What's your octane rating

[VirginiaJim]

Pumping ethyl you twit...

As a sidebar..  Ethyl corporation is HQ in Richmond, VA.

[PH14]

Pumping ethyl you twit...

As a sidebar..  Ethyl corporation is HQ in Richmond, VA.

Why is he a twit when it was impossible to know who you were responding to since you didn't quote him?
 

[VirginiaJim]

Why is he a twit when it was impossible to know who you were responding to since you didn't quote him?
 

He's supposed to read my mind...

[Mister Tee]

I regularly use 89 octane-anything higher is an exception on my part.  The bike runs fine with 13k miles on it using the 89 octane fuel over the life of the bike so far.  I have no pinging or pre-ignitition.

Fred

What he^ said.  For that matter I've run 87 in mine before with no problems.  Probably okay in the Winter.  Probably don't want to push it in the Summer.

Likewise, my Beemer (1200RT) also required 90 octane, but it had an adaptive timing system to control knocking so 87 could be run safely.  There was no difference in performance or mileage between 89 and 91 octane, but if I ran 87 the adaptive timing system would kick in and the mileage would drop until I ran a couple tanks of 89 through it.

[Conrad]

He's supposed to read my mind...

I wasn't on the same wavelength as you were at the time, I only had one cup of coffee in me. 

[mcclaskeyj]

So far I've mostly been using Regular Unleaded with occaisional Premium fillups on my second Connie. I haven't yet noticed any difference in mileage or performance. I also haven't had any noticeable engine knocking or flukes as of yet. Been on Regular for a good 6 months or so since Premium has been a sizable price difference. Is it supposed to just blow up if I'm using Regular on a consistent basis?

[VirginiaJim]

I wasn't on the same wavelength as you were at the time, I only had one cup of coffee in me.

Make it a bigger cup next time.....

[Conrad]

Make it a bigger cup next time.....

Roger that, good thinking.

[Bourne2Ride]

I run no less then Shell 93 V-Power. I stuck CAM2 104 in her; but at $14 a gallon it was a luxury I will not repeat.

[AirplaneTim]

Generally speaking, you'll get the highest power (not necessarily the best economy) out of the lowest octane you can run without pinging or knocking. 

That being said, these engines run fairly high compression ratios, hence the owners manual recommendation to use 90 or better. 

I ran on 87 for several very cold months after first getting the bike with no issues, and now that things are warming up have moved to mid grade (typically 89 around here) and the bike's been happy as a clam as far as I can tell.  However, that is also commuting and so I almost never red line the engine.  I'm sure if I did that on a regular basis in the 100+ deg summer heat, I would have to go up to premium.

[Tactical_Mik]

I run no less then Shell 93 V-Power. I stuck CAM2 104 in her; but at $14 a gallon it was a luxury I will not repeat.

Off topic:
I used to run this in Ohio in my 65 Falcon.  Loved that car, wish I didn't sell it.


BTW, I run 91 here in Kansas.  It doesn't go higher than that.  When in Arkansas or somewhere I can find real fuel(no 15% alco stuff), I always get considerably better fuel mileage.

[CigarSki®]

Mid grade 89. I figure that it's close enough. No issues.

[koval68]

I buy the highest available, 91-93.

[mkorn]

i was runnin 89 ... but the last 4 tanks have been 93 and the bike does seem to run better and i am getting increase gas mileage.
so i figure the better mileage is offsetting the higher cost.

[Mister Tee]

Generally speaking, you'll get the highest power (not necessarily the best economy) out of the lowest octane you can run without pinging or knocking. 

That being said, these engines run fairly high compression ratios, hence the owners manual recommendation to use 90 or better. 

I ran on 87 for several very cold months after first getting the bike with no issues, and now that things are warming up have moved to mid grade (typically 89 around here) and the bike's been happy as a clam as far as I can tell.  However, that is also commuting and so I almost never red line the engine.  I'm sure if I did that on a regular basis in the 100+ deg summer heat, I would have to go up to premium.

I've experienced no issues last Summer approaching redline in 100+ heat running 89.  But the most destructive pinging will occur at lower RPMS under a heavy load - bogging the engine.  I have not had an issue with that either.

[ernie4110]

 I use 91/93 if I plan on playing in the mountains. Normal driving and staying below 7000 rpm I use 89 octane. No issues on trips with 89 octane. Usually average 43mpg on trips staying at 79mph.

Rash

[maxtog]

I've experienced no issues last Summer approaching redline in 100+ heat running 89.  But the most destructive pinging will occur at lower RPMS under a heavy load - bogging the engine.  I have not had an issue with that either. 

I am not sure that all preignition is always going to be audible.  I don't think it is a good idea to run lower octane than recommended by the manufacturer.

[Conrad]

I am not sure that all preignition is always going to be audible.  I don't think it is a good idea to run lower octane than recommended by the manufacturer.

It's funny; guys will spend big bucks on a C14, and then spend hundreds/thousands on farkles, then want to save around a dollar/tank buying lower octane fuel than what's recommended by Kawasaki. 

To each their own I guess.

[Mister Tee]

To me it's not about saving money, the cost differential isn't even significant at current gas prices.  I actually believe running the lowest octane the engine can take without knocking is best for the engine.  Less fouling and deposits, even if it's negligeably less.

[Son of Pappy]

Premium, after an exhaustive thread on this same topic I decided the pennies saved just wasnt worth the potential risk.  Kinda like insurance or ATGATT, when it's too late, it's too late.  Oh, what the heck, I think I will start changing my oil on a schedule, say every 2 years/40,000 miles.  And I wont change my tires until they pop.