i have a corvette and it runs like dog turds with anything other than premium....ironically just like my 48

 

I know from your sig that you have a carbed 06, but you made a blanket statement "Manual says to run 87 in 883's.", and that might lead an owner of an 07up that doesn't know any better to believe they should be running 87.

Misinformation, is often worse than no information.

And yes, you likely can run a late model vette on 87, especially in cool weather. But that's because the on-board computer is capable of detecting knock, and it will retard the ignition timing to cope with the lower octane. Of course that comes at the expense of performance and fuel mileage.


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Monday of this week I took off for a ride to "try out" the new RevTech, 25w60 oil and the 90T oil filter cHarley recommended. I stopped in Tappahannock, Va. at an Exxon and out of habit punched up 87 octane. I realized too late but didn't notice much difference until I took the uphill off ramp from 95 to Route 3, in 4th gear it sounded like there were a million birds chirping under the tank. I made it the rest of the way home without it happening again. It could have been cruising at 70 on 95 that warmed the