daustin1

I wouldn't use cheap octane booster. It could damage your cats and 02 sensors, and will turn your plugs red (tell-tale sign of octane booster additive if it causes problems that would normally be warrantable). If you want a good octane booster, use Torco, but you absolutely don't need Torco on a stock, untuned/mildly tuned motor.

MNgopher

Just to add to things, the reason winter fuel nets lower energy is because the emissions rules are relaxed in the winter -specifically the vapor pressure requirements. Lower vapor pressure fuel is required in the summer to prevent fuel from evaporating easily and contributing to ozone pollution. In the winter, higher vapor pressures are allowed in recognition of colder temps. This allows refiners to use lighter products in higher proportions in winter gas, and these products often have slightly lower energy content.

That being said, denser air, more drag from thicker fluids in the diffs, transmission, etc..., more warmup time, and if you don't monitor your tire air pressure, are all additional reasons that have as much, if not more, to do with lower fuel mileage in the winter in cold climates.

After that, you couldn't pay me to use an additive from dollar tree. I'm driving a $40,000 truck and I'm going to dose the fuel with stuff I buy at the dollar store. No thanks.

remltr

A little off topic. How is it that some of you have $1.89 gal gas while here in WA state it is around $3.25 gal? It would almost be cheaper for me to drive to your neighborhood and fill up than drive down the street here.

sbronemann

That's crazy talk. Filled up yesterday here in Iowa for $1.80/gal. Filled it up last week with only 6 gallons left in the tank for right around $50. Loving the cheap gas finally! It hasn't been over $2.50/gal for 4 or so months here in the Midwest.

mikeinatlanta

Does anyone know what is actually in the dollar general octane booster? This sounds like speculation on top of speculation if we don't know what is being added to the fuel. Of course, agree with the idea of adding any unknown additive to the fuel not being a good idea no matter where it comes from. For all we know the OP is adding Octane Boost energy drink.

OP: Could you post a pic of what you are putting in the tank?

todd92

There is no way octane booster is increasing MPG. You can believe your unscientific, anecdotal results all you want.

Ricktwuhk

Gas prices have been dropping around the country. Washington State has some of the highest gas prices in the country, partly due to high gas tax of close to 50 cents a gallon.

i suggest you use Gasbuddy.com. I found multiple stations in your area under $3.00.

mikeinatlanta

If the additive had a higher energy content per unit of volume it is possible. Not saying that's the case, but none of us know until we know what's in it. E.g. If the octane boost is a bottle of 100 octane unleaded pure gas then it will improve mpg, obviously not by the amount claimed unless he is adding 10 gallons of it.

todd92

Even if it has 50% higher energy density, which it doesn't, adding 8 oz to 30 gal isn't going to make a measurable difference.

remltr

True, but not necessarily tier 1 gas.

Adding the $.50 WA tax to the $1.89 others are stating and includes their states gas tax, there is $.61 difference in price from there to here based on the price of $3.00 here (and that is not tier 1 gas). The west coast always gets raped on gas prices. California is even higher.