I just bought a 1973 Maverick Owners Guide. It recommends 91 octane gas. In 1970 I think that was medium octane. I have the 302 V8. Is it worth it to use the high test now? What difference will it make to use 87 octane? Roz
I don't think you'll have a problem just running regular old 87. I don't... Edit: 74 Merc beat me to it!
As long as it's not spark knocking I'd think you are fine. On another note any of you with higher comepression running the zyleen type homemade octain booster?
My old 84 pickup with the 351 won't run without knocking on anything less than premium. I'd say start with the lower octane, run a couple of tanks full so you get a good variety of roads and conditions and then if it knocks, move up a grade and do the same thing again. There are plenty of octane boosters on the market that are reliable, good products, so I wouldn't mess around with homemade stuff.............don't know whats in it, could mess up more than it helps. Just ask Dan Hines, diesel won't run too good in a gas burner! Oh, I forgot , that was a accident!
The 351 in my 71 F100 is about the same way, it will spark knock on mid grade unless I retard my timing. I realyy think I need a better cam. I have played around with the home-made octain boosters with pretty good results. I mixed about 12 oz of Zyleen in a tank full and I can run on a quality low grade with very little spark knoc, mid grade with no spark knock. The home-brew web page said that Zyleen and Toulene is used by the gas makers to adjust the octain. clint
Im interested in the homemade octane booster also. May/may not use it but would like to know whats involved
I got this off a google search, which was a quote from a quote found on a Corvette forum. Apparently, it is "XYLENE", unless that is just the name brand of what I have. Kool thing is, I have had a gallon in the garage for cleanup for years, and never knew this. Wish I needed it for this reason I don't think it would affect my 8.0:1 compression (that is what I have in the 74, isn't it?).
That's the one I'm talking about. You can do a web search on Home-brew octain booster and come up with alot of information. I used the stuff several times when our truck club went to the test-n-tunes to play around with our trucks and do some grudge type racing. My 351w powered F100 took down a lighter truck running the famous 390 FE. lol A wopping 10.01 in the 1/8th mile woohoo. BUT that was with my camper shell on plus my tools in the back. lol clint
