octane booster

[Marc2365 at aol.com]

In a message dated 97-01-08 12:43:22 EST, you write:

> ~This is a very hot issue in California, where MTBE was first 
>  ~introduced, and where the problem is now quite wide spread.  There
>  ~has been plenty of coverage in the newspapers of this issue.
>  
>  And rots the rubber right out of your older car!  All Buna-N type
>  rubber fittings in the fuel system will need to be replaced with
>  silicone type fittings to survive.  Yes, I am in SoCal.

Excuse my ignorance:  Is this (MTBE) what oxygenates the fuel
in Calif?  I've noticed my car pinging *more* since this gas started
being used year round.  Yet I believe someone said this adds 
octane.  Did I remember that wrong?

Thanks,
Marc