daisuke

So my car is new (to me) and I'm completely paranoid about anything happening to it. I have a few questions.

my engine is pinging right now according to the mechanic at the dealership, he said not to worry about it and just drive the fuel out, but I'm paranoid and I don't want it to ping anyway. Do the octane boosters actually work at increasing fuel octane and reducing pinging? How worried should I be about pinging with a rotary?

I'm not asking if they increase power, clean out the engine or injectors or anything else they claim to do, I know they're worthless for that. I just want to get rid of pinging with my current gas tank... will they work, and what brand do you recommend?

PS: I did search and anything relating to octane booster always degenerates into talking about fuel octane, techron and the like. Please keep to the point so that this thread is helpful for future reference.

staticlag

1)Depends on what your using to boost your fuel octane
2)very

Look up in the phonebook for a race parts store in your area. Call them and ask them where is the nearest place to buy some unleaded race gas of 100 octane.

Go there and put like 3 or 4 gallons of 100 octane unleaded gas in your tank

4me2

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/no-more-detonation-%2Amiac%2A-121249/

staticlag

alternatively,

do to the nearest home depot or lowe's or something like that.

Buy 1 gallon of xylene from the paint isle. Put it in your tank.

You should be okay.

daisuke

I did the screw in the top hole deal with a #8 x 1½ stainless metal screw, I might use a #10 later. It's made the pinging less noticeable but it's still there.

why would I want to put xylene in the gas tank?

Old Rotor

Just don't push(the accelerator) this tank of gas too hard and go to mid-grade or prem-grade on the next. You can even add some premium after it gets down half way.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

just put some premium into your gas tank, even its just about 1/10 used.

it will raise your Octane level signaifically.

Silver_Surfer

+1 Jump on the I-5 and head either north or south untill you burn off a half tank and head on back and fill up with the good stuff.

CnnmnSchnpps

iTrader: (1)

You would want to because it has a significantly higher octane rating than any gasoline you will be able to purchase (to the tune of 115ish? not sure the exact number). Toluene or xylene would work. These are about 15 bucks to the gallon thou...

DOMINION

"Octane booster" bad "pre mix" good! Me say searh "Pre Mix" for you Car!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Octane boosters are expensive ways to pour money into your gas tank...and do virtually nothing.

If your really worried...top up the tank with the best premium you can get...and don't worry about it

daisuke

I've been topping off with premium, it's pinging on super, the tank is already at least half premium and it still pings. the best I can get is either shell v-tec or chevron and max 91 octane, anyone know why we can't get 93 in california?

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

If it's pinging with premiun in it...take it back to the dealership and tell them to figure out what's wrong with it.....

DOMINION

I pre mix once a month. Works for me and no ping

daisuke

pre mix as in 2 stroke oil? how is that going to help (not critisizing, just curious)

Would it help if I pulled the battery to reset the ECU?

CnnmnSchnpps

iTrader: (1)

premix is good to ensure reliability in the long run.

if it's pinging with premium you've got other issues, and premix won't fix that. take it in.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Pre-mix doesn't increase octane (and thereby eliminate pre-ignition, aka dieseling or ping). It rather provides additional lubrication for enhanced combustion chamber seal.

As already cited, if your engine pings on 93 octane there is something wrong and you should take it to the dealership.

Conversely, from purely a ping perspective, only use just high enough octane gas to eliminate ping. Any more is a waste of cash.

However, as manual cited, performance may be [slightly] diminished by going with a lower octane fuel.

And lastly, I go with higher octane in the Winter as it tends to be "drier" gas and therefore helps reduce condensation, and for the same reason I don't let it drop below half a tank.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

yep, premix does not increase octane rating, it actually *Decrease* octane rating. Well, not much, but if you add *alot* it can go down as much as 0.5 to 1.

The manual saids it decrease performance when going with lower octane that is not 100% true. you can actually *increase* performance when you go lower, its just that if it pings, the ECU will retard the timing so you get less performance. my car does not like 87, at least in the summer, its ok with 89 tho. but I figure that the price diff. between 89 and 93 is like 10 cents. why not 93 and just worry free ?

Oh yeah why CA only sells 91 ? I mean I think almost everywhere has 93. some even have 94. Why is that ? Let me guess, something to do with CALI's stupid emission law or something right ?



daisuke, if your car pings like **** even when running 91, I guess you should take the car in and tell them to look at it. I have a feeling its just spark and coils and plug wires issue.

4me2

my car gets better MPG with lower octane gas.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

cuz lower octane burns easier.

4me2

that's why, if it don't ping, don't fix it.