Race Fuel or Octane Booster/Fuel Additive

thunder66

thunder66

New member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
115
Age
65
Location
fenton,michigan
I'm considering either buying a 55 gallon drum of race fuel to run in my stock sled. I am in Michigan and wondering if any of you have any info/advice on what I might want to use and where/who I might purchase it from. What I am thinking is running a 50/50 mix with pump premium. Also have possible access to AV Gas. And my other thought is a good octane boost/ additive.
 
If you want a crappy running hard to start down on hp sled run anything over 93 octane. What makes you think more octane will give better performance? It in fact does the exact opposite on a stock sled. If...your sled will start it will run like crap.
 
Running higher octane fuel in a low compression application, such as a stock snowmobile, would only hurt performance. Race fuel does not build more power, or make you faster. Octane is defined as the resistance to burn, and is only required when running high compression ratios, increased ignition timing, tighter exhaust, etc. If used in a stock motor, you will not fully burn the fuel, and make less power.

If it's stock, stick to premium pump fuel.
 
madzx2 said:
why? its stock just use premium.
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Because of the poor quality of the pump fuel. Actually I am talking about just a good street legal fuel, something that will allow me to not have to jet the thing fat because of worrying about the craptastic gas we have to buy. When I raced MX I always bought high end fuel just for the consistency of how the bike would perform.
 
valin said:
Running higher octane fuel in a low compression application, such as a stock snowmobile, would only hurt performance. Race fuel does not build more power, or make you faster. Octane is defined as the resistance to burn, and is only required when running high compression ratios, increased ignition timing, tighter exhaust, etc. If used in a stock motor, you will not fully burn the fuel, and make less power.

If it's stock, stick to premium pump fuel.
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So you are saying that my SRX has a low compression motor?
 
Turk said:
If you want a crappy running hard to start down on hp sled run anything over 93 octane. What makes you think more octane will give better performance? It in fact does the exact opposite on a stock sled. If...your sled will start it will run like crap.
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Ok... you guys are telling me what not to do but what do I do to insure I don't have issues with the stuff coming out of the pump? I am not afraid to spend a little extra money to allow for crisp jetting and peace of mind. I will probably put somewhere between 1000-2000 miles on my sled this year (fingers crossed!) and I am willing to spend the money to put the best possible juice in it.
 
i ran pump premium 91 all last season and never had a problem. my engine isnt stock. i did use stabil for marine engines. this summer i decided to try some 110 race fuel while i was water skipping. my sled ran like a dog. am i playing russian roulette? maybe but i am jetted a little rich.
 
madzx2 said:
i ran pump premium 91 all last season and never had a problem. my engine isnt stock. i did use stabil for marine engines. this summer i decided to try some 110 race fuel while i was water skipping. my sled ran like a dog. am i playing russian roulette? maybe but i am jetted a little rich.
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I understand the octane equation so I guess I phrased my initial statement a little bit off base. As I said in response to one of the other folks I am looking for quality/consistency. I used to buy VP U4 for my stock yz450 because it just behaved so much more consistently with that in the tank.
 
ANYBODY THAT DON,T USE ATLEAST A GALLON OF RACE FUEL / PREMIX WITH PUMP TODAY IS CRAZY. 10 % ETHNOL HERE IN NY AND FOR 2011 15 %. DON,T BELIEVE WHAT YOUR BUYING AT THE PUMP. 3:16 (yammie tony)
 
i heard the 15% was only for cars. they are still going to have the 10% pumps for recreational vehicles. this is what i heard but like i said im jetted overly rich by my own standards and i was fine all year.
 
YAMMIEGOD3:16 said:
ANYBODY THAT DON,T USE ATLEAST A GALLON OF RACE FUEL / PREMIX WITH PUMP TODAY IS CRAZY. 10 % ETHNOL HERE IN NY AND FOR 2011 15 %. DON,T BELIEVE WHAT YOUR BUYING AT THE PUMP. 3:16 (yammie tony)
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That is exactly why I started this thread. I want insurance and a crisp running sled. For all the other things we spend money on and worry about I am surprised at the lack of alternatives being discussed when it comes to fuel.
 
Is that the U4.4 (103 octane) or U4e (93.4 octane) you were using? VP might cost more, but at least you know whats in your tank when you fill it.
Not all VP fuel is just for race engines. C10 would be my pick.(mon 96)
 
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I agree that race fuel is overkill. Its expensive an won't start very easily. The best pump alternative available will be only 93 octane with 15% ethanol. This does not sound like something that gives most guys comfort knowing how many members right here on our forum are burning down weekly. What does everyone think about blending 50/50 AV 100ll and 93 pump? Av fuel is not expensive at 4.20 a gallon (here in NJ) and is super high quality gas for airplanes with out ethanol. When blended 50/50 it will net roughly 96 octane offering a higher level of protection with only 7 percent ethanol. Maybe even 40/60 Av to pump ratio netting 95 octane?
 
I run a blend of 100LL AV and Shell premium[no "E"] for normal riding when I am only refueling at home in all my sleds...trouble is on my long rides I am subject to trail side "Mystery Fuel" and thats when I depend on my DCS!

Bob
 
thunder66, I dont think your crazy, but you might be a little off as to your mix ratio. You would never need that rich of a octane mixture. I dont trust what comes out of the pumps either,we surely dont have differnt pumps for cars vs snowmobiles,etc here..lol.
I would say you would be more then safe by merely adding about 1 gallon to a fulltank fill up. It might be a problem to carry a full gallon on the sled if your going to be on a trip and need more then 1 tank full.
Octane booster will also keep the sharp edge off the pumpgas, I use a 1/2 bottle to every fill up, even a stock sled can and will burn down with the lousy quality fuel available. Just look at how many have done it over the past 2 years here on this site, bone stock,poof.....burned piston. I use octane boost even in a bravo 250...lol, you cant hurt the performance by that much. octane booster will not bump up the level like they claim but it takes the edge off the crappy stuff called premium. If you add alot of octane, sure they are hard to start and lower performance because it makes the engine "richer" and so on. As said earlier its the fuels ability NOT to burn with higher octane levels, just a whisker more is cheap insurance mr.squeeky doesnt come to visit.

Maybe I am the one who is crazy, I have been known to dance to the beat of a differnt drum, instead of heading to the slaughter house in same the line of sheep like everyone else.

but.... I dont have burned down engines either from bad fuel. ;)!

Good luck!
 
AND OF CORSE NOT I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST RACE FUEL ON A STOCK SLED. BUT WHAT I DO SUGGEST IS ALITTLE PIECE OF MIND. EVERYBODY SHAKES IN THEIR BOOTS WHEN THEY HEAR THAT WORD. "' RACE FUEL "'. LOVE TO POST ARTICLE JIM FROM DYNOTECH POSTED ON HIS BLOG ABOUT THE 93 CITGO THAT TURNED OUT TO BE 76 OCTANE BOUGHT FOR A NEW XP800 R FOR A DYNO TEST SESSION. 3:16 (yammie tony)
 
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madzx2 said:
i heard the 15% was only for cars. they are still going to have the 10% pumps for recreational vehicles. this is what i heard but like i said im jetted overly rich by my own standards and i was fine all year.
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ROTFLMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3:16 (yammie tony)
 
I've been satisfied/surprised at how well the Torco Accelerator stuff seems to work. Been running about 8 oz per 5 gallons of fuel and have had no issues. It appears to actually work as when I got some really bad fuel this summer in my truck I dumped a can in and it took care of the knock issue for that tank.
 
torco accelerator is the only stuff i would use with confidence.
 
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