Fuel Facts

Performance Fuels

Explore more about the fuels that power our automotive enthusiasm.

12/31/2024

It’s the end of the world as we know it. The big question: How on earth are you going to power your post-apocalyptic death machine?

Focus of benzene, toluene and xylene liquid chemical compound

Toluene or Xylene: A Legit Low-Buck Octane Booster?

12/24/2024

Need to add some octane to your gasoline? Why not follow the old hotrodder’s trick and just dump in some toluene or xylene?

Garage corner with three red plastic fuel cans

A Potentially Deadly Fuel DIY

12/19/2024

Can’t find storage-friendly, ethanol-free gas locally? Did you know you can make your own?

Antioxidants, Fuel Stabilizers, and You

12/18/2024

It’s a common wish: eternal youth. When it comes to gasoline, there’s an entire industry seeking to grant that wish by offering a never-ending supply of fuel additives.

How to Handle Gasoline Safely and Remain Fire-Free

12/12/2024

A gas fire burns hotter than a thousand suns–okay, maybe it just seems that way–and thanks to the low viscosity of gasoline, it quickly spreads, turning a small problem into a big one.

What’s Really in that Additive? The Safety Data Sheet Tells All

12/11/2024

How do you know what’s really in those fuel additives at every auto parts store? Read the safety data sheet, usually easily found online.

Gasoline Makes a Terrific Degreaser, Yet This Practice Can Kill You

12/05/2024

People have been cleaning greasy parts with gasoline for decades, and the science explains why it works so well

Do Additives Really Work?

12/04/2024

You’ve seen them: rows upon rows of brightly colored bottles, each promising more than the last.

Lawn and Garden Equipment Needs the Proper Fuel, Too

11/28/2024

Racetracks may occasionally go quiet, but engines constantly buzz away.

Does Your Engine Need an Upper Cylinder Lubricant?

11/28/2024

We’ve seen the bottles lined up at the auto parts store: upper cylinder lubricants.

Filling gas tank of car covered with snow in winter

Fill It Up Before Parking for the Winter?

11/21/2024

A common question regarding wintertime storage of a car: Fill up the tank or not? Is it better to have that tank full of fuel or air?

Winter Fuels for Wintertime

11/14/2024

Does your car sit over the winter? If so, do you wonder whether or not it will start in the springtime? Filling it with the right gas can help.

How to Keep Carbon Deposits out of Your Engine

11/12/2024

Given a choice, most people would rather not have carbon deposits inside their engine.

What’s Lead Got to do With It?

11/07/2024

Lead is no longer found in street fuels, but it’s still a popular ingredient in race gas. Time to explain.

Cars That Sit Need Clean Fuel, Too

11/05/2024

Think fuel cleanliness isn’t important for classics that don’t get driven much?

What Happens to Gasoline as it Ages?

10/31/2024

Like many things in life, gasoline isn’t forever. As gas sits around, parts of it evaporate and can escape the fuel container–

How Dirty Fuel Can Lead to a Dirty Engine

10/29/2024

Is dirty gas fouling up your engine, leading to clogged injectors and combustion chamber deposits? Possibly.

Why Not Methanol?

10/24/2024

Running methanol as a fuel sounds great–even more performance potential at a lower price.

How Top Tier Street Fuels Keep Your Engine Cleaner

10/17/2024

When you stop to fuel up your street car, what’s the most important draw? Price? Location? Points? Clean toilets? Artisan sandwiches sporting the perfect amount of lettuce?

Making Your Own Ethanol Blend

10/10/2024

Let’s say your car isn’t configured to run on E85, but you’d still like to take advantage of the benefits offered by ethanol–like more power and a cooler-running engine.

Does More Oxygen Always Mean More Power?

10/03/2024

The promise almost sounds too good to be true: Get more horsepower just by using a certain type of fuel. What’s in these magic elixirs?

Tuning for Today’s Oxygenated Fuels

09/26/2024

Many of the fuels found at today’s pumps are oxygenated, meaning alcohol has been added.

Why Does E85 Run Cooler and Make More Power?

09/19/2024

Does E85 run cooler and make more power than traditional gasoline because a website says so?

Should You Consider Running E85?

09/12/2024

It’s a common question, especially among gearheads: What really happens if you run E85 in a car not designed for E85?

Why is There Even Ethanol in Our Gasoline?

09/05/2024

Is that 10% ethanol found in most pump gasoline good or bad for your car, especially an older one? Like many things in life, it’s complicated.

