Octane boost -- amazing MPG improvement?

[tgb1974]

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I have a 2016 F83 M4 that I mostly drive in the city but on the highway too (maybe 70:30). Before I began using an octane booster, I would maybe get around 210 miles to the tank driving fairly conservatively in M1 mode (M2 on the highway, traffic permitting).

Recently, however, I began adding a full bottle of Lucas Oil Octane Booster every time I fuel up. The mileage difference has been anywhere from awesome to amazing. I now easily get 250 miles/tank, and last fill up I made it to 290 miles with about 15 miles before empty.

Has anyone else experienced this dramatic of an MPG improvement when using an octane boost with the S55?

[jballer123]

that's amazing, lucas is one of the few octane booster I sent to a lab and had tested and it made 10 gallons of 91 into almost 95 octane with a whole bottle added!, I know it works.

[deeldoo]

Does this actually work? no experience with octane boosters to be honest

[tgb1974]

Originally Posted by deeldoo

Does this actually work? no experience with octane boosters to be honest

Well, in my experience, it absolutely does work. And it works so amazingly well I was compelled to post something here about it!

[BlownOne]

Lucas products work! I always use a large bottle (32oz) of their fuels system cleaner/upper cylinder lubricant (8oz per tank) on every vehicle I buy and have always had great performance and decent mpg.

[allinon72]

What kind of fuel are you putting in? 210 miles a tank equates to just over 13 mpgs, very low considering you say that's driving conservatively.

[tgb1974]

Originally Posted by allinon72

What kind of fuel are you putting in? 210 miles a tank equates to just over 13 mpgs, very low considering you say that's driving conservatively.

Always 93

[allinon72]

And how much are you paying for each bottle of octane booster?

[TideMD]

Originally Posted by allinon72

What kind of fuel are you putting in? 210 miles a tank equates to just over 13 mpgs, very low considering you say that's driving conservatively.

Also useful to know the actual settings, rather than just "M1" or "M2."

I'm assuming you have left them as the factory default (as drivers that alter the M-button setup often refer to the actual setting/level for each M-drive component), but would rather not deal with assumptions since many people change these buttons to different configurations.

[JeffO]

Originally Posted by allinon72

What kind of fuel are you putting in? 210 miles a tank equates to just over 13 mpgs, very low considering you say that's driving conservatively.

My F80 routinely goes 300mi on about 13.2 gal (reserve warning is on) of Shell 93, so about 22.7mpg for my commute. For highway trips the mileage goes up about 3mpg. My car is 6mt and I suspect the DCT will do a little better on the highway.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by JeffO

My F80 routinely goes 300mi on about 13.2 gal (reserve warning is on) of Shell 93, so about 22.7mpg for my commute. For highway trips the mileage goes up about 3mpg. My car is 6mt and I suspect the DCT will do a little better on the highway.

Yeah I rarely get below 17 in street driving even in Sport Plus, 28-30 on long trips in Efficient mode. Something like 13 would have to be Sport Plus aggressive driving. That's why I asked OP because there might be something wrong with the car.

[gatorfast]

Agree OP's mileage sounds awfully low. I always get 250+ miles out of a tank which equates to 20-21mpg. While most of my miles are highway miles, I am full throttle any chance I get which is why I am so impressed with the s55 efficiency. Especially coming from an e90 m3 which never seemed to crack 18mpg or so driving tamely.

[danchee]

My average is between 20-22mpg. 70% of that is in stop and go traffic with engine in efficient mode and dct in granny mode. The other 30% is a mix of city and highway in sport or sport+ and dct in sport mode.

OPS's range is really bad. Curious if driving with accelerator in on/off position

[jpy1980]

Wow! This thread made me go out and buy the Lucas octane booster and man the car felt great! I just went through a whole tank and then afterwards just put in 91 octane and the change was noticeable! Less smooth and felt a bit anemic. Hmmm maybe I’ll buy a pack of these.

[tgb1974]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Wow! This thread made me go out and buy the Lucas octane booster and man the car felt great! I just went through a whole tank and then afterwards just put in 91 octane and the change was noticeable! Less smooth and felt a bit anemic. Hmmm maybe I’ll buy a pack of these.

I'm glad you say that, because I was beginning to think that I was crazy or adding the octane booster was giving me the car version of the placebo effect. At any rate, some of the comments above have made me realize that my MPG stats are pretty bad, so I think I'm going to take the car in for service to check if anything is amiss.

[behindthen0thing]

Originally Posted by tgb1974

I'm glad you say that, because I was beginning to think that I was crazy or adding the octane booster was giving me the car version of the placebo effect. At any rate, some of the comments above have made me realize that my MPG stats are pretty bad, so I think I'm going to take the car in for service to check if anything is amiss.

Do you have a tune? I have similar mileage to you and my vehicle is meticulously maintained. I do get on it allot. I don't see how you can be north of 20 mpg while getting on it every chance you get.

I could pull maybe 26-32 if I'm doing a long distance trip with very little speed adjustments in the 70-90mph range, but that is a rare thing as I don't usually road trip with the m4.

[JeffB-M3]

Out of curiosity I picked up a bottle at lunch time. ~$12 @ Advance Auto. Saw it an Amazon, Wal-mart, and others for about $8. Can buy by the case for better.

Dumb question -- perhaps as a result of the unplanned purchase and not carrying around a funnel. How do you get it into the tank? I had a hell of a time feeding it in without a funnel. Pour a little, it trickles in through the small hole at the filler. I'm thinking I must be an idiot. (Wouldn't be the first time!)

[tgb1974]

Originally Posted by JeffB-M3

Out of curiosity I picked up a bottle at lunch time. ~$12 @ Advance Auto. Saw it an Amazon, Wal-mart, and others for about $8. Can buy by the case for better.

Dumb question -- perhaps as a result of the unplanned purchase and not carrying around a funnel. How do you get it into the tank? I had a hell of a time feeding it in without a funnel. Pour a little, it trickles in through the small hole at the filler. I'm thinking I must be an idiot. (Wouldn't be the first time!)

I buy it by the case on Amazon. And I use a smallish funnel with a long neck -- works perfectly.

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by JeffB-M3

Out of curiosity I picked up a bottle at lunch time. ~$12 @ Advance Auto. Saw it an Amazon, Wal-mart, and others for about $8. Can buy by the case for better.

Dumb question -- perhaps as a result of the unplanned purchase and not carrying around a funnel. How do you get it into the tank? I had a hell of a time feeding it in without a funnel. Pour a little, it trickles in through the small hole at the filler. I'm thinking I must be an idiot. (Wouldn't be the first time!)

Yea the actual neck on the thing is thicker than the gas hole. So it takes forever unless you have a funnel hahha. Literally took me 5-10 mins and I ended up spilling some on my paint. Ugh. Ahhahah

[TideMD]

Originally Posted by JeffB-M3

Dumb question -- perhaps as a result of the unplanned purchase and not carrying around a funnel. How do you get it into the tank? I had a hell of a time feeding it in without a funnel. Pour a little, it trickles in through the small hole at the filler. I'm thinking I must be an idiot. (Wouldn't be the first time!)

Ran into the same issue when using E85 conditioner, ended up making a mess more than once. Recently loaded stuff in the back of our Yukon and saw the OEM funnel GM supplies for use with their capless tank opening.

It worked great and takes up very little space compared to most funnels, so ordered one to keep in the car.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Motor.../dp/B075VZLTFM

[Ed_rx7]

Has anyone tuned with this octane booster?

[blkcow]

Any concerns with this having adverse effects on the fueling system? I've heard rumblings around the internet a few times that using these octane boosters often can cause issues but I don't know how true that is