Octane levels...??
02-01-2011, 12:43 PM
#11
I have an electronic octane test machine. I have found that after testing more than 60 separate tests that gasoline sold at the pump has 1 - 1.5 more octane than is the Minimum rating suggested on the pump. Gasoline tested from 7-11 last week, I purchased 89 octane was actually 90.5 octane when tested. Out of 60 test including Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Mom & Pops little store, Marina etc... I have never had less that 1 octane above what is written on the pump, and if your read the pump carefully it states that that is the "minimum" octane rating. I went to the auto parts store and purchased a bottle of everything they had on the shelf to increase octane. I can tell you it takes a lot of "booster" to increase a gallon 1 point and ton of "booster" to increase the octane one number. I have gasoline being tested that is more than 1 1/2 years old from the purchase date, left purposely in sealed and unsealed containers. Each test has lost no octane over the period. Understand that the fuel may have lost volatiles that make it hard to start, smell bad etc...but it has not lost octane. These fuels also contain 10% ethanol.
Out of curiosity... How do you know that your machine is calibrated correctly and is giving an accurate reading? Sounds like you have been at this a while.
02-01-2011, 01:16 PM
#12
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
I have an electronic octane test machine. I have found that after testing more than 60 separate tests that gasoline sold at the pump has 1 - 1.5 more octane than is the Minimum rating suggested on the pump. Gasoline tested from 7-11 last week, I purchased 89 octane was actually 90.5 octane when tested. Out of 60 test including Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Mom & Pops little store, Marina etc... I have never had less that 1 octane above what is written on the pump, and if your read the pump carefully it states that that is the "minimum" octane rating. I went to the auto parts store and purchased a bottle of everything they had on the shelf to increase octane. I can tell you it takes a lot of "booster" to increase a gallon 1 point and ton of "booster" to increase the octane one number. I have gasoline being tested that is more than 1 1/2 years old from the purchase date, left purposely in sealed and unsealed containers. Each test has lost no octane over the period. Understand that the fuel may have lost volatiles that make it hard to start, smell bad etc...but it has not lost octane. These fuels also contain 10% ethanol.
Thanks
02-01-2011, 01:59 PM
#14
Registered
James thanks for the great information, where can you purchase this octane tester?
02-01-2011, 02:15 PM
#15
VIP Member
VIP Member
I can not test fuel with lead, 100LL and some race fuels can not be tested for this reason with this machine. Calibration is always and issues, to be sure I'm correct I have a stack of bibles, my fingers crossed and plenty of beer for emergencies.
This machine has a self calibration cycle and to be sure it is sent back to the lab each year for calibration assurance.
As an example the booster "104 Octane" is in fact 104 octane, put that 1 pint bottle of 104 octane booster into a gallon of 89 octane gas and and you will have a blend of the two corrected for volume.
A great additive to increase octane is water, down side is that it does not burn so well.
This machine has a self calibration cycle and to be sure it is sent back to the lab each year for calibration assurance.
As an example the booster "104 Octane" is in fact 104 octane, put that 1 pint bottle of 104 octane booster into a gallon of 89 octane gas and and you will have a blend of the two corrected for volume.
A great additive to increase octane is water, down side is that it does not burn so well.
02-02-2011, 05:29 AM
#18
Registered
I have an electronic octane test machine. I have found that after testing more than 60 separate tests that gasoline sold at the pump has 1 - 1.5 more octane than is the Minimum rating suggested on the pump. Gasoline tested from 7-11 last week, I purchased 89 octane was actually 90.5 octane when tested. Out of 60 test including Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Mom & Pops little store, Marina etc... I have never had less that 1 octane above what is written on the pump, and if your read the pump carefully it states that that is the "minimum" octane rating. I went to the auto parts store and purchased a bottle of everything they had on the shelf to increase octane. I can tell you it takes a lot of "booster" to increase a gallon 1 point and ton of "booster" to increase the octane one number. I have gasoline being tested that is more than 1 1/2 years old from the purchase date, left purposely in sealed and unsealed containers. Each test has lost no octane over the period. Understand that the fuel may have lost volatiles that make it hard to start, smell bad etc...but it has not lost octane. These fuels also contain 10% ethanol.
02-02-2011, 06:27 AM
#19
Gold Member
Gold Member
I have gasoline being tested that is more than 1 1/2 years old from the purchase date, left purposely in sealed and unsealed containers. Each test has lost no octane over the period. Understand that the fuel may have lost volatiles that make it hard to start, smell bad etc...but it has not lost octane. These fuels also contain 10% ethanol.
02-02-2011, 08:11 AM
#20
VIP Member
VIP Member
I will dig up the manufactuer of the machine, I believe the cost was $ 12,000.00 or so.
Rumor mill was very strong leading me to believe that Ethanol made gas go bad and the result was reduced Octane. I had several engine failures, so rather than buy more engines I tested fuel.
The only guys that really care about Octane are the aircraft and boat owners, a car on the track with 14:1 is already buy fuel, and he is only buring 20 gallons so cost and availibility is not an issue. FAA has very few rules regarding the age of gasoline, of course purge and check for water before climbing in.
I was so sure someone was trying to screw me selling me "bad" gas that I purchased this machine. Fact is that I have yet to find any gas that is less than advertized Octane. I have gone to some gas stations where a second person has to watch your back while fueling, and still the fuel is as advertized.
I have looked for and found old lawn mowers, gas smells foul, but the octane is 87 +, of course I do not know what or when the fuel was put in the tank, nor to I believe that any equipment would run with this old gas, but the octane is ok.
To get a good pump test I pre-purge the fuel line, pump 4 gallons through the pump into the car, then fill a 1 gallon container for testing to help insure I'm getting the gas paid for and not fuel left in the line from the previous use.
Lessons learned -
Rumor mill was very strong leading me to believe that Ethanol made gas go bad and the result was reduced Octane. I had several engine failures, so rather than buy more engines I tested fuel.
The only guys that really care about Octane are the aircraft and boat owners, a car on the track with 14:1 is already buy fuel, and he is only buring 20 gallons so cost and availibility is not an issue. FAA has very few rules regarding the age of gasoline, of course purge and check for water before climbing in.
I was so sure someone was trying to screw me selling me "bad" gas that I purchased this machine. Fact is that I have yet to find any gas that is less than advertized Octane. I have gone to some gas stations where a second person has to watch your back while fueling, and still the fuel is as advertized.
I have looked for and found old lawn mowers, gas smells foul, but the octane is 87 +, of course I do not know what or when the fuel was put in the tank, nor to I believe that any equipment would run with this old gas, but the octane is ok.
To get a good pump test I pre-purge the fuel line, pump 4 gallons through the pump into the car, then fill a 1 gallon container for testing to help insure I'm getting the gas paid for and not fuel left in the line from the previous use.
Lessons learned -