Why Not Avgas?

08/29/2024

This isn’t a new idea: Why not run aviation fuel when seeking more power?

What is Specific Gravity and Why Should You Care?

08/22/2024

Fuels can vary by so many different properties. The biggies are octane, oxygen, lead content, and something called specific gravity,

What is Vapor Pressure and Why Should You Care?

08/15/2024

Know how stale fuel can leave an engine sluggish or hard to start? Or ever wonder why winter fuel blends can hurt miles per-gallon numbers?

What Fuel for Max Horsepower?

08/08/2024

Do all fuels make the same horsepower? Not quite.

Diving Deeper into Leaded Race Fuels

08/06/2024

Lead was legislated out of pump fuel decades ago, but there’s still a place that you’ll find it: at the track.

What Fuel to Feed a Rotary Engine?

08/01/2024

The rotary engine is a unique animal, combining low compression ratios with high combustion temperatures. It also requires a fuel that can deliver lubrication to the apex seals.

Fueling Your Boosted Engine

07/25/2024

Time to fill up your force-fed car? Time to discuss some science.

Need Help Selecting a Fuel? Call the Experts.

07/18/2024

When picking race gasoline, is it just about the basics–like octane, lead content and amount of oxygen?

Manometer and temperature sensor on pipeline

Blending Fuels to Get the Right Mix

07/04/2024

Can you mix together different fuels to get what you need? In most cases, yes.

Writing on the safety checklist in audit

Other Factors to Consider When Buying a Race Fuel

07/02/2024

How do you select the proper fuel for your application? This decision tree of sorts can also help narrow down the choices.

Are You Using the Wrong Fuel?

06/27/2024

Gasoline is a rather complex substance. “You can’t take apart the fuel and see how it works,”

The Perils of Running Rich

06/20/2024

Running an engine too rich doesn’t just waste money. According to Zachary J. Santner, senior specialist of quality at Sunoco, it might cause several major driveline problems as well.

Was Yesterday’s Gasoline Better?

06/13/2024

Back in the day, pump fuel was just meaner. It had higher octane, the lead craved by the day’s engines, and a smell that meant business. Everything was better then, right?

Are High-Octane Fuels More Stable?

06/11/2024

There’s another advantage of higher-octane fuels: They’re also more stable when it comes to storage.

Is All Premium Gas the Same?

06/06/2024

Not all premium pump fuel is created equal. “Yes, it is,” you say, “the octane rating is right there on the pump.” Well, there’s more to fuel

One Way to Wade into the World of Race Fuels

06/04/2024

When do you think about making the jump from a pump fuel to a race fuel?

Buying and Storing Race Fuel

05/30/2024

Gas stations can be found on nearly every major intersection. Finding one that sells race fuel, though, can be a little tougher. Fortunately, it’s not like looking for the Lost City of Atlantis.

Race Fuels - Narrowing Down the Choices

05/28/2024

Race gas comes in more than a single flavor. Your local track might just have one or two pumps, but there are many more varieties available–like, easily close to two dozen from just a single supplier.

Hands holding a wallet with a small amount of US dollars

How to Stretch the Gas Budget

05/23/2024

A common question heard when discussing gasoline: How can I save money at the pump?

How Fresh is That Race Fuel?

05/21/2024

A common question Sunoco Race Fuels receives: Is this fuel fresh?

Where Does Gasoline Come From?

05/16/2024

Most of us know where babies come from, but what about gasoline?

Fuel injector cleaners on display in a retail store

What Should You Know About Adding Additives?

05/14/2024

Why buy race gas when you can mix up your own high-octane fuel with an additive?

Is Your Gas Station a Good One?

05/09/2024

Once you go beyond price, location and bathroom cleanliness, does where you fuel up really matter?

Four Race Fuels to Consider

05/07/2024

So many race fuels, so many choices. How to further narrow down the field?

Which Fuel Should You Use?

04/26/2024

Which nozzle should you grab when filling up? When in doubt, read the manual. Assuming we’re talking about a stock, production street vehicle, the owner’s manual will explain which fuel to use.

What Separates a Race Fuel from a Street Fuel?

04/26/2024

From the start, race fuels are typically cleaner and more consistent than pump fuels. The reasons why are due to economics and environment.

Gas Station Basics that aren’t that Basic

04/26/2024

Gasoline seems so simple: You pull up, you pump, you leave. But you have questions, right?