Prepper Vehicle? 392 Running on Regular Gas

[LTZ470]

 

[Robr651]

Oh cool another Lucas marketing video

 

[LTZ470]

Anything posted by Lucas about Lucas is called marketing. It’s an MMT based octane booster that the owners manual clearly states to avoid using. Sure for some rare emergency use when the zombie apocalypse happens or you forgot your vehicle runs on premium fuel throw it in your tank …but it’s not an adequate / suitable replacement for correct octane rated fuel.

No different than adding some oil additive to your sump to make it “better”. Buy the correct stuff from the get go as opposed to pouring some random product into your fuel tank or your crankcase.

There’s an app called gas buddy or check your Uconnect system to find gas stations that have premium…. Or as the Op originally mentioned maybe get a rig that runs on regular.

As I stated brother for emergencies only, Lucas Oil Octane Booster is proven to raise Octane Three FULL Numbers as stated, even on the dyno...it is convenient as it treats 25 gallons and is easily stored in your Jeep...easy peasy in my book, I keep a bottle in my Jeep just for emergency only, that's basically what the OP asked...K.I.S.S. = keep it simple and safe...

 

[Robr651]

Oh cool another Lucas marketing video

Anything posted by Lucas about Lucas is called marketing. It’s an MMT based octane booster that the owners manual clearly states to avoid using. Sure for some rare emergency use when the zombie apocalypse happens or you forgot your vehicle runs on premium fuel throw it in your tank …but it’s not an adequate / suitable replacement for correct octane rated fuel.

No different than adding some oil additive to your sump to make it “better”. Buy the correct stuff from the get go as opposed to pouring some random product into your fuel tank or your crankcase.

There’s an app called gas buddy or check your Uconnect system to find gas stations that have premium…. Or as the Op originally mentioned maybe get a rig that runs on regular.

I’m actually starting to believe that @guruman is the ultimate prepper with making his own booster and storing large amounts of fuel.

 

[LTZ470]

I’m actually starting to believe that @guruman is the ultimate prepper with making his own booster and storing large amounts of fuel.

I agree sir, but most folks don't have a "safe" storage area for huge amounts of Gasoline and Toulene, there are many drawbacks to storing huge quantities of fuel for the average person...been running high compression engines for over 20 years have run both boosters and race fuel....storage, contamination, and condensation is always an issue...not to mention a fire in the general area of fuel storage...

 

[Robr651]

I agree sir, but most folks don't have a "safe" storage area for huge amounts of Gasoline and Toulene, there are many drawbacks to storing huge quantities of fuel for the average person...been running high compression engines for over 20 years have run both boosters and race fuel....storage, contamination, and condensation is always an issue...not to mention a fire in the general area of fuel storage...

I think he’s planning for something for sure . Op if you need real prepper advice he’s your guy

 

[Leftfield]

Hey guys,

So I bought a 2023 non XR 392 in May and I love it. I romp on it everywhere with the sky one touch back and it makes me happy.

I’m also a self admitted prepper and am wondering how the 392 would hold up in a SHTF scenario. I’d love to have the 392 as my bugout vehicle. I feel like it is beyond capable in just about every metric other than fuel consumption and fuel range. That’s ok I can live with that.

My question is regarding running regular fuel in the 392. In a real disaster type of scenario, premium gas typically becomes unobtainable (I live in Florida and if a serious hurricane comes through, you’re lucky to have regular gas available). I’ve done some research in this forum about it and have gotten mixed answers. Does the 392 pull timing to protect the engine when it gets suboptimal octane gas like most cars? Does the engine just implode the second a drop of 85 is put in the gas tank?

Curious as to what you guys think. Does anybody else think about this stuff with their 392? Should I just buy a super cheap gladiator as my second bug out vehicle (you can get a 2023 gladiator for extremely cheap nowadays).

**I’m obviously aware this is only in a true disaster scenario and not to be taken lightly and will likely invalidate the warranty.

The 392 does have detonation sensors on each cylinder bank, however I'm skeptical that it can (or does) adequately mitigate detonation through that method. Many vehicles say "Premium fuel recommended". The 392 says "Premium Fuel Required".

