Tried STP Octane Booster. Used 1/2 bottle with a Chevron 91 octane fill-up, and rode through Antelope Valley yesterday at 105+ degrees, no pinging! Felt so much better to hear the bike running properly. Going in for 25K service next week and will discuss with the mechanic - seems like a stock 2012 EG should be able to handle California crap gasoline without having to use additives, but maybe not. In any case it actually worked, that was a pleasant surprise.

 

Two things come to mind if you're having pinging while using 91 octane gas..

1) something is definitely wrong with the motor (wonder if it's done this all along or just started it).

2) you're lugging it.

Don't know if you can find ethanol free gas out there, but it would be worth it if you can.

 

My bike is cammed.

Ethanol free + rocket fuel additive - the plugs suffer some but it doesn't clatter. E3's hold up well and give good combustion specs, you might wanna try some if you haven't.

 

Not true. Mine tends to ping in over 90 degree weather while cruising with slight acceleration at about 2800-3000 RPMs when it is running in closed loop. It pings from the ECM achieving stoichiometry in cruise mode. The pinging goes away under hard acceleration because fuel trim goes to open loop and doesn't ping at all if the ambient temp is under 85. Has done it since day one.

In Sturgis it pinged for about two or three miles after sitting backed up in traffic and then getting out on the open road from the engine heat that built up. After a few miles of good cool airflow it quit. It also did it on ethanol free gas purchased in Johnson Siding.

You can buy ethanol free gas here but it's hard to find and it did nothing for my pinging when I used it.

 

I have to ask what type of "rocket fuel" you are using and where do you get it?

 

SO this "clatter" noise I hear when it's hot must be pinging?
I only hear it when it's 80 degrees or better out and on the freeway.
Never been much on STP products, but maybe I'll give it a try. I haven't seen any unblended gasoline around here for some time.

 

Not lugging it, this is happening at 80mph. Happens when the temperature is above 105. This is a pure stock 2012 FLHTK, but California has the worst gas in the nation - it will ruin any small motor like a lawnmower if left in over a few months. I will be talking to the dealer about it on Thursday, just a hunch they won't be much help. I think I need the new TwinCooled motor!

 

It never ruined any of my bikes. Hmmmm. Try getting a tuner and a tune.

 

I've done some research on the muscle car forums - it appears that California is a "91 octane state" - can't get gasoline above that. California is the tip of the spear for the radical environmentalists, the feds tend to follow California about 5 years later, so get used to it. The radicals that have taken over my state have NO compunction about propagating regulations that destroy our freedom or our economy - they just outlawed freaking FIREPITS at the g-dmnd BEACH because of their unmitigated power to enact air quality regs. And there is no recourse for the citizen - these laws, called "regulations" but carrying full enforcement, are put in place by unelected bureaucrats with NO accountability - they cannot be voted out of office, let alone recalled. It is blatantly unconstitutional, but is accepted as fait accompli by pretty much everyone at this point. Kiss your freedom goodbye, folks, we are over the tipping point by a long shot. I just had to spend $90 to fix my pressure washer after the crap gasoline here ruined its carburetor.

 

It's called "Rocket Fuel" and is an octane booster and helps clean the injectors. Many of the bike shops have it. Harley here used to. Or you can order it online. I haven't looked in a long time because I found a guy going out of business and bought his whole stock dirt cheap. It comes in a big tin can and is individually packaged - clip the tip, squirt it in - premeasured for just one tankful. I've shared it with my Harley friends and they notice a difference too. I put it in every other time I fill up so I don't keep concentrating it. No pings and clatters for me, even when I occasionally lug it without meaning to. It will color your plugs though over time and offer some slight, tan build up, but it takes a while. I guess it shortens plug life to some extent, but not much. The E3's handle it better than all the others I've tried except maybe the Autolite platinums...they lasted well. I think it's probably better from a clean engine standpoint to not use the ****, but with the cam, I gotta or it'll clatter. 23K miles and no problems. Guess we'll see at the first teardown. Check the real numbers on the octane boosters, some are just lies. Or you can go to the airport and get AV gas if you race.

I've also used Lucas octane boost with good results.