fuel at a mix ratio of 1 ounce to the gallon. If the light continues to be active, you either have very poor fuel quality in your sled or
something mechanically or electronically is going wrong with it. You can first try fresh fuel from another station and if that does not eliminate
the check engine light from actively flashing at you, you need to get it into the dealer to have it looked at. If your check engine light
is actively flashing at you, try riding at a different speed. Vary the throttle position often (pump the throttle a bit as you ride) as this will
reduce the chance of detonation

 

[cateye5312]

I recall reading a pretty extensive report on octane boosters a year or two ago. One of the very rare, non-alcohol based, octane boosters is the Lucas race product.
If I recall correctly their product is petroleum based not alcohol based so it doesn't add more alcohol to the ethanol that is already in the fuel.


Quote from SLP:
It is normal for your check engine light to flash at you once in a while. However, if it is actively flashing at you, you should unplug your
ethanol wires if running in non-ethanol mode. If the light continues to actively flash at you, try adding some Lucas octane booster to
your fuel at a mix ratio of 1 ounce to the gallon. If the light continues to be active, you either have very poor fuel quality in your sled or
something mechanically or electronically is going wrong with it. You can first try fresh fuel from another station and if that does not eliminate
the check engine light from actively flashing at you, you need to get it into the dealer to have it looked at. If your check engine light
is actively flashing at you, try riding at a different speed. Vary the throttle position often (pump the throttle a bit as you ride) as this will
reduce the chance of detonation

Ha! I had this issue Thanksgiving weekend! Some idiot (me) took the exhaust pipe off and when he put it back on he forgot to screw the sensor back in!! Oops!!! What is that sensor anyway? It will definitely darn sure make your check engine light come on!

Where can you get Lucas octane booster? Alot of automotive parts stores sell Lucas products - would this be there?

 

[cateye5312]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I think I will find and buy some Lucas octane booster and take it along. It sounds like it can't hurt and will help.

 

[cateye5312]

Lucas octane boost

Well so much for that idea. I went to the local auto parts store out of curiousity and they had Lucas Oil Octane Boost, which was clearly labeled "for use in 4 stroke engines only". I called the 800 number on the bottle and talked to Lucas Oil directly and asked where I could find their octane boost for 2 stroke engines. They don't make one. They only make one formula and it is for 4 stroke engines only. And they didn't say "we don't recommend it" they said "don't use it".

Comments? Other ideas? Am I concerned for nothing? My sled only has 300 miles on it and it definitely says not to use less than 91 octane e10 gas in it. I'm really not interested in hurting it! I already use the ethanol resistor because non-ethanol gas doesn't exist in our happy valley. and yes I have called all the local distributors. None of them carry it.

 

[Reg2view]

Torco concentrate works in 2 strokes, and is unleaded. I've used it in the past in a mod summit, it didn't foul the 02 sensor I was running, and have it for my higher comp head in the pro if I can't get good 91. FWIW. Others in AK have reported success. You can get it online or some race shops, ordered it directly from Torco in the past. Good luck.

 

[snobyrd]

to tell the truth, if your sled engine is stock, it will run all day on 87, these r low compression heads, u don't need the octane, pol just say to use it for extra safe measure. I run my 13 at 3-4500' on 87 all the time, I haven't tried anything lower, but if u could get a few cans of 100ll, down load a octane calculator on your phone, it will tell u wat to mix, it's just using average to figure out the mix.
I'm gonna b installing 13.5 heads and they only require 91, so don't sweat it, if your gonna be higher than my 4500 u might be fine with even lower than 87.

 

[mud99]

85 is fine at high altitude, just put the resistor to the ethanol setting.

Typical snowest BS, you are overthinking this.

87 in the flatlands is the same as 85 at altitude.

Generally, when you see 85 at the pump, it is because you don't need 87.

 

[KrazyKen]

Well so much for that idea. I went to the local auto parts store out of curiousity and they had Lucas Oil Octane Boost, which was clearly labeled "for use in 4 stroke engines only". I called the 800 number on the bottle and talked to Lucas Oil directly and asked where I could find their octane boost for 2 stroke engines. They don't make one. They only make one formula and it is for 4 stroke engines only. And they didn't say "we don't recommend it" they said "don't use it".

Comments? Other ideas? Am I concerned for nothing? My sled only has 300 miles on it and it definitely says not to use less than 91 octane e10 gas in it. I'm really not interested in hurting it! I already use the ethanol resistor because non-ethanol gas doesn't exist in our happy valley. and yes I have called all the local distributors. None of them carry it.

Call SLP and ask them if that is the Lucas product they are talking about. I have also read that on the bottles label. Personally i've never used it because i've been fortunate enought to still find non-e fuel. But I know my days are numbered and I will also need a solution.

 

[cateye5312]

85 is fine at high altitude, just put the resistor to the ethanol setting.

Typical snowest BS, you are overthinking this.

87 in the flatlands is the same as 85 at altitude.

Generally, when you see 85 at the pump, it is because you don't need 87.

Yep I knew that part regarding 85 vs. 87 and I am probably overthinking it I just don't want to hurt my sled.

With 1/2 tank of 91 and 1/2 tank of 85 we would still be at 88 octane. That should be safe enough.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

On the fuel tank of my '13, it also has a giant sticker that says "use 91 w/o ethanol".
If you read the manual, it says "recommended 91".
It also says using 87 is fine, as long as you turn the computer to "eth" setting. (don't have my manual in front of me but that was the general idea).
That was one of my concerns when I picked up the sled, cause finding the recommended fuel is always a crap shoot.

 

[FrankTheTank]

Talked to SLP abut Lucas booster earlier and here is what they said:

SLP: We have been using Lucas for many years in our entire fleet of sleds of all brand with not a single case of deposits of any kind. I think Lucas lists it as four stroke since they have not done testing on two strokes but we have. It is the only booster we have found that really works. All other brands had little or no benefit.

Ive used Klotz booster and took away DET on my modsled.