we experimented with increasing power on the drag strip. This was in the mid-fifties before drag racing was as complex as it is now. We would start with aviation gas and go from there. Our additives to make "moon gas" were as follows:

Toluene (available from paint stores),
mineral spirits (or kerosene or diesel fuel) as a cleaning agent,
transmission fluid (or light turbine oil) as a lubricating agent.

To make one gallon of additive:

Toluene 3.1 quarts 100 oz 0.8 gal

Kerosene 0.8 quarts 25 oz 0.2 gal

Trans Fluid 0.1 quarts 3 oz 0.02 gal


My notes indicate that, using the above formula, the following mixes will raise the octane number as follows:

10% mix raises the octane level approximately 2.4%. Accordingly, a 20% mix raises the octane level approximately 4.8%.

Don’t overdo it. A 14% mix will raise 91 octane to a little over 94.

Be sure to check plugs on a regular basis for burning or pitting. In some cases it may be necessary to use a lead additive.

Bear in mind that we did not run this on a continuous basis. We only put in enough to make a couple quarter mile runs. After that, we went back to regular pump gas.

just my $.02 (to an interesting thread),
Wes