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Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

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Recently updated on October 12, 2023 at 02:59 am

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

[Update: 12.10.2023] This post was updatedto take more recent information into account. The solution for maximum power and maximum performance is called Racing gasoline. As a rule, however, this is not “gas station petrol”, but rather different fuels for tough racing use in the form of racing gasoline, racing methanol, nitromethane, etc. But the fuel at the gas station also differs enormously in some cases. Is a vehicle for example increased performance by means of chip tuning and Co.so it is definitely recommended only Super Plus or even premium fuels like Aral Ultimate or Shell V-Power to refuel. The tuner's new engine software is usually tuned to the higher octane number of premium fuel and only then comes into its own.

Racing fuel and tuning?

In any case, the premium fuel officially available at gas stations is suitable for driving a performance-enhanced vehicle on the road sufficient. If even more octane is desired, then it is usually a Competition vehicle. Then the topic of racing fuel comes up. A high-octane fuel as a tuning component is sometimes crucial for full performance, such as a sharp camshaft or slipper pistons. In a sense, a racing car is just a collection of high-quality components. But if you want to drive the winning vehicle, you don't just need the best components - you also need a good one Racing fuel. In other words, a fuel that was specially developed to optimize performance. And there are plenty of them. We explain the most important properties!

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

1. The octane number

The octane number indicates how high the knock resistance of the fuel is. But this is still No statement to determine what performance is feasible with the fuel. For this, the octane number indicates with what security a power can be generated, ie it expresses a kind of reliability and purity of the fuel. Ie the fuel is well suited for high performance or not. The higher the octane number, the purer the fuel and the more it is gentler on the engine of the vehicle.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

The octane number can be specified in different ways. Either as "Research octane number", RON for short, as"Motor octane number"(MOZ) or as"Dispensers octane number"(R + M / 2). The pump octane number is usually attached as a sticker directly above the fuel nozzle at the gas station and is therefore legible for everyone. This is the Average from MOZ and RON. That is why it is also the most sensible guide value mandatory specify.

Derivation of the octane number

Octane numbers are recorded in simulation environments. Good vendors of racing gasoline refer solely to the MOZ numbers. RON and R + M / 2 are easy to determine values ​​and usually higher than MON. They are often given by various manufacturers due to the higher values ​​to lure buyers. The knock resistance is not only depends on the octane number.

2. Burn rate

This is the time it takes for the burned fuel to release the energy it contains and convert it into mechanical energy. One component of this is the time it takes for the fuel to evaporate, which largely depends on the evaporation properties of the respective fuel. Especially when high speeds are reached, the fuel needs to be in the engine can be burned quicklyto maintain the speed. The maximum value of the combustion pressure should therefore already be at 20 degrees after TDC can be achieved. If combustion has not yet been completed up to this temperature, the energy that will be released afterwards is no longer usable and goes unused verloren.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

Racing gasoline is deliberately developed in such a way that it achieves a high degree of efficiency even at low temperatures, so that it can burn significantly better than comparable "normal“Fuels. This is due to the targeted fuel development with the aim of improving the evaporation properties to an optimum. The fuels have been developed with a view to optimal evaporation properties, and most of them burn significantly better, whether with or without oxygen. Tip: It always applies, you should only use the octane number not take as a factor.

The better the intake mixture of ambient air and fuel is cooled, the higher the combustion pressure and thus the performance. That depends on the one hand on the engine, but also on the quality of the fuel. In the simulation, the “effective” octane number of a good racing fuel is even higher than the number determined in the laboratory, which prevents knocking in the engine even better.

3. Energy content

The energy that can be released when the fuel burns is the potential or the energy content of the fuel. The energy content is measured in BTU (British calories) per unit of weight and not in unit of volume. Of course, racing fuels have one thing in common higher energy content than normal fuels. This enables better and higher performance to be achieved.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

4. Cooling effect

The cooling effect of the fuel depends on the heat of vaporization. The higher This is the better the fuel is able to handle the sucked in air-petrol mixture to cool. Especially with four-stroke engines, an increased cooling effect can be too small Performance benefits lead and with two-stroke engines the effect is even more noticeable and also measurable. When racing on circuits, the performance can be maintained longer with racing fuels than with normal fuels, since the heat of vaporization is higher. The external conditions do not have too much of an influence. Incidentally, the improved cooling effect also protects the engine and extends its possible service life.

Perfectly matched racing fuel depends on:

  • Suction or supercharged engine (turbo or compressor)
  • Nitrous oxide injection?
  • Engine compression ratio?
  • Lambda probe or catalytic converter?
  • Area of ​​application (racetrack, street, etc.)

And finally ... All factors are closely related and can therefore only be finally assessed in their entirety. Therefore, the overall picture must be used to decide which fuel is the right one for the intended use. It is also important to note which Engine type you use which Performance data are to be found and in which Class and the characteristics with which any races are run. In any case, a high knock resistance can only be determined by the octane number nicht richtig.

What is racing fuel and why is it special?

  • Racing gasoline is a specially developed fuel for motorsports. It is characterized by a higher octane number, which ensures optimal combustion in high-performance engines. Thanks to these properties, racing engines can achieve their maximum performance.

How much does a liter of racing fuel cost?

The price of racing gasoline varies depending on the type and brand. Here are some examples:

  • 1 barrel of racing gasoline (56,8 liters): approx. €56,00 net.
  • 1 barrel of racing gasoline (204,4 liters): approx. €90,00 net.

What is the octane of Formula 1 petrol?

  • The gasoline used in Formula 1 has one Octane number between 102 and 104. Engine expert Gilles Simon, formerly at Ferrari and now at the FIA, is working on optimizing the next F1 powertrain for 2025.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

What types of racing fuel are there?

There are different types of racing gasoline, each designed for specific engines and applications:

  1. C12 VP Racing Fuel: A leaded, all-round racing fuel suitable for approximately 75% of today's racing engines.
  2. C25: Recommended by NHRA Pro Stock Bike and AHDRA, has led many top riders to success in AMA Dragbike.
  3. Q16 VP Racing Fuel: an oxygen-rich fuel ideal for naturally aspirated engines and drag racing.
  4. X16: Designed for naturally aspirated engines, an economical option for 2 and 4 stroke engines.
  5. there is much more...

Does Aral really have 102 octane?

  • Yes, Aral Ultimate 102 is an unleaded fuel with an octane number (RON) of 102.

Can every gasoline engine fill up with V Power Racing?

  • Yes, if you have a motorcycle that runs on unleaded gasoline, you can Shell V-Power Racing or Aral Ultimate etc. refuel. It can help protect the engine and improve both response and acceleration.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

We hope that you have received our information report on the topic / term Racing gasoline (Further designations / keywords are: Nitromethane, Racing Fuels, Racing Fuel, Racing Methanol, Super Petrol, Super Benzing) from the Autotuning category. Our goal is to have the largest German-speaking tuning lexicon (Tuning Wikipedia) and to explain tuning technical terms from A to Z easily and comprehensibly.

Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

Below are a few examples from our tuning lexicon:

But of course tuningblog has countless other articles on the subject of cars & car tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around.

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Racing gasoline - what's the point, when to use it, the costs?

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About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

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