Octane booster

[Sadie]

Hi all. I'm about to do a two week trip into north western NSW where I'm worried that I may not be able to get premium ULP for my V6 D3. So I'm thinking of taking a couple of bottles of octane booster just in case. Has anyone had any experience with this stuff? Recommendations of good/bad brands to use, etc...?

Thanks.

[Platypus]

I think you'll find that most modern vehicles with 'brains' ie electronic engine management systems can cope with octane ratings outside of what is recommended. Knock sensors and the like can adjust ignition timing and other factors as necessary to cope with the octane difference.
Higher octane fuels can allow advancement of the ignition to gain power and also they are supposed to contain better surfactants to keep the engine & injectors etc cleaner but lower octane fuels (at least in the short term) are unlikely to cause any significant problems. My last car, an Audi, 'required' Premium unleaded but in the time I drove it it was fed a diet of mostly standard fuel with just the occasional tank of PULP, I never heard even the slightest 'pinking' from it. I hope some more learned persons will give further answers to better elucidate. Hope this helps.
Paul