One of the best octane boosters for increasing engine performance.
A great octane booster that also cleans the fuel intake system.
A high-performance booster that’s formulated with MMT.
A high-quality octane booster that doesn’t include MTBE.
An octane booster that allows you to customize the blend to fit your needs.
Generally speaking, the point of an octane booster is to provide high-octane fuel for your vehicle, potentially increasing your fuel economy and engine performance. While the best octane boosters have additional benefits or features, their ability to increase your vehicle’s fuel octane rating is the most significant feature you should look for. If you’re still unsure whether or not you need an octane booster, check out our buyers guide where we’ve done all the online research so you don’t have to.
Octane Boosters Buyers Guide
Octane boosters are simple to use, but not as simple to understand. While you just pour your octane booster into your fuel tank, the science behind how this type of product works is a bit complicated. This, as well as how high and low-octane engines interact with octane boosters, are two topics that we think you should research prior to making a purchasing decision.
Differences In Octane Ratings
Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Octane ratings are based on the pressure at which a fuel will automatically ignite, or spontaneously combust, in a testing engine. The higher an octane number is, the more stable the fuel is and the slower the fuel burns.
- Regular: This is the lowest octane fuel, typically at an octane rating of 87.
- Midgrade: This is a middle ground of sorts in terms of octane fuel, it generally has an octane rating between 89 and 90.
- Premium: This is the highest octane fuel, which tends to have an octane rating between 91 to 94.
How Engines Interact With Octane Boosters
Octane boosters are fuel additives that claim to increase the octane levels in your car after you pump gas. Higher octane ratings assist a fuel cylinder in firing at the exact moment it needs to, ensuring that drivers are getting peak performance from their vehicles.
When You Should Not Use An Octane Booster
Even if you have the best octane booster ever made, using performance enhancers under the wrong circumstance means either you won’t significant results or even risk damaging your car.
Below are a few instances where you can probably forgo using an octane booster:
- You don’t drive a high-performance vehicle
- Your vehicle manufacturer dictates you operate the vehicle with fuel at a specific octane rating
- A mechanic advises you to not use octane boosters
Can Octane Boosters Damage My Car?
Engines are designed to burn fuel in a controlled combustion. Spontaneous combustion can happen when rising temperatures and pressure from the controlled combustion causes unburned fuels to ignite. This uncontrolled spontaneous combustion causes pressure in the cylinder to spike, which then causes engine knocking to occur.
The initial controlled combustion and unintended spontaneous combustion compete which causes energy from the burning fuel to disperse in an uneven and uncontrolled manner. This puts pressure on the engine’s pistons before it enters the part of the engine cycle where the piston’s motion generates power. Ultimately, damage can occur to your engine when you have the wrong octane number fuel in your engine.
Other ways octane boosters can damage your car:
- Wears out spark plugs quicker
- Some boosters may use iron compounds that increase the corrosion of engine parts
- Improper use of ethanol, sometimes a compound found in octane boosters, can damage a fuel system
5 Best Octane Boosters
- Best for High-Performance Vehicles: Lucas Oil 10026 Octane Booster
- Best Formula: STP Octane Booster
- Best Racing Formula: Royal Purple Max Boost Octane Booster
- Most Versatile: Klotz Higher Octane Booster
- Torco Octane Booster
Octane Boosters Comparison Chart
Lucas Oil 10026 |
STP Octane Booster |
Royal Purple Max Boost |
Klotz Higher Octane Booster |
Torco Octane Booster |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost Per Fluid Ounce |
$0.47 |
$0.90 |
$1.24 |
$0.47 |
$0.81 |
Potential Octane Rating Boost |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2.5 |
2 |
Cost Per 1 Octane Rating Boost |
$2.35 |
$2.37 |
$6.61 |
$1.57 |
$12.96 |
Our Review Standards
To select the octane boosters featured in this buyers guide, our team first combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and octane booster-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, product quality, materials, and overall reliability.
We then brought these products to one of the 10-plus experts within our expertise network. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in-between. These experts helped us identify the qualities that would be most important to someone looking for an octane booster and the standout brands in each category.
We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as standout customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility.
Why You Can Trust Us
Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.
When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
#1 Best for High-Performance Vehicles: Lucas Oil 10026 Octane Booster
The Lucas Oil 10026 Octane Booster can enhance engine performance, raise fuel economy in high-compression engines, and stop engine knocking. This octane booster is safe for turbochargers, oxygen sensors, and catalytic converters. Something to note is that this product is only useable in four-cycle engines only, so check your owner’s manual if you’re not sure about your engine’s specifications.
The fuel additive is also suitable to be used in both fuel-injected engines and carbureted engines. The manufacturer claims in the product description that this octane booster is tested and proven to deliver three times more boost than other brands. It should be noted that one 15.0-ounce bottle will treat up to 25.0 gallons of fuel.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.47 per fluid ounce (fl. oz.)
- Claims an increase of 3 octane ratings per 15.0-oz. bottle
- Works in fuel-injected and carbureted engines
- Raises fuel economy
- Stops engine knocking
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 500 ratings
Besides having great overall ratings on Amazon, this product is spoken of very highly in written customer reviews. Multiple different reviews cite this product as a great option when high-octane gasoline is not available in your area or you want to save money by buying low-octane fuel and adding this product to the tank.
