Found racing fuel in Chicago NW suburbs! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

dwasifar · 16th April 2002, 06:50

I've been casually asking around at gas stations and it finally paid off - and it turns out the place is right on my way to the gym. It's a Clark station, which is why I never noticed it - I don't generally buy Clark fuels. But they have 100 octane unleaded racing fuel, currently at $3.25/gal.

I stopped there today and filled up. I had just under half a tank of Shell 93 octane, so I figure I've got about a 97 octane mix in the tank now. Drove around on it for a while, and it makes a SERIOUS difference. When I first drove the beast I had that feeling of just-barely-controlled power; over time I didn't feel that any more, but now it feels like that again. I don't know whether this is just because I've grown accustomed to the car, or whether my performance was sucked away by the crappy blended fuel the law requires in Chicago & the burbs, but the car feels ALIVE. And it SINGS - literally. I can hear the CAIs more than I used to. Quite an interesting change.

Anyway, for those in the area who would like to try it out, the station is in Mundelein, at the triangular corner where westbound Rt. 60 meets northbound Rt. 83. It's across the street from Century Tile.

atomic80 · 16th April 2002, 07:13

I had the same feeling when I tried 110 octane fuel mixed with 92 octane which gave me around 95-97 octane. Really made a difference for me!

Too bad the gas station is out of the way otherwise I'd get it all the time! Also, was the 100 octane fuel in a huge 55 gallon barrel? The attendant had to pump it in a 2 gallon tank and pour it in my beast a couple times.

livenupe · 16th April 2002, 13:46

I miss living in Chicago!!!!

clauswagner · 16th April 2002, 16:43

Has any of you tried octane boosters? Do they work and if, are they save to use?

Thanks
Claus

dwasifar · 16th April 2002, 16:44

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
Also, was the 100 octane fuel in a huge 55 gallon barrel? The attendant had to pump it in a 2 gallon tank and pour it in my beast a couple times.

No, this place has it in a regular pump. You just gas up as normal.

dwasifar · 16th April 2002, 19:51

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
I had the same feeling when I tried 110 octane fuel mixed with 92 octane which gave me around 95-97 octane. Really made a difference for me!

Hey atomic,

Did your car sound different too? I was hoping for better performance, but I did not expect the sound of the engine to change as it did.

atomic80 · 16th April 2002, 19:59

Quote:

Originally posted by dwasifar

Hey atomic,

Did your car sound different too? I was hoping for better performance, but I did not expect the sound of the engine to change as it did.

Two other things happened...my exhaust fumes became more visible. More white plumes coming out especially when wet outside. The other was more of a "growl" especially at full throttle. My friends definitely noticed it!

dwasifar · 16th April 2002, 19:59

Quote:

Originally posted by clauswagner
Has any of you tried octane boosters? Do they work and if, are they save to use?

This has been discussed at length in several threads. Do a search on "toluene" to see them.

clauswagner · 17th April 2002, 05:51

Thanks,
made interesting reading. Sems like most of you probably became hobbby chemists. Do you still have paint on the back right of your cars?

Claus

dwasifar · 17th April 2002, 19:15

Quote:

Originally posted by clauswagner
Thanks,
made interesting reading. Sems like most of you probably became hobbby chemists. Do you still have paint on the back right of your cars?

That's why I was so, uh, pumped to find racing fuel available at a regular gas station. I knew a couple of places where you could go to buy it out of drums, but I never bought from them because I didn't want the hassle and spill potential of filling the tank from a gas can.