2funnn

Tolouene has been mentioned on this forum and I am wondering if it
is benificial on a stock LT1. How much should be mixed with a tank of gas?
We only have 90-91 octane in Califoria.
Thanks!
:flag

sputnick

I am pretty sure all toluene does is increase the octane rating by making the gas ignite at a higher temp? If this is the case then why do you want to add it? If you are using nitrous or a blower and are worrying about detonation then it may be benificial. Again, just a guess since no one else answered.

ASRoff

Thats what high octain fuel is, More resistant to burning.

GlockLT4

I might have to go chase down some of this stuff to try out :)

sputnick

Yeah, That is what i thought i was explaining. No harm.


[Modified by sputnick, 9:03 PM 2/7/2002]

Rich B.

[QUOTE]Thats what high octain fuel is, More resistant to burning.

Yeah, That is what i thought i was explaining. No harm.

...And it's a cheap high, too!...Smells good, also... :D

BBA

Maybe it would keep myu car from going into knock retard....where do I get it?

GlockLT4

:eek: :eek: Really? :blueangel:


Yeah, and how hard is it to get?


[Modified by Glock'94, 12:36 AM 2/8/2002]

AquaMetallic94LT1

Do some searchs on the net for the amount required to raise the octane of the fuel to the level you want. I doubt you will get much of an advantage unless your compression that is much higher than stock or blower, nitrous or turbo. Its possible to get up to 100 octane but I think you have to run 30% or more.

ChrisB

Toluene is 114-115 in the R+M/2 measurement (what we use at the pump). It is completely safe to burn in your engine, etc.

Figuring your new octane rating is going to be a straight volumetric thing.


Effective Octane = ((gas octane * gallons of gas) + (114 * gallons of toluene))/(gallons of toluene + gallons of gas)

TrueBlue ChevyDude

It's also real good at promoting the occurence of cancerous skin growths, so it's a smart idea to use laboratory-grade protection when mixing this stuff (eyes, face, arms, apron, boots).

My industrial arts teacher in H.S. worked for duPont Coatings in the 40s and 50s. He has numerous "problem areas" on his skin, namely in places where his skin was exposed to the air at the plant (wrists, cheeks, ears, neck). He didn't even work with this stuff directly (Toluene, Benzene, Sizzle-lene???) and believes that the problems are from airborne exposure.

Sure, he did that 5 days a week for 7 years. But as with any chemical, please be careful. And it doesn't even need to be said, NO SMOKING!!!

CROOZN

I burn straight Torco 104 unleaded racing fuel in my car. It is sold at our local track for about $4.99 a gallon. Check around with tracks, if they dont sell an unleaded racing fuel start requesting it, tell all your buddies to do the same. I am sure when they see the demand for it they will carry it.

ChrisB

Yikes! There is a big difference in toxicity between toluene and benzene - stay far far far away from benzene.

I wouldn't reccomend taking a bath or shower or being cavilier with toluene, but spilling a little on you isn't going to instantly give you cancer there. You don't need to put on a full containment suit, but I would definitely be carefull and use common sense. Think paint thinner/stripper.

GlockLT4

How bad for you is it to get the cleaner in the work shop baths on your hands for like an hour? I cleaned off a lot of pieces from my engine in the bath tub and didn't have gloves, so my hands had it on them for about 45-hour. When they started tingling, i stopped :bb :bb .

Mez

One of the major car magazines has an article this month about octane boosters and they talked about this. Its either Car & Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, or Automobile.

Monty

What is toluene?


Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive smell. Toluene occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree. It is also produced in the process of making gasoline and other fuels from crude oil and making coke from coal.

Toluene is used in making paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives, and rubber and in some printing and leather tanning processes.

What happens to toluene when it enters the environment?

Toluene enters the environment when you use materials that contain it. It can also enter surface water and groundwater from spills of solvents and petrolieum products as well as from leasking underground storage tanks at gasoline stations and other facilities.
When toluene-containing products are placed in landfills or waste disposal sites, the toluene can enter the soil or water near the waste site.
Toluene does not usually stay in the environment long.
Toluene does not concentrate or buildup to high levels in animals.
How might I be exposed to toluene?

Breathing contaminated workplace air or automobile exhaust.
Working with gasoline, kerosene, heating oil, paints, and lacquers.
Drinking contaminated well-water.
Living near uncontrolled hazardous waste sites containing toluene products.
How can toluene affect my health?

Toluene may affect the nervous system. Low to moderate levles can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped.

Inhaling High levels of toluene in a short time can make you feel light-headed, dizzy, or sleepy. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.

High levels of toluene may affect your kidneys.

How likely is toluene to cause cancer?

Studies in humans and animals generally indicate that toluene does not cause cancer.

The EPA has determined that the carcinogenicity of toluene can not be classified.

How does toluene affect children?

It is likely that health effects seen in children exposed to toluene will be similar to the effects seen in adults.

Some studies in animals suggest that babies may be more sensitive than adults.

Breathing very high levels of toluene during pregnancy can result in children with birth defects and retard mental abilities, and growth. We do not know if toluene harms the unborn child if the mother is exposed to low levels of toluene during pregnancy.

How can families reduce the risk of exposure to toluene?

Use toluene-containing products in well-ventilated areas.

When not in use, toluene-containing products should be tightly covered to prevent evaporation into the air.

Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to toluene?

There are tests to measure the level of toluene or its breakdown products in exhaled air, urine, and blood. To determine if you have been exposed to toluene, your urine or blood must be checked within 12 hours of exposure. Several other chemicals are also changed into the same breakdown products as toluene, so some of these tests are not specific for toluene.

Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

EPA has set a limit of 1 milligram per liter of drinking water (1 mg/L).

Discharges, releases, or spills of more than 1,000 pounds of toluene must be reported to the National Response Center.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set a limit of 200 parts toluene per million of workplace air (200 ppm).

Source of Information

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2000. Toxicological profile for toluene (Update). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

Where can I get more information?

ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. You can also contact your community or state health or environmental quality department if you have any more questions or concerns.

For more information, contact:


Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-29
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-422-8737
FAX: (404)498-0057

KCvetteowner

I just saw it at my hardware store today and was thinking about it and then saw this post!

It was just over $8.00 per gallon.

RatRacer

Unless you have a power adder or very high compression, there is no reason to add a lot of Toluene. It will promote a rich condition if used on a stock engine in high concentrations.

I add 15% Toluene when I am running with nitrous on my ZR-1. Don't go over 20%.

If knock events are occuring add Toluene in small increments until they are aleviated.

Anguish

Here's some interesting articles on it:
http://www.vtr.org/maintain/gasoline-octane.html
http://home.kscable.com/ssutton/miat...e/toluene.html

Rkreigh

I have a turbo buick and these guys run it all the time. but I'm not so sure that just getting good 104 unleaded race gas ($3.50) per gallon wouldn't be a cheaper move. stay away from the "octane" booster crap. most of it doesn't work too well and can foul up the O2 sensors.

anyone know of toulene will affect emissions??? on my buick with 50 lb injectors, I used "lamp alchy" mixed with the gas to pass the sniff, worked really well!!!

Hey cam, keep the ZR1 on drugs posts coming. that car is amazing.