So my buddy is putting octane booster in his stock (Neon) SRT-4

homestarmy

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So my friend at work has a stock SRT-4 Neon. He decided that his car loves high octane and is now buying octane booster by the case.

Will the SRT-4 without any modifications advance the timing or make any changes automatically that will make having over 93 octane in it useful?

I assume not, but I don't want to flat out contest him, because it is possible... (Just likely not without aftermarket addon).
 

Rubycon

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Aug 10, 2005
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Isn't it dangerous practice to put gas in your tires?

:laugh:
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
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If the SRT-4 turbocharged, and I think it is, then yes, it should provide more performance.

PS: 'I can feel it in the tires' is a non-sensical comment. Made me LOL though.
 

Specop 007

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Jan 31, 2005
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Dyno's are your friend. Hell, even go to the tracks on the weekend and run 2 1/4's, one on standard gas and one on the juice.
 

fbrdphreak

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My guess would be that the car will perform its best when running with the factory recommended octane fuel - which is probably 93. You may notice a difference going from 91 to 93, since some areas don't have 93, but I wouldn't imaging the factory computer could compensate for higher octane.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
If the SRT-4 turbocharged, and I think it is, then yes, it should provide more performance.

PS: 'I can feel it in the tires' is a non-sensical comment. Made me LOL though.
Supercharged IIRC
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Adds at least 40HP. Gains another 50HP if he has a sticker of the octane booster somewhere on his car.
 

Drakkon

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Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Isn't it dangerous practice to put gas in your tires?
:laugh:
its dangerous practice not too....
air is a gas...nitrogen is a gas ;)

Anyways back to the qestion at hand...the SRT-4 has some performance mods made to it so stock it has the potential to run pretty well off octane booster. if hes already running 93 and octane boosting it to 95-96 it is possible that he might feel a bit better responce, if hes running anything less than 91 then he probobly is feeling a definate difference
 

vi edit

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Even if it did make a marginal impact on performance, I have trouble beleiving that most people can even notice a difference between 220HP and 210HP. It's largely mental.

 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: jpeyton
Adds at least 40HP. Gains another 50HP if he has a sticker of the octane booster somewhere on his car.

The Mopar Stage III kit with Turbo Toys has a button for 100 octane versus 93. When you hit taht switch and pump in 100 octane it gains 50hp, from 310hp to 360hp. I dunno if it would do all tha tmuch on a stock engine, though.
 

Rubycon

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Originally posted by: Drakkon
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Isn't it dangerous practice to put gas in your tires?
:laugh:
its dangerous practice not too....
air is a gas...nitrogen is a gas ;)

Yes it is so it should be gas-o-line. Or gas-o-lean. ;)
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
If the SRT-4 turbocharged, and I think it is, then yes, it should provide more performance.

PS: 'I can feel it in the tires' is a non-sensical comment. Made me LOL though.
Supercharged IIRC

I just checked and they say Turbo, FYI.
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Adds at least 40HP. Gains another 50HP if he has a sticker of the octane booster somewhere on his car.

The Mopar Stage III kit with Turbo Toys has a button for 100 octane versus 93. When you hit taht switch and pump in 100 octane it gains 50hp, from 310hp to 360hp. I dunno if it would do all tha tmuch on a stock engine, though.

That will be a modified map which will be configured for running 100 octane. That is why the power jump is so high.

A stock engine will adjust timing for higher octane gas (and other parameters) if the ECU is worth anything. I don't know about the SRT's ECU, but a Subaru ECU will and mine, in fact, did.
 

BobDaMenkey

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He could infact get a slight difference, but I doubt it's anything worth the money he's spending on Octane boosters. He should just buy paint thinner, and add a gallon to each tank before he fills up.

(Google it, you'll eventually find a site of a guy that had a Porche and figured this out)
 

jimbob200521

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Apr 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: Strk
Why would you want to put more power in a FWD car?

no the question goes back to...why would you buy a neon srt4?

If you can get past the Neon looks, it's a decently nice, pretty fast little car.
 

vi edit

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Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: Strk
Why would you want to put more power in a FWD car?

no the question goes back to...why would you buy a neon srt4?

Because for under $20k you have a car that puts down performance numbers that can destroy those costing 2x and 3x as much.

If you are looking for a very potent little performer stock off the lot, for $20k it's hard to go wrong with the SRT-4.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
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If it uses knock sensors to set the timing then it may well adjust to the higher octane. Usually in such systems, the engine computer adjusts the timing until it senses knocking. This system may be limited to expected pump gas octane levels, though.
 

overst33r

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Oct 3, 2004
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Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: Strk
Why would you want to put more power in a FWD car?

no the question goes back to...why would you buy a neon srt4?

Because for under $20k you have a car that puts down performance numbers that can destroy those costing 2x and 3x as much.

If you are looking for a very potent little performer stock off the lot, for $20k it's hard to go wrong with the SRT-4.

i didnt say it wasnt fast. Its just a horrible looking car and the interior is exactly what i would expect from a neon ...id rather get a mazda 3 and strap a turbo on it...
 

DivideBYZero

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May 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
isn't it sorta easy to test with dyno, or speed run with drain refill?

Not really. Most ECU's adjust over time so you have two options:

- Run three tanks then test. Repeat for each grade you are testing
- Reset ECU (if you can), run with Grade 1, test. Rinse and repeat for each grade.
 

homestarmy

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Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
If the SRT-4 turbocharged, and I think it is, then yes, it should provide more performance.

PS: 'I can feel it in the tires' is a non-sensical comment. Made me LOL though.
Supercharged IIRC

I believe Turbo.

Just because it has higher octane doesn't mean that the car is programmed to make use of it. Generally cars are designed to run with the designated fuel, and then a sensor finds knock and retards the timing if necessary. This does not work in reverse order.
 

homestarmy

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Originally posted by: jpeyton
Adds at least 40HP. Gains another 50HP if he has a sticker of the octane booster somewhere on his car.

I was really hoping that this (and every) thread would not contain stupid, unfunny comments like this one.

It's just not funny. At all.
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: homestarmy
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
If the SRT-4 turbocharged, and I think it is, then yes, it should provide more performance.

PS: 'I can feel it in the tires' is a non-sensical comment. Made me LOL though.
Supercharged IIRC

I believe Turbo.

Just because it has higher octane doesn't mean that the car is programmed to make use of it. Generally cars are designed to run with the designated fuel, and then a sensor finds knock and retards the timing if necessary. This does not work in reverse order.

Yes. Yes it does.