The folks here and elsewhere on the forums that are familiar with this engine have indicated the piston ring lands are relatively fragile and easily damaged by detonation. That said, some added 87 octane with light throttle inputs wouldn't seem likely to cause much carnage.

I've done several thousand miles without access to premium fuel, most recently a trip to the Arctic Ocean with 1200 miles of 87 octane only available. My solution has been 100 octane non-ethanol street legal race fuel, cut 3:1 with 87 octane - add a 5g can of 100 octane to 15g of 87 octane to fill the tank. That nets somewhere around 90.7 octane - close enough.

The race fuel should be street legal to make sure it doesn't have additives that will destroy your catalytic converters and O2 sensors.

You can buy race fuel in 5g cans or 55g drums, or in some places at the pump (around $11/g here). Add some fuel stabilizer and it should be good (in a steel container) for a couple years minimum. Safe storage is a concern.

My research on octane boosters:
1) Toluene works but some literature suggests it may attack fuel system components at higher concentrations
2) Most octane boosters at auto parts / big box stores are snake oil
3) The ones that are legit typically use MMT and because of potential damage to catalytic converters and O2 sensors are labeled 'Not for Street Use'.

LF

 

[Robr651]

The 392 does have detonation sensors on each cylinder bank, however I'm skeptical that it can (or does) adequately mitigate detonation through that method. Many vehicles say "Premium fuel recommended". The 392 says "Premium Fuel Required".

The folks here and elsewhere on the forums that are familiar with this engine have indicated the piston ring lands are relatively fragile and easily damaged by detonation. That said, some added 87 octane with light throttle inputs wouldn't seem likely to cause much carnage.

I've done several thousand miles without access to premium fuel, most recently a trip to the Arctic Ocean with 1200 miles of 87 octane only available. My solution has been 100 octane non-ethanol street legal race fuel, cut 3:1 with 87 octane - add a 5g can of 100 octane to 15g of 87 octane to fill the tank. That nets somewhere around 90.7 octane - close enough.

The race fuel should be street legal to make sure it doesn't have additives that will destroy your catalytic converters and O2 sensors.

You can buy race fuel in 5g cans or 55g drums, or in some places at the pump (around $11/g here). Add some fuel stabilizer and it should be good (in a steel container) for a couple years minimum. Safe storage is a concern.

My research on octane boosters:
1) Toluene works but some literature suggests it may attack fuel system components at higher concentrations
2) Most octane boosters at auto parts / big box stores are snake oil
3) The ones that are legit typically use MMT and because of potential damage to catalytic converters and O2 sensors are labeled 'Not for Street Use'.

LF

That’s some awesome real world experience. Thanks for posting that info. You have any pics from your excursion?

 

[LTZ470]

MMT was used to increase octane in Canadian Gasoline for years....MMT is NOT "Snake Oil" of course one cannot educate the "educated"...

"MMT, or methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, has been used in Canada since 1977 as an octane enhancer in unleaded gasoline, and particularly since the removal of alkyl lead additives. MMT was banned from use in unleaded fuel in the U.S. in 1977 because it was found to increase hydrocarbon emissions and to block the type of catalytic converter then in use for unleaded fuel: MMT remains in use in the U.S. in leaded gasoline. U.S. octane needs have been met by changes in refinery production to increase aromatic content and/or branched chain hydrocarbon percentage, and also by the use of oxygenated fuels (ethanol, methanol, MTBE)."

 

[LTZ470]

3) The ones that are legit typically use MMT and because of potential damage to catalytic converters and O2 sensors are labeled 'Not for Street Use'.

LF

"Lucas Octane Booster is a genuine performance enhancer! It has been tested and proven to deliver at least three times more BOOST than most other brands. It is suitable for use in fuel injected, carbureted, throttle body and rotary engines. It’s safe for turbos, oxygen sensors, and catalytic converters."

Section 3. Composition/information on ingredients

Substance/mixture : Mixture
Other means of : Not available.

identification
CAS number/other identifiers
CAS number : Not applicable. Product code : Not available.

Ingredient name	%	CAS number
Solvent naphtha (petroleum), medium aliphatic	30 - 60	64742-88-7
Tricarbonyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)manganese	1 - 5	12108-13-3

 

[guruman]

I’m actually starting to believe that @guruman is the ultimate prepper with making his own booster and storing large amounts of fuel.

