gasoline question
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 24
From: Franklin, IN
gasoline question
Seen some posts regarding fuel injection cleaners, bad gas stations and lousy gas. I used to run premium in my bikes. Then when gas went through the roof I went to mid grade. I didn't like paying upwards of 70 cents from regular.
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,981
Likes: 5,219
From: Michigan
Seen some posts regarding fuel injection cleaners, bad gas stations and lousy gas. I used to run premium in my bikes. Then when gas went through the roof I went to mid grade. I didn't like paying upwards of 70 cents from regular.
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
I have a near 4500lb truck with a 300HP engine and on regular unleaded fuel I get 20-21 MPG's.
With a 925lb motorcycle with a 90HP engine on premium fuel I get 39-41 MPG's.
No "pinging" with either of them.
I guess that due to the limited amount of miles that we ride our motorcycles, the price of fuel is not as much of a factor that it is when we drive our other vehicles.
In my lifetime of using gasoline, I can honestly say that I have only had two incidents of getting "bad" gas and that was many years ago.
Last edited by 2AMGuy; May 22, 2019 at 01:29 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Premium is a marketing term, commonly applied to gasoline that has a higher octane rating than gas that is not called premium. Around here it's 87 (regular) 89 (Mid- often with 15% ethanol so watch it) and 91 (premium)
The advertisers would have you believe that there is something special about this gasoline, when in fact there really isn't- other than the higher octane rating. BP oil or Amoco, or whomever they were back then got in trouble for saying that their "Gold (Premium)" gas provided more power, higher mpg, etc... It was totally false, and they got fined and had to stop advertising that way.
Some engines require higher octane gasoline than others. If my engine calls for 91 thats what it gets. If it calls for 87, I use that.
Harley lists 91 octane (aka Premium) for my bike- so that's what I use. If an engine requires 87 octane, and you put in 91 octane, there really is no benefit other than to the retailer who makes a higher margin on premium than non premium.
In addition to paying a "premium" price for premium gas, I pay even more to run gas with no ethanol, which around here is only avalaible in the Premium grade.
I use Top Tier rated gas when I can, it's supposed to have a good additive package that has detergents that keep you from hopefully needing to use fuel system cleaners.
The advertisers would have you believe that there is something special about this gasoline, when in fact there really isn't- other than the higher octane rating. BP oil or Amoco, or whomever they were back then got in trouble for saying that their "Gold (Premium)" gas provided more power, higher mpg, etc... It was totally false, and they got fined and had to stop advertising that way.
Some engines require higher octane gasoline than others. If my engine calls for 91 thats what it gets. If it calls for 87, I use that.
Harley lists 91 octane (aka Premium) for my bike- so that's what I use. If an engine requires 87 octane, and you put in 91 octane, there really is no benefit other than to the retailer who makes a higher margin on premium than non premium.
In addition to paying a "premium" price for premium gas, I pay even more to run gas with no ethanol, which around here is only avalaible in the Premium grade.
I use Top Tier rated gas when I can, it's supposed to have a good additive package that has detergents that keep you from hopefully needing to use fuel system cleaners.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,484
Likes: 2,529
From: Lititz Pa
So did read this right your too cheep to put the right gas in your bike because it cost about a $1.00 more per fill up. Cant wait to see your next post, valves shot dealer wont fix them because I am to cheep. This is un-****ing-believable
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 24
From: Franklin, IN
Hasn't done any damage in 78k miles.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 963
Likes: 388
From: Indianapolis
Seen some posts regarding fuel injection cleaners, bad gas stations and lousy gas. I used to run premium in my bikes. Then when gas went through the roof I went to mid grade. I didn't like paying upwards of 70 cents from regular.
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
Octane is merely the ability of a fuel to resist detonation.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 501
Likes: 252
From: Kentucky
Seen some posts regarding fuel injection cleaners, bad gas stations and lousy gas. I used to run premium in my bikes. Then when gas went through the roof I went to mid grade. I didn't like paying upwards of 70 cents from regular.
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
My question is what's the difference? I dont have any pinging, detonation or any issues.
So what is the benefit of a dollar over regular running premium?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 805
From: Washington
Somewhat true. Different retailers will have there own custom additive packages. Part of the additional services a supplier (terminal operator or pipelline) can offer at bulk terminals is mixing and injection of custom additive packages.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 1,537
From: N.E.Alabama
......and occasionally different pre-fill (tanker) additives...........EDIT:.....it helps to use newer stations with newer underground tanks, and never ever use gas from a station that also has a car-wash on site
Last edited by Bama Lee; May 22, 2019 at 03:54 PM.
