Does anybody know how long toluene can sit before its no good??? I have 5 gallons from last spring that I never used and was wondering if it was still okay???

 

toluene as in paint thinner or as in ....?

if the bottle was opened then shelf life in a lab setting(temp and humidity controlled) would be 3-6 months max in temp controlled room. Our toluene in lab containers are labeled for one year unopened expiration time, although for their higher octane rating i'm not sure what the shelf life in a combustible engine would be. IIRC toluene is 116 octane, and don't forget that once it's opened it will start to collect moisure as well.

 

Yes I mean toluene as in paint thinner or ingredient in meth The pail is sealed and has never been opened. But I guess I had better use it up sooner than later once it is open. I was just trying for a little insurance before I took the car out to the track tomorrow. If I would have been more prepared I would have just picked up some race gas. I think toluene is around 114 octane. If I mix 1 gallon of toluene with 5 gallons of gas that should give me an octane of 94.83 or just about 95.

((5gallons x 91) + (1gallon x 114))/6 = new octane

Does that look correct?????? And thanks for the tip on the moisture

 

looks about right. I'll talk to my brother and find out where we got our recipe that we used to make 98 octane with some toluene.

 

The only possible problem with a 'opened from time to time'
contaner would be, humidity from the air, but, even then,
I don't think it does that. Its a hydrocarbon, not alcohol.
.....
recipe for 98 octane, 30percent tolulene 70percent pump 93.
(by volume)
Start with lower amounts of tolulene.
Be sure to have a strong ignition.

 

Toluline is roughly 117octane. It should be fine stored (assuming you don’t really need laboratory purity), as long as it’s in a sealed container. OTOH, once it’s mixed with gasoline you need to use it fairly quickly.

To calculate a rough approximation of your octane after mixing, you just multiply the percentage of the fuel * it’s octane, for example 10% toluline + 90% 93 octane:
117*.10 + 93*.90 = 95.4

 

Does tol. attract water from the air?
Is tol. 'polar'.
Does it change a dielectric constant reading?