Octane Booster

[Netnorske]

This past weekend, my wife and I rode over Snoqualmie Pass to visit some friends who live in Kennewick. It's about 250 miles one way to BBQ, drink like fish...pass out...eat breakfast, ride home. All good, especially the weather...FINALLY! Anyways...after traversing the pass on our way over Saturday, we stopped in a small village so I could remove some leather as it was getting really warm. Upon doing so, I noticed another Nomad and a V2K parked over in some shade. The owners and their wives were sitting on a bench taking a little break. Naturally, I had to roll over and chit-chat. Turns out they had heard about our group so I just gave them a business card.

After looking over my Nomad, they really liked some of the mods I have done, which was cool. I said that I wished the Nomad had the power of the V2K, because even with premium fuel and a PCIII fuel processor, I still get some pinging in the higher gears when rolling on the throttle from 60-75mph....especially when pulling a long hill such as the pass or when fully loaded. The Nomad owner said he has been adding Turbo 108 Octane booster to every tank of fuel on his bike and it had really improved his performance, while quieting the pinging. He said to add 1 oz to every gallon of gas as that would add about 3 points to the octane rating (making 92 more like 95) and that I would be amazed at how much better my bike ran.

Soooo...after breakfast and before hitting the road home Sunday, I stopped at an Auto Zone and bought a 32 oz can (9.99 I think). That is enough for 8 fill-ups at 4 gallons per. When I stopped for gas before hitting the pass, I added 4 ozs to the tank before fueling, anxious to see if it would really make any difference. I must say....I think my bike liked it! It had better roll on power and seemed to pull the hills a tad better. There was less pinging for sure, but I still heard a wee bit here and there. I'm not certain that I would add this stuff to every single tankful while riding around the neighborhood, but I believe when traveling on long trips at mostly higher speeds, this is something that would be worth it big time to help improve performance. I should add that my intake is all stock with the exception of a K&N filter on the left side.

With all that said...obviously, purchasing this stuff in large quantities (by the case) would be the most cost effective. I'm wondering if anyone else here is a believer in this stuff and if so....what brand of booster are you using and where is the best place/price to buy it by the case...?? The best price I have found for a case of 32 oz (12 cans) of Turbo 108 is about $87.00. At 8 fill-ups per can, that breaks down to around $0.91 extra per tankful of fuel. Maybe the extra performance is worth it to you, maybe not. For me...I think mostly on extended trips will my bike will get the extra juice.

[chainsaw]

It would be interesting to see how it effects riders in different parts of the country.

[usranger74]

Would using Sea Foam do about the same thing?

[blowndodge]

you're making a huge mistake adding that crap to your tank Kris.

[jandreu]

Brad, you care to explain?

[markclark57]

After the switch to Chuckster's single plate intake all my pings went away. I had the PCIII mapped on reg. fuel. Now if I run premium it actually gets worse mileage and no performance increase. Octane boost of any sort would be going the wrong direction for Grace.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by jandreu

Brad, you care to explain?

BD,
I too am interested in the wise words of the enlightened....but please...go slow and speak plain English...I'm Norwegian remember.... I hate that pinging and it can't be good for the engine, so aside from doing a complete intake mod, which I don't really care to do at this point, what options are left?

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by usranger74

Would using Sea Foam do about the same thing?

Bill,
Seafoam is more of a lubricating and cleaning agent, unrelated to fuel enhancement per/se....

[skiman]

I would go back to who ever did your dyno to set up the pc3 and have them tune the ping out

[Netnorske]

It has never been dyno'ed...just set using an exhaust sensor. Maybe I should pony up the cash for a dyno run.

[blowndodge]

Ok Kris/James.

The over the counter stuff has additives that don't burn real well, leaving extra deposits on your valves and piston crowns. The longer you use it the more deposits it leaves.

Now knowing this let your feeble minds wonder a bit... if you have more build up on your piston crowns what are you doing to the compression ratio? When more deposits gather on the crown it displaces area like a higher domed piston. What does that do? It raises the compression further making it more prone to ping on standard gas pump gas.

You need to dial in that processor. This is why the TFI or cobra is easy.

On mine I dialed in the 1st pot so that you can hold a steady speed up a grade in very warm weather and not ping. Then adjust the second pot so that going up that same grade in warm weather and rolling on the throttle produces no ping either. Mine is set so that I do have to run premium but very hot weather produces no ping. I'm getting 40-42 on the highway at speeds of low 70's.

Not sure your processor can do that?

[Todd]

Injectors don't like MMT especially for prolonged use either. Even throttle body injectors. I would open up the right side and stick a 9" filter on it you can get at Auto Zone for < $20.00 (had mine that way for 5 years) then tune from there and I think your pinging will be gone.

[Jared]

My first Nomad was the only one that pinged, my other two have had no problems with it. My first Nomad was also the only one that had the stock intake, while the other two have had chuckster's kit.

If you want to see an increase and power and decrease in pinging, that's my suggestion.

[Netnorske]

I hear you Jared, but I'm not sure how much longer I will have this bike. I have 47K now and will have well over 50 by summers end, so I don't know how much more work I wanna do on this thing.

[rickyboy]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I hear you Jared, but I'm not sure how much longer I will have this bike. I have 47K now and will have well over 50 by summers end, so I don't know how much more work I wanna do on this thing.

Kris, I appreciate your high mileage for sure. {not that I think it's high} But is the bike showing signs of fatigue or burning oil? Or any of the issues related to "old age"? {like Trica says you are} Last time I rode with you, you had no troubles and the bike was a solid performer. It's never let you down where you've found yourself on the roadside.
These bikes have a history of being long term bikes. That's one reason I bought mine. I don't pretend to know what your thinking man, but if I were a betting man {which I'm not} I'd say that you've been eye balling the Road Glide or some other beauty.
Well listen, if you are thinking of getting rid of your old Nomad, be sure to let me know what you want for it. Surely you wont want too much for it, given the state it's in.
Dig up another coffee tin up out of your back yard and take $50.00 bucks out of it and buy a new air filter kit like has been suggested. Tune your pc111 for the increase of air, remove the solenoids, "marbalize" and enjoy. You can get a K&N kit that will fit your backing plate so you don't need to spend the $$$$ on Chucksters plates...... Really a cheap fix.
As attractive and exciting as this octane booster sounds, I'd listen to BD and Jared and stay away from the stuff. We have the same bikes {although mine is the "fast black"} and with mine having the air kit {if you can call it one} and run premium fuel because what the heck,.... and I have absolutely no pinging ever.
Just my 2 cents worth my friend.