#2 Best Formula: STP Octane Booster
Boasting a two-in-one formula that not only boosts octane but also cleans the fuel intake system, the STP Octane Booster is our review team’s choice for the octane booster with the Best Formula. This fuel treatment claims to restore horsepower and acceleration, as well as remove deposits and build-ups which can cause knocking and pinging noises.
The octane booster is compatible with cap-less gas systems and can improve the fuel octane level in your engine. It should be noted that your gas tank should be at least half full before you use this fuel additive. You simply need to pour the entire contents of the 5.25-fl.-oz. bottle into your fuel tank as long as the tank is 21.0 gallons or under.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.90 per fl.-oz.
- Claims an increase of 2 octane ratings per 5.25-oz. bottle
- Compatible with cap-less gas systems
- Removes deposits
- Improves power and acceleration
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on around 800 ratings
Reviews for the STP octane booster are overwhelmingly positive and the main points of criticism have more to do with shipping woes than the product’s performance. Some people had miraculous increases in fuel mileage, while others commended its winning formula that both boosted their octane rating and improved their engine noise.
#3 Best Racing Formula: Royal Purple Max Boost Octane Booster
The Royal Purple Max Boost Octane Booster can not only raise your vehicle’s octane rating by up to 30 points but also reduce emissions and act as a fuel stabilizer. This fuel additive can improve your vehicle’s gas mileage while simultaneously cleaning deposits from fuel injectors. However, the octane booster is not street-legal.
Formulated with methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), this octane booster can eliminate pre-ignition and detonation from low-octane gasoline. The fuel additive is safe for use in leaded and unleaded gasoline engines, as well as in all ethanol blends. In computer-controlled vehicles, the octane booster can reduce power loss from knock-retard, thereby making your engine quieter. It should be noted that this fuel additive should be paired with race fuel concentrate and race cars.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $1.24 per fl.-oz.
- Claims an increase of 3 octane ratings per 16.0-oz. bottle
- Formulated with MMT
- Eliminates pre-ignition
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 1,000 ratings
Uses for this product range from improving engine performance to improving high-altitude driving to cleaning injectors. Across the board, Amazon customers love the results they’ve seen and highly recommend this product for race cars.
#4 Most Versatile: Klotz Higher Octane Booster
Our team highlights the versatility of the Klotz Higher Octane Booster as it can not only increase pump gasoline octane number by up to 10 but can also act as a fuel injector and carburetor cleaner. The octane booster features a tetraethyl lead substitute for added lubrication and is safe to use on catalytic converters and O2 sensors. This fuel additive also stabilizes the flame front and controls fuel burn speed.
The octane booster doesn’t include any methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and absorbs moisture in the fuel system. Impressively, the manufacturer claims in the product description that this fuel additive can help preserve gasoline for up to 16 months. The fuel additive claims to improve both throttle response and acceleration while additionally improving fuel economy.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.47 per fl.-oz.
- Claims an increase of 2.5 octane ratings per 1.0 oz. for every gallon of gas
- Doesn’t include MTBE
- Absorbs moisture in the fuel system
- Preserves gasoline up to 16 months
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 300 ratings
Many reviews found surprising results using this octane booster. Users reported boosts from anywhere between 2-10 octane ratings depending on the amount used and the vehicles. Many of the complaints cite the same concern: this product will strip your paint almost instantly if spilled. We recommend using a funnel for this reason and having a rag ready in case of any spills.
#5 Torco Octane Booster
The Torco Octane Booster claims to be not just another fuel additive, but rather a race fuel concentrate or an unleaded fuel accelerator. This octane booster takes many of the same additives used in Torco’s race fuel and implements it as a blend of components to closely resemble race fuel. The fuel additive is safe to use on O2 sensors as well as on catalytic converters.
With this octane booster, you’ll have the freedom to customize the blend to fit you and your car’s needs. Rather than going ahead and blindly mixing this fuel additive with your gas, you can reference the 87-octane, 91-octane, or 93-octane base accelerator blend charts on Torco’s website. The octane booster will provide higher octane fuel to as high a point as 105.
Key Features
- Cost: Around $0.81 per fl.-oz.
- Claims an increase of 2 octane ratings per 32.0-oz. bottle
- Customizable blend
- Can raise fuel octane up to 105
- Safe to use on O2 sensors
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 100 ratings
Happy customers did the math on this product and it came out to some pretty impressive savings on racing fuel. For one user, buying 10.0 gallons of premium pump gas and adding 2 cans of Torco lead to savings of around $30 instead of buying expensive racing fuel. Negative commenters expressed mild disappointment with the product and felt a bit let down by its bold claims.
Octane Boosters: Bottom Line
The bottom line when it comes to octane boosters is that many of them are intended to give racing and high-performance vehicles that extra edge. That said, options like the Lucas Oil booster and the Klotz booster are commended for boosting fuel efficiency and engine performance in other vehicles as well. You also need to be careful before adding an octane booster to your gas tank, as improper use can damage your engine or even be illegal depending on where you live.
Best Octane Boosters: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.