Racing Fuel hurting me or no?

[chesspirate]

Okay, i may have asked this before, but, in my search for higher octane necessary for my truck, in California i've tried a lot of octane boosters but nothing seems to do it quite as well as just buying 2gallons of racing fuel.

This last fill up i put 2gallons racing fuel (velocity110) to 13gallons 91octane, i figured thats like 93.5ish

I picked up the literature on it and it said that "lead, gm/gal" is 4.

Is that much lead at my current amount in the tank going to kill my o2 and cat?

Also, on the same subject, in Cali i don't have access to Toluene or any other octane booster type straight chemicals, is there an octane booster i can use regularly that is legit? like rasing a 91 to close to a 93? Thanks

[T Man]

Are you having knock problems?

[CitizenLame]

What are you doing that makes you think you need the higher octane? Are you running high boost levels or extreme compression?

[chesspirate]

I purchased an aftermarket chip and it changed my octane requirements, but i'm almost dead positive that he calibrated it to run 93 since he lives outside of Cali.

I'm a poor judge of sound really, (can't say what ping really sounds like on any vehicle) but I know for a fact, no placebo effect, that the truck runs smoother(idle and accell), quiter, stronger with more octane than just straight 91.

And besides, the real question is will the amount of lead i have in there now be something harmful.

[jjwalker]

I have to have 93 octane as well because my timing curve.

[disc0monkey]

im pretty sure here at englishtown 110 is LEADED which u should not be putting in ur car... if u run pump fuel only do u notice loss in power? is ur knock sensor picking up predet. and pulling timing?

[chesspirate]

I have a 1991 TBI so i don't think it's pulling timing, but like i said, it runs way better with octane around 93 than just straight 91.

[Sparky2263]

With your mix diluting the lead content, I'd say you're okay for a while. But, the lead will cling to the converter element eventually leading to a failure.

I'd go to the local airport and pump some 100 or 110 no lead. They should have plenty of it.

[disc0monkey]

I have a 1991 TBI so i don't think it's pulling timing, but like i said, it runs way better with octane around 93 than just straight 91.

sorry forgot to check, but i def wouldn't be putting lead in there

[Sparky2263]

The lead will also accumulate on the O2 sensor shortening it's service life.

[T Man]

Wont the lead also affect the valves or valve guides?

[Sparky2263]

Nah. That's why they used to put lead in gas. Lubricate the valve seats and keep 'em from getting pounded in. When they phased out lead they phased in hardened valve seats.

The snake oil we had to deal with back then was a plethora of "lead substitutes" designed to "save" your pre-73 engine. It was all crap.

[rat]

I agree, don't put leaded fuel in anything with an o2 sensor.


I do have a question. Would it be possible to just retart the timing a degree or two if detonation is a concern? All that would be required on a '91 is just rotate the dist a little.

[CitizenLame]

Is that chip's performance gain worth spending like $5.00 a gallon for gas? We have 110 race fuel available here too but screw paying twice as much.

[Maximus]

Go to a speed shop and buy one gallon of race gas for every ten gallons of regular 91 octane gas to bump the octane up some.But unless your pinging with the 91 I wouldn't worry about it.You would here what sounds like a loud metal to metal ping if you were having problems.

[T Man]

you dont need a "good ear" to notice knock. Its pretty noticalbe.

[Maximus]

Its called ping because the engine will make a very distinctive "PING" "PING" sound.And that sound ain't good nor is it hard to tell even with a loud engine.I can hear it on my TA and its not quite by a long shot.I screwed up getting gas from a mom and pop stop.No other choices but I only bought enough to get me down the road to a regular station.

[chesspirate]

okay, i'm looking for an unleaded source of racing fuel, may have gotten a tip last night, i'll check today.

After the lead accumulates on the O2 and Cat will it eventually un-accumulate as i drive without lead? or did i just screw myself?

[jjwalker]

No it will not un-accumulate. It is like lead poisoning. It will hang around and not go anywhere.. However, if you stop using it, you shouldn't have a future problem unless the problem is already there and has not shown its head...

[Maximus]

You really only need to use high enough octane gas to prevent pinging and detonation.Anything more is just a waste of money.I actually can get away with 89 in the winter in the TA.Just a half tank is all I have used at a time.But it's premium all the way in the summer.I also run a few gallons of race gas mixed with the premium when I go to the track.That way I can get away with a few more degrees of timing.

[Texashorsepower]

This might sound a little obvious but..... Why not just buy 93 or 94 octane at the pump??

The additional $$$ you're spending on even 2 galons of race fuel could pay for the .20-.35 cent difference between 91 and 93 octane gas at the pump.

Heck you'd probably save even more because you aren't making an extra trip somewhere go get the race fuel -

Just a thought "outside the box" =-))



THP

[Sparky2263]

He's in Cali. Highest he can get is 90-91.

[chesspirate]

Highest I can get is 91, except the place that pumps leaded 110.

can't remember why we have the lower octane.

Also, i remember a couple years ago, before shell bought Texaco, there were some Texaco's that sold 92 but i thought the regulations were allready in order, so i don't know how they got around that.