Octane Booster for Petrol

Although, by and large, the pump petrol that we have in the UK is of higher quality across the board due to fuel regulation, there are MOTUL fuel additives that can help to keep the engine in your vehicle running at maximum efficiency.

Standard E10 pump fuel in the UK has an octane rating of 95 which is much higher than the standard 87 rating in the US and even premium fuels in the US only have a peak octane rating of 94. Higher octane rating fuel can be purchased from standard fuel stations across the UK at a premium, with octane ratings at 98 or 99.

But what does a higher octane rating actually do?

Octane is a chemical within petrol that determines the pressure on the fuel which will cause it to spontaneously combust; the higher the octane rating, the more pressure required.

A lower octane rating can preignition or spontaneous combustion within an engine cylinder which is known as knocking. Knocking can cause damage to the engine as older vehicles do not have electronic computerised ignition which is designed to prevent knocking.

Although modern vehicles do have sensors to detect knocking, the engine is designed to delay the initial spark and causes the combustion to take place when the compression is not at the highest point. This does stop ‘knocking’ but it can mean that the engine does not run as efficiently as possible.

An issue similar to spontaneous combustion that causes engine knocking is preignition. This occurs when fuel ignites before a spark occurs. Like knocking, modern engines are designed to minimize this but overall efficiency can be compromised as a result.

As higher octane fuel has a higher compression rating, spontaneous combustion and preignition are less likely to happen within the cylinder. This protects older engines that do not have controls and sensors but also aids in the efficient running of modern engines.

Recommended Use

Maintaining the efficiency, smooth running and performance of a petrol engine is not a one-bottle fix. Octane booster is recommended as part of the range of fuel system cleaners from MOTUL.

When cleaning a car or van, it is recommended to start at the top and work down. This makes sense, as spraying dirt from the bottom of the car upwards will create more work. Although it cannot be seen, the principle is the same when cleaning a fuel system.

Starting with the injectors, following with a clean of the fuel system and then preventing or removing clogging from the catalytic converter. Once this process has taken place, maintaining engine efficiency and reducing spontaneous combustion or preignition with an Octane Booster will maintain and extend the life of the fuel system.

Each fuel additive should be poured into the fuel tank prior to the car being fully filled with fuel.

Repeated use of fuel system cleaners and fuel performance boosters will provide the maximum efficiency and results.