Toluene

[Greybrick]

I did the search but don't see a lot of info here about Toluene as a gasoline component. Here's an old thread from a Porsche forum that discusses it's use in terms of power improvement which doesn't always translate to FE, but being that Toluene is a normal aromatic component of gasoline and has about 15% more btu's/gal I was wondering if there might be some benefit.

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=3052

Haha, the term 'Sherwin-Williams speed shop' cracked me up.

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/oem/.../toluene_r2k1/

.

[Greybrick]

Here's a link to another site extolling the virtues of using toluene for a power boost;

http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

.

[bobc455]

You are correct, toluene has a slightly higher specific energy than gasoline, and therefore you could see a slight (or maybe just theoretical) increase in MPG. However unless you can get it really cheap, it is going to set you back in MP$.

I add some toluene when I go racing because it can bring my 93 octane pump gas up to 95 or 96 (depending on how much I add), and I recommend this to anyone who is pushing the limit of a street car (race cars usually need real race gas). You can add toluene up to 20 or 30% without problems, but beyond that you are diluting the other ingredients of gasoline (lubricants, stabilizers, etc.) too much and you should just go for race fuel.

I get my toluene (and xylene) from a local Sherwin-Williams store...

-Bob C.

[TomO]

I used to use Toluene and Xylene for my Turbo Grand Prix as well.

I have to concur that the expense of those two chemicals will outweigh the gain, if any in MPG.