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Is it safe to mix ethanol or octane booster with gasoline?

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Old Oct 9, 2014 | 10:43 PM
  #1  
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C-CLass w204
Is it safe to mix ethanol or octane booster with gasoline?

Hello All,

The recommended gasoline for W205 is ron95 but here in Egypt some gas station just have ron92, so can i use ron92 and mix it we ethanol or octane booster if the gas station not have ron95 "in critical situation only"


Thanks
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 02:34 AM
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Yes it is safe. But your computer will know to keep your engine safe even if your octane is only 91.
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 06:42 PM
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C w205
Originally Posted by trade333
Yes it is safe. But your computer will know to keep your engine safe even if your octane is only 91.
U mean not in all cases ? The computer will deal with the ron 92 if used ocassionally?
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 07:29 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
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We are talking 91AKI (Anti Knock Index) & 95RON (Research Octane Number) ~ different measurements & approx equivalent octane.

Octane booster is OK but do not add ethanol (hydrous or anhydrous) unless you have a flex fuel car. It can damage elastomers & other fuel system components. Ethanol requires high percentages to achieve a meaningful rise in MON (Motor Octane Number) which is what really matters.

Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 14, 2014 at 07:35 AM.
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 09:25 PM
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C w205
Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
We are talking 91AKI (Anti Knock Index) & 95RON (Research Octane Number) ~ different measurements & approx equivalent octane.

Octane booster is OK but do not add ethanol (hydrous or anhydrous) unless you have a flex fuel car. It can damage elastomers & other fuel system components. Ethanol requires high percentages to achieve a meaningful rise in MON (Motor Octane umber) which is what really matters.
The problem here in Egypt that the Ron 95 might be mixed with some other additives that decrease the Fuel efficency wich causes some damages in the engine..we are facing here a serious problems with the dealer..i am about to receive the car but i am thinking of returning back the deposit due to this issue..as long as there Was some rumors said that there is some w205 had engine failures and some facts about Cla, B , and w204 models.
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 10:03 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I understand the problem. You can try some octane booster. The trouble is that the good ones are hazardous & cannot be sold to the public in concentrated form. If Benz wants to sell their cars in Egypt they have to tune the ECU to allow the engine to run on the local fuel.
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck
We are talking 91AKI (Anti Knock Index) & 95RON (Research Octane Number) ~ different measurements & approx equivalent octane.

Octane booster is OK but do not add ethanol (hydrous or anhydrous) unless you have a flex fuel car. It can damage elastomers & other fuel system components. Ethanol requires high percentages to achieve a meaningful rise in MON (Motor Octane umber) which is what really matters.
I'm not sure how true this is...PetroCanada is one of the biggest gasoline chains in Canada (if not the biggest after they took over Sunoco's share of the market too). They regularly blend up to 10% ethanol into all their fuels. And they don't hide it either.
I don't think they would have been doing this unless it was safe for 'regular' engines.
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Old Nov 13, 2014 | 12:53 AM
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Originally Posted by mihaelb
I'm not sure how true this is...PetroCanada is one of the biggest gasoline chains in Canada (if not the biggest after they took over Sunoco's share of the market too). They regularly blend up to 10% ethanol into all their fuels. And they don't hide it either.
I don't think they would have been doing this unless it was safe for 'regular' engines.
In the us 10 ethanol is the norm. All auto fuel systems can sold here are rated for it.
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Old Nov 13, 2014 | 06:25 AM
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Yes. A Benz standard fuel system will tolerate 10% anhydrous alcohol but 10% won't do anything to boost the OP's MON ~ motor octane rating. You need E85 or similar to make a real difference & for that you need a Flex Fuel car.

South Africa & Brazil were running alcohol in fuels long before it became the norm in NA. We have been through all the pain and trouble it can cause. I come from a global job in the oil industry.

Alcohol is being used as a fuel extender in NA ~ not as an octane booster.

Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 13, 2014 at 06:37 AM.
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Old Nov 13, 2014 | 01:03 PM
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Octane Boost

If you are looking to boost your octane safely you can use Toulene or Xylene. They are available in bulk and with an addition of a lubricant, since it is a very dry fuel, it will do a great job. Toulene and a mix of ATF oil or a light oil such as Lucas Oil is very popular with high PSI turbo cars. The only problem with Loulene is that it can be used in the manufacture of TNT and Meth so there might be restrictions. Do a google search for a good recipe. You can also look for a place that sells gas for race cars that should be 100 octane and then mix it 50/50 with 87 for a 93 octane mix.
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Old Nov 13, 2014 | 04:54 PM
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Both will give you an octane boost. Both will cause flame front retardation. They are not ideal for the purpose but better than knock.
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