Paint thinner = octane booster?

richd · 04-09-2003, 09:42 AM

Anybody ever heard of that? I heard that certain brands/types of paint thinner have the same stuff as octane boosters but are much cheaper.

My car is a daily driver, but if it wasn't I'd be interested in trying that to see what happens.

Thanks,

Rich D.

BilLster · 04-09-2003, 01:39 PM

do a search one of the guy (chris i think)posted the chemical name tyciclinol

something like that but i wouldnt use paint thiner cause it can eat
through rubber lines

silver_pilate · 04-09-2003, 02:41 PM

Don't know, but I'd guess some of those would pretty much trash your emissions systems and/or sensors.

I'd also guess that paint thinner isn't made to quite the same standards as something you're putting in your gas tank.

--nathan

mpj76 · 04-09-2003, 03:07 PM

It might have some of the "active ingredients" as real octane booster, but it probably has a bunch of other nasty stuff in there that will trash something.

lx5091 · 04-09-2003, 08:27 PM

I respect you folks for giving straight-serious answers....because I just feel like laughing!

budgetmaster · 04-09-2003, 10:49 PM

Actually, toulene, a paint thinner is one of the main ingredients in octane boosters. On other sites I've been on there are posts with links to sites that give formulas to real, working "homebrews" that are safe, work, and inexpensive. I will try to find a link for you.

silver_pilate · 04-10-2003, 09:31 AM

Well, you have fun with that. It aint goin' in my tank, though.

--nathan

Dark_5.0 · 04-10-2003, 11:23 AM

The turbo guys mix Tolulene (spelling) with gas one gallon at a time at the track.

It seems to work pretty well for them. But I wouldnt try it.

james87gt · 04-10-2003, 02:31 PM

you could use kerosene that's what most of the octane booster stuff is

chatcher · 04-10-2003, 09:23 PM

we used to go to the local airport ( very small local facility ) and get airplane fuel for my buddies race car i think it was like 103 or 104 octane and at the time it wasnt to much more than premium at the stations but that was a few years ago

eeh1025 · 04-10-2003, 09:40 PM

Before i would go put paint thinner in my car i would just go and use VP race fuel that the best stuff and it is SAFE but pricey.
Ernie

PKRWUD · 04-11-2003, 03:20 AM

Paint thinner and other mineral spirits eat through most plastics, which is why most parts washers tell you not to use it (it will destroy the pump). If it was really as simple as adding some cheap paint thinner, it would have been old news.

04-09-2003, 09:42 AM	#1
richd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Edison, NJ, USA Posts: 125	Paint thinner = octane booster? Anybody ever heard of that? I heard that certain brands/types of paint thinner have the same stuff as octane boosters but are much cheaper. My car is a daily driver, but if it wasn't I'd be interested in trying that to see what happens. Thanks, Rich D.

04-09-2003, 01:39 PM	#2
BilLster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 446	do a search one of the guy (chris i think)posted the chemical name tyciclinol something like that but i wouldnt use paint thiner cause it can eat through rubber lines __________________ 89 with 331 t3'/t4 hybrids. upr Suspention worked out finnaly . 9.89 144 mph .

04-09-2003, 02:41 PM	#3
silver_pilate DURKA DURKA!! Join Date: Sep 1997 Location: Lubbock, TX...(TX panhandle) Posts: 1,418	Don't know, but I'd guess some of those would pretty much trash your emissions systems and/or sensors. I'd also guess that paint thinner isn't made to quite the same standards as something you're putting in your gas tank. --nathan __________________ '91 GT, Coast 347, 9.5:1 compression, full intake, Wolverine 1087 cam, exhaust, Keith Craft ported Windsor Jr. Irons (235 cfm intake, 195 cfm exhaust), AOD, PI 3500 converter, Lentech valve body, 3.73's (4.10's in the works), and Yokohama ES100's out back. Daily Car: '04 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

04-09-2003, 08:27 PM	#5
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	I respect you folks for giving straight-serious answers....because I just feel like laughing! __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

04-09-2003, 10:49 PM	#6
budgetmaster Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 24	Actually, toulene, a paint thinner is one of the main ingredients in octane boosters. On other sites I've been on there are posts with links to sites that give formulas to real, working "homebrews" that are safe, work, and inexpensive. I will try to find a link for you. __________________ Always searching for cheap HP

04-09-2003, 03:07 PM	#4
mpj76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 158	It might have some of the "active ingredients" as real octane booster, but it probably has a bunch of other nasty stuff in there that will trash something.

04-10-2003, 09:31 AM	#7
silver_pilate DURKA DURKA!! Join Date: Sep 1997 Location: Lubbock, TX...(TX panhandle) Posts: 1,418	Well, you have fun with that. It aint goin' in my tank, though. --nathan __________________ '91 GT, Coast 347, 9.5:1 compression, full intake, Wolverine 1087 cam, exhaust, Keith Craft ported Windsor Jr. Irons (235 cfm intake, 195 cfm exhaust), AOD, PI 3500 converter, Lentech valve body, 3.73's (4.10's in the works), and Yokohama ES100's out back. Daily Car: '04 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

04-10-2003, 11:23 AM	#8
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	The turbo guys mix Tolulene (spelling) with gas one gallon at a time at the track. It seems to work pretty well for them. But I wouldnt try it. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

04-10-2003, 02:31 PM	#9
james87gt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 62	you could use kerosene that's what most of the octane booster stuff is

04-10-2003, 09:23 PM	#10
chatcher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: butler pa Posts: 303	we used to go to the local airport ( very small local facility ) and get airplane fuel for my buddies race car i think it was like 103 or 104 octane and at the time it wasnt to much more than premium at the stations but that was a few years ago __________________ 92lx wannabe saleen

04-10-2003, 09:40 PM	#11
eeh1025 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 81	Before i would go put paint thinner in my car i would just go and use VP race fuel that the best stuff and it is SAFE but pricey. Ernie __________________ 93 GT 351 to 393 stroker, GT40 upper and lower intake, GT40X Turbo Swirl heads, holley 80mm throttle body, 255 fuel pump, 42 lb injector, JE pistons, Comp cam, comp lifters, comp pushrods, comp springs, crane Roller rockers. Trick flow Crank Shaft, comp Timing chain. MSD 7 series ignition, msd hvc2 coil, MSD timing adjust, MSD Pro billet Dis, Hooker long tube, Off road H pipe 1 chanber race flows, 4.10 gears, Vortech cooler and T-Trim with a 25lb boost AND LOTS MORE.

04-11-2003, 03:20 AM	#12
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Paint thinner and other mineral spirits eat through most plastics, which is why most parts washers tell you not to use it (it will destroy the pump). If it was really as simple as adding some cheap paint thinner, it would have been old news. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

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