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What octane should I be running?

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Old Sep 22, 2011 | 09:12 AM
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93,and run non ethanol when I can.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 09:16 AM
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Michigan fuel is 10% ethanol and law does not require the stations to post it as long as it isn't over 10%.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by barjbar
Michigan fuel is 10% ethanol and law does not require the stations to post it as long as it isn't over 10%.
Thanks Barjbar. I moved to the Detroit area last fall and I was wondering about that! Guys at work were telling me that if there was no posting on pump there was no ethanol but my bike sure didn't act like it.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 10:01 AM
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Harley is not a performance motor nor is it a high reving engine. You buy any new car and they will suggest running high octane gas. As long as the motor is not pinging on the fuel there is no need to waste your money. Now I'm sure I'm going to get lit up by many of you but that's my 2 cents.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by jmorgan
Harley is not a performance motor nor is it a high reving engine. You buy any new car and they will suggest running high octane gas. As long as the motor is not pinging on the fuel there is no need to waste your money. Now I'm sure I'm going to get lit up by many of you but that's my 2 cents.
I know if I put less than 91 in the VW it can pull timing and cause a powerloss and after the ECU reflash, it's set to run 93 with as much boost as the motor is getting, so there's merit to some of that. Plus if you're running a high compression motor or a vehicle with FI, it's a good idea to use 91+. There's no way I would ever run regular gas in any of the sport bikes I had with most of them pushing 12 to 1 compression ratio. Why chance it?

And if the manufacture says put premium in, I'm going to put premium in. After all, what's a dollar extra a fill up on a bike or $4.50 more in the car? I'm not hurting for money obviously, I bought a Harley
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 10:28 AM
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Coyote nailed it.
Higher compression requires a slower burning fuel ( higher octane) use of too low octane will result in detonation (pinging), which leads to degraded performance and ultimately damage.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 10:34 AM
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I use High octane and don't give **** what it cost.
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by big_e_walrus
Coyote nailed it.
Higher compression requires a slower burning fuel ( higher octane) use of too low octane will result in detonation (pinging), which leads to degraded performance and ultimately damage.
Exactly and if it's not pinging lower octane fuel will be fine. I would be interested in a study to check the octane levels of the tanks at the stations. I would be willing to bet that they would be low at a lot of places
 
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Old Sep 22, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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I have had a 11 SG for a few months and the dealer said to run mid grade which i do and havent had any problems so far
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 11:45 AM
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Manual says to use 91 Octane.

In my area, it is mostly 87, 89, and 92 or 93.

So what's an extra few bits to run Premium in a bike? It's a 5 gallon tank and all you are doing is pinching a few dimes for not running it.
 



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