What octane? 2011 C14

[mvjr1904]

What fuel octane are you using?

The OM says 90 octane. I use premium, 91. By mistake I topped off my tank (3.25 gallons) with Regular unleaded (87 octane). Bike runs the same with no noticeable lagg. I mainly ride highway miles at approx 75 mph so I will burn thru my tank and refuel with 91 by the end of the week.

[fmwhit]

I use 89 octane in my bike with 20k miles on it.  I have used 89 octane since the bike was new. I do not run the bike at its limits, if I was going to do that I might go up to the 91 octane.  There was just a write up in one of the cycle magazines abt this, if I find it I will let you know which magazine it was in.

[Awaz]

I use the recommended 90+ octane. If I remember correctly (and hopefully more mechanically apt people will respond), this bike does not have a knock sensor. So, with lower octane, detonation may occur thus damaging the engine - in theory. That is why a higher octane is recommended that will burn more controlled.
So, in my limited knowledge, running 87 octane would be ok in a pinch as long as you are not getting on the throttle heavy - redlining, etc.

[B.D.F.]

It seems to depend entirely on what tires and oil you are using at the time. For example, if using Michelin PR2's, some people claim you will not live long enough to go through an entire tank of fuel, let alone suffer damage from detonation. If using a fleet diesel oil, again the fuel octane does not seem to matter because the oil will shear down to -0- viscosity so fast there is no risk of engine damage from fuel choice.

I personally use mostly 89 octane as that is what is readily available around here. If it is hot I usually try to use 90 or higher which is almost always 91 octane again in this area. On occasion I have had to use less than 87 octane fuel because I needed the stuff and that is all that was available so rather than wasting time scouring the countryside for octane improvers or trying to look up some tetraethyl lead, I just pumped the stuff in the tank and kept going. Bike is now passing 85K miles and seems fine, although of course it might be on the brink of a verge.

Kawasaki recommends 90 octane minimum so that would seem to be a reasonable level to use- 90 or higher. Octane on the high side cannot harm anything while low octane <may, might, could> allow detonation which is a bad thing if severe enough.

Brian

What fuel octane are you using?

The OM says 90 octane. I use premium, 91. By mistake I topped off my tank (3.25 gallons) with Regular unleaded (87 octane). Bike runs the same with no noticeable lagg. I mainly ride highway miles at approx 75 mph so I will burn thru my tank and refuel with 91 by the end of the week.

[Bourne2Ride]

I use the recommended 90+ octane. If I remember correctly (and hopefully more mechanically apt people will respond), this bike does not have a knock sensor. So, with lower octane, detonation may occur thus damaging the engine - in theory. That is why a higher octane is recommended that will burn more controlled.
So, in my limited knowledge, running 87 octane would be ok in a pinch as long as you are not getting on the throttle heavy - redlining, etc.

I'm no mechanic, but that's what I understand. There is no knock sensor to retard pre-ignition or detonation. High revving high performance engines run hotter under higher stresses and loads. The 90 octane is there to ensure the fuel doesn't spontaneously combust in the cylinder causing damage. This only matters if you continuously rev the engine to the red line. But we don't do that here, right?! 

[Conrad]

I use the recommended 90+ octane. If I remember correctly (and hopefully more mechanically apt people will respond), this bike does not have a knock sensor. So, with lower octane, detonation may occur thus damaging the engine - in theory. That is why a higher octane is recommended that will burn more controlled.
So, in my limited knowledge, running 87 octane would be ok in a pinch as long as you are not getting on the throttle heavy - redlining, etc.

+1 Around my neck of the woods the gas stations have 93 octane. That's what I use. How much of a difference in cost is it to fill your tank with high octane vs low? A dollar at the most, why risk damage for a dollar each fillup? 

YMMV

[VirginiaJim]

You might be able to get away with lower octanes assuming you don't get into the high revs.  This bike's compression changes depending on how much you thrash it.  I run 91 or higher depending on what's being offered.

[chap]

I have run 87 octane on a few occasions when 91 is not available. I use 91 mostly. Why tempt fate for the small extra cost.

[maxtog]

I have run 87 octane on a few occasions when 91 is not available. I use 91 mostly. Why tempt fate for the small extra cost.

+1.  I always use the highest octane in the Concours (and my car, which also requires it).  There are good and valid reasons Kawasaki requires the higher octane, and I am not going to argue with their engineers.

Yeah, you can probably get away with using lower octane in MOST circumstances  (lower ambient temps, lower revving, less throttle/load).... but not in ALL circumstances.  And it only takes a few times to potentially cause expensive and lasting damage.

[gPink]

It's almost like you could spell octane   O I L .

[maxtog]

It's almost like you could spell octane   O I L .

LOL-  almost!

[Locol]

It my understanding that you can use lower octane at higher altitudes. I live at 5K ft. and ride at elevations from 5-10K. My dealer told me that he would feel confident using 87-89 octane at this elevation in the C14.

[VirginiaJim]

It's almost like you could spell octane   O I L .

Where are those crash test dummies?

[Pokey]

89 is as low as I will go, typically 91 but will run 93 if I can find it.

[martin_14]

where I live, you can have fuel from 90 to 97 octane, and it is my highly scientific personal subjectiv feeling that this bike likes higher octanes, specially in summer.
That said, the difference in price between the cheaper and the most expensive stuff is about 15% and the improvement in fuel economy for the higher octane about 10%, so all boils down to 5% difference in fuel expenses.
Moral of the story: I always put the highest octane available wherever I refuel. With my mileage (some 15k / year), I might end up paying 100 bucks more every year, but the engine is happier (he talks to me, I swear  ) and I stop less for fuel.

[gPink]

he ?

[Conrad]

where I live, you can have fuel from 90 to 97 octane, and it is my highly scientific personal subjectiv feeling that this bike likes higher octanes, specially in summer.
That said, the difference in price between the cheaper and the most expensive stuff is about 15% and the improvement in fuel economy for the higher octane about 10%, so all boils down to 5% difference in fuel expenses.
Moral of the story: I always put the highest octane available wherever I refuel. With my mileage (some 15k / year), I might end up paying 100 bucks more every year, but the engine is happier (he talks to me, I swear  ) and I stop less for fuel.

Is your bike a Konrad Chuck instead of a Connie?   

Better?

[VirginiaJim]

Did you really mean to say that?         Sure you don't want to reconsider? 

[gPink]

Oh, the possibilities here.

[VirginiaJim]

My thoughts exactly....well, well, well, this doldrum Friday just got more exciting.  Better than an octane discussion.      Many thanks to both Martin and Conrad.  Yes, yes, I know you spelled Conrad with a K but still.....

Any attempt at 12 year old humor is greatly appreciated here.