Robin,
“There *are* things you can add to your fuel mix to increase performance…”
I think that tends to be octane boosters when you have a high compression engine needing higher octane fuel than you can get at the pump. Of course, it’s not really that the higher octane # in itself brings about the extra horsepower, rather the higher compression and generally improved engine design. You know, the kind of engine prepared for the local race track, or one of the pocket rocket engine mods. The higher octane fuel prevents the dreaded pre-ignition.
However, the impression that adding such an octane booster to your bog standard street car with an 8.2 to 1 compression ratio to increase horsepower is very easy to create.
“WILL OCTANE BOOSTERS ADD HORSEPOWER?
No. This is a misconception. Octane in itself does not add power. However, an engine that’s forced to run on fuel with a lower octane than what’s needed will run hot, detonate, and eventually lose power. The proper octane level will let the engine run to its full potential, but won’t transform it into something special.”
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/rick/gas2/
As with the LifeWave patches scam, there always seem to be enough of a certain kind of person to make these questionable items sell. And, let’s face it, it doesn’t take too long before the numbers add up to some serious money that someone is making before the whole affair is in the history books.
Dave
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