using toluene

[someazn]

I've heard that toluene cleans the injector really well without hurting the components of the car like STP, Chevron, etc. Has anyone here ever used toluene and how much do you add to the gas tank?

[GzNutz]

Found a few sites and they pretty much say the same thing. It's ok when used in moderation. Here is one of the links: http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

I might have to try this.

[Ruski]

Use SeaFoam

[someazn]

Well I've read that seafoam does a lot of damage to the stock nylon coating in the gas tank and throttle body, which is why i want to switch over to using toluene.

[someazn]

Found a few sites and they pretty much say the same thing. It's ok when used in moderation. Here is one of the links: http://www.elektro.com/~audi/audi/toluene.html

I might have to try this.

you would only want to use this if you want to clean your injectors, im doing this before my oil change because after u add it in, your oil is gonna look like crap

[Black Bob]

Although toluene is part of unleaded fuel to a certain degree I would highly suggest you NOT add anymore to it. Engine components (specifically, rubber, nylon, PVC, etc.) are tested to the point of not breaking down under normal contact conditions with ordinary passenger car gasoline. Adding more toluene may cause your engine components, seals, etc. to breakdown more rapidly--after all toluene IS a solvent. Also, I would ask the question about whether the Solara engine's programming could compensate. Overall, making your own homebrew seems a little risky for the Solara engine. My 2¢ as a chemist.

[gnegroni]

Although toluene is part of unleaded fuel to a certain degree I would highly suggest you NOT add anymore to it. Engine components (specifically, rubber, nylon, PVC, etc.) are tested to the point of not breaking down under normal contact conditions with ordinary passenger car gasoline. Adding more toluene may cause your engine components, seals, etc. to breakdown more rapidly--after all toluene IS a solvent. Also, I would ask the question about whether the Solara engine's programming could compensate. Overall, making your own homebrew seems a little risky for the Solara engine. My 2¢ as a chemist.

Don't they use toluene to increase the octane grade of fuel?

[someazn]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t54232.html

check this out

[PXLpainter]

Although toluene is part of unleaded fuel to a certain degree I would highly suggest you NOT add anymore to it. Engine components (specifically, rubber, nylon, PVC, etc.) are tested to the point of not breaking down under normal contact conditions with ordinary passenger car gasoline. Adding more toluene may cause your engine components, seals, etc. to breakdown more rapidly--after all toluene IS a solvent. Also, I would ask the question about whether the Solara engine's programming could compensate. Overall, making your own homebrew seems a little risky for the Solara engine. My 2¢ as a chemist.

Don't they use toluene to increase the octane grade of fuel?

I've read this too - a cheap Octane booster... I think there was prolly a thread here about that before already as well...

[Black Bob]

Don't they use toluene to increase the octane grade of fuel?

You are correct, but toluene content is brought into an acceptable level for regular non-commercial combustion engines (i.e. Solaras, Civics, Cobalts, Fusions, etc.). There are different chemical cracking processes whereby toluene is generated. For the most part the gasoline manufacturers do not differentiate between what process their toluene comes from and they just blend any and all of them into their gasoline to tweak octane during manufacture. But nevertheless, there is alot of stoichiometry (balance of ingredients amounts) involved that must be maintained. Post adding too much toluene to your gasoline will destroy this balance. To what extent, I couldn't say but I have seen evidence of people trying to make their own "homebrew blend" of racing fuel only to have the detergent additives settle out of the base gasoline before they even introduce it to their gas tank. I've also seen what happens after they introduce it--did you know it is possible for a header to eject through a hood without actually breaking the hood hinges.

I'm not a fan of octane boosters that you buy off the store shelves. Buying these little bottles of "boost" is equivalent of using guaze as a condom in my opinion. You have to imagine that if they slapped on a tag line of "safe for all gasoline engines" there can't possibly be enough balls to the stuff to make a bit of difference to your engine. They are not in a market to get sued so I think they lean towards "watering" down their product rather than giving it more "oomph". And as far as injector cleaners and deicers go, I put my trust into the additives packages BP, Shell, etc. already have in their gasolines. I have no input for water removers.

[PXLpainter]

Cool Bob - good to have a chemist on here to set us straight with all the snake oil treatments out there!