I think he’s planning for something for sure . Op if you need real prepper advice he’s your guy

I lived in Montana for a number of years. Our home was 106 miles from the nearest stoplight. Leaving our driveway and turning to the right, would take you to a small town in about 6 miles, which had only basic necessities. If, however, you turned left out of the drive, it was an hour and a half before you could pick up a radio station.

I learned that having what you need on hand was valuable. Nothing like a 200 mile round trip to pick up some small piece of hardware you needed for that weekend project. I had to rent a concrete saw once.... it took about 15 minutes to make the two cuts for a new entry door into the garage. The total drive time to get and return the saw was close to ten hours.

These days it's more about my time. Up until recently, I've worked a lot, two jobs for most of my life (some of which was in disaster prep/business continuity planning). A few years back I worked over 60 hours a week for two years straight. Which taught me to value my free time. Planning ahead and having what we need on hand, means no last minute trips to the store (even though it's much closer these days), or trips to the gas station to get a few gallons to mow, or run the tractor, or fire up a generator, or whatever. The end result is more, and higher quality free time.

The covid19 panic, and ensuing supply chain issues reinforced in me the idea that there is value in having what you need on hand at all times.

With all of that being said, I am open to any paid consulting opportunities in the area. ;-)

 

[guruman]

I agree sir, but most folks don't have a "safe" storage area for huge amounts of Gasoline and Toulene, there are many drawbacks to storing huge quantities of fuel for the average person...been running high compression engines for over 20 years have run both boosters and race fuel....storage, contamination, and condensation is always an issue...not to mention a fire in the general area of fuel storage...

I don't keep toluene on hand anymore, but a few gallon or 5 gallon metal cans in a solvent/flammable storage cabinet is probably not a huge risk.

I keep drums of both gasoline and diesel under cover in an open ended lean-to which is a hundred yards or more from the house on the back side of our shop. they sit inside a (albeit makeshift) containment basin. This is away from any welding/cutting or other sources of ignition, and has plenty of ventilation. I also have some weird fire suppression blankets I got at a military auction. They are like a big quilt with pellets of sodium carbonate sewn into it. sort of like a low tech automatic extinguisher.

The transfer tanks are near the shop, but not up against it so that if it were to catch fire, it should not transfer to the shop.

So, about as safe as I can get it.

I'd like to move the transfer tank inside, but I've hesitated because I'd like a better way to deal with any vapors in an area that might see the occasional welding, or cutting sparks.

 

[guruman]

I think he’s planning for something for sure . Op if you need real prepper advice he’s your guy

Well, I do have one of these..... For "camping".

 

[Quadjeeper]

Well, I do have one of these..... For "camping".

View attachment 26718

Me too.

 

[LTZ470]

Well, I do have one of these..... For "camping".

View attachment 26718

What engine?

 

[LTZ470]

Me too.View attachment 26720

What engine? Auto tranny? Level and Hilly Transfer Case selections?

 

[guruman]

What engine?

So mine is a 1996 Stewart and Stevenson LMTV M1078, with the Cat 3116 fully mechanical engine (this has it's advantages and disadvantages).

I also did the full install of a factory PTO/hydro mid-mount winch from a 5 ton truck. (about 100 hours of labor).

Next on the list for that beast is to eliminate the hub gear reduction for better traveling at highway speeds without running the engine at redline for hours.

 

[Quadjeeper]

What engine? Auto tranny? Level and Hilly Transfer Case selections?

It has a Hercules LDT turbo inline 6 478 CID diesel with a 5 speed overdrive trans. and a shift on the fly transfer case. Some pics of the unfinished at the time living area. And a couple of cab pics.

 

[Tmg06d]

Thank you all for the great feedback. My take away is that in a SHTF scenario, the 392 can temporarily run with octane booster and low throttle. That’s good to hear. No need to buy a beyond cheap gladiator….well…..

 

[LTZ470]

Thank you all for the great feedback. My take away is that in a SHTF scenario, the 392 can temporarily run with octane booster and low throttle. That’s good to hear. No need to buy a beyond cheap gladiator….well…..

Yes sir you'll be fine with an Octane Booster as a contingency for emergency....