Author Topic: What's your octane rating (Read 10744 times)

Jaxter · « **on:** June 11, 2011, 10:00:35 PM »

What octane gas do you buy and how does it affect the bikes performance.
All I have ever used is the high octane, but I wonder if the lower octanes would be fine also

Scaffolder · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:27:06 PM »

Great question!!!
I was getting super from a local Erving station and never even looked at octane. I figured it was 93, but later realized it was 91. So I switched to a station (Mobil) and they had 93 octane for the same price. In under two weeks my fuel economy has gone from 41.5-42.7. And the only change in driving was the fill-up stations. My mpg guage has been going up 1 tenth mpg everyday since. It can just keep on going up. It would be great to see it hiy 44 or 45 mpg.

metzgerf16 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2011, 11:02:12 PM »

I use 91 octane because that is premium unleaded in Nevada. I won't use anything less than premium in this bike because that is what it is designed to burn. My '11 Mustang uses premium but can run regular with only 10-12 hp lost (Ford's claim). A few dyno runs have shown that the difference is more like 30 hp. If you have a high compression engine, it's best to use the correct octane gas. Using the cheap stuff will decrease hp and fuel mileage.

Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2011, 03:37:15 AM »

I always used 91 or better in my bike unless it wasn't available! Then I used the highest rated available. Yes it did happen!

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:40:59 AM »

high test or premium...

manowarwi · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:44:35 AM »

On the same topic, what is the consensus on octane boosters? I've thought about buying a bottle and keeping it on hand during trips just in case you end up in some small town without mid-grade or premium. Does the stuff actually help or is it one of those marketing gimmicks where it boosts the rating in lab tests but doesn't actually help the vehicle?

CrashGordon · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:51:22 AM »

Quote from: manowarwi on June 12, 2011, 06:44:35 AM

On the same topic, what is the consensus on octane boosters? I've thought about buying a bottle and keeping it on hand during trips just in case you end up in some small town without mid-grade or premium. Does the stuff actually help or is it one of those marketing gimmicks where it boosts the rating in lab tests but doesn't actually help the vehicle?

Octane boost really works, but keep in mind a whole bottle is used to treat a full tank of gas on a car. You'd only need a small portion of it for a motorcycle. But it probably isn't necessary. Rule of thumb is use the lowest octane fuel that doesn't cause engine knocking. I use premium in my bike because that's what the manual calls for, but I doubt that one or two tanks would be an issue. In fact, you'll probably get several posts on here from riders who use regular unleaded all the time with no issues.

booger · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:59:28 AM »

My octane rating is pretty low, but I'm damn near 58 years old.

On my C-14, I use premium, which I think is 93 rated fuel. I dunno, but living in S. Texas w/ many 100+F summer days, I always felt the premium helped on knocking.

I haven't even looked in the owners manual to see what is recommended.

Conrad · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:02:43 AM »

If I'm around my area I always use 93 if I'm on the road I use the highest available.

Aussie in AZ · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:05:47 AM »

Quote from: booger on June 12, 2011, 06:59:28 AM

My octane rating is pretty low, but I'm damn near 58 years old.

On my C-14, I use premium, which I think is 93 rated fuel. I dunno, but living in S. Texas w/ many 100+F summer days, I always felt the premium helped on knocking.

I haven't even looked in the owners manual to see what is recommended.

There's a little blue pill for that mate

91 is the best I can find in AZ and I use that for the same reason. High temps and knocking

Aussie

gPink · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:14:22 AM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on June 12, 2011, 05:40:59 AM

high test or premium...

How many of us remember pumping Ethyl.

lather · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:20:37 AM »

If the site had not crashed we could read a huge book worth of patter about octane. I have used 89 which is our local mid grade for 50,000 miles. I tried premium after hearing claims of HP and MPG inprovements but I never saw them.

Conrad · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:25:54 AM »

Quote from: gPink on June 12, 2011, 07:14:22 AM

How many of us remember pumping Ethyl.

Say what?

booger · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:40:25 AM »

Quote from: Aussie in AZ on June 12, 2011, 07:05:47 AM

There's a little blue pill for that mate

Aussie

I use it religiously.

ZG · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:02:35 PM »

Quote from: Conrad on June 12, 2011, 07:25:54 AM

Say what?

booger · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:21:30 PM »

Quote from: gPink on June 12, 2011, 07:14:22 AM

How many of us remember pumping Ethyl.

Never pumped Ethyl because I couldn't afford it.

fmwhit · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:27:59 PM »

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

Pokey · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2011, 09:05:28 PM »

91/93 for me.........

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:16:20 AM »

Darn it! He beat me to it.

Conrad · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:18:09 AM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on June 13, 2011, 05:16:20 AM

Darn it! He beat me to it.

Who beat you and what did they beat you to?

News:

Author Topic: What's your octane rating (Read 10744 times)

Bob