Toluene as a diesel additive
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 366
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From: Webster, Texas
Toluene as a diesel additive
Is there any research or experience or opinions on Toluene as an additive in small amounts to diesel fuel. I've read old threads about used motor oil (uggg!) and atf. I happen to have nitrate grade toluene which is used as an additive to gasoline in production. I had pretty good results with acetone in small quantities (2 oz per 15 gals) previously and toluene is similar. Just asking, I don't want to start any big contraversy about it. I have about 180k on my truck and it is getting pretty sluggish and inefficient.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
What are you hoping to accomplish by adding Toluene? If your fuel system if bad enough that it needs to be solvent flushed, then it's too late for the injectors anyway. If you look at the combustion and flash point differences between #2 and Toluene, I wouldn't mix them. Not to mention I don't think Toluene is much of a lubricant.
What kind of luck have you had with acetone? You say it's helped, but now you've got poor performance. I know gasoline can be very hard on our injectors. I would imagine some of the stuff you're talking about would be equally as hard on them but I don't know for sure.
What kind of luck have you had with acetone? You say it's helped, but now you've got poor performance. I know gasoline can be very hard on our injectors. I would imagine some of the stuff you're talking about would be equally as hard on them but I don't know for sure.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 797
Likes: 2
From: UT
We use Tolulene in our sleds in moderation. It can be added to increase octane on pump fuel without going to race fuel. Rule of thumb is no more than 20% (ethanol blends also play a factor). It has a somewhat dry "chemical" feel to it (common in paint supply houses) similar to thinner. We typically run a few extra oz's of 2 stroke pre-mix to compensate for it. Other than that, I have NO experience running it in a diesel.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 356
Likes: 10
From: South East PA.
Toluene is a very strong solvent with absolutely no lubricating qualities what so ever, the fuel we have here in the US is already borderline as far as lubricating qualities since the change over to low sulfur diesel and adding toluene would cut it further, their are a whole bunch of reasons that it would not be good in a diesel and especially in our injectors. I would not even consider it in my trucks, just my 7.3 cents worth.
Dan
Dan
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Yes, There are research articles on Toluene as an additive.
Is there any research or experience or opinions on Toluene as an additive in small amounts to diesel fuel. I've read old threads about used motor oil (uggg!) and atf. I happen to have nitrate grade toluene which is used as an additive to gasoline in production. I had pretty good results with acetone in small quantities (2 oz per 15 gals) previously and toluene is similar. Just asking, I don't want to start any big contraversy about it. I have about 180k on my truck and it is getting pretty sluggish and inefficient.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387930737_Performance_and_Emissions_Characteristic s_of_Multi-Cylinder_Direct_Injection_Diesel_Engine_Fuelled_wi th_DieselBiodiesel_and_Toluene_Additives
Last edited by henryF450; Jun 17, 2026 at 07:57 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Toluene Burns
What are you hoping to accomplish by adding Toluene? If your fuel system if bad enough that it needs to be solvent flushed, then it's too late for the injectors anyway. If you look at the combustion and flash point differences between #2 and Toluene, I wouldn't mix them. Not to mention I don't think Toluene is much of a lubricant.
What kind of luck have you had with acetone? You say it's helped, but now you've got poor performance. I know gasoline can be very hard on our injectors. I would imagine some of the stuff you're talking about would be equally as hard on them but I don't know for sure.
What kind of luck have you had with acetone? You say it's helped, but now you've got poor performance. I know gasoline can be very hard on our injectors. I would imagine some of the stuff you're talking about would be equally as hard on them but I don't know for sure.
Last edited by henryF450; Jun 17, 2026 at 08:01 PM.
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It's a Van Gogh
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You join the forum today to reply to a 15 yo thread. Approving of toluene as a fuel additive ffs. It'S a HyDroCaRboN.
Frikken AI bot get thee hence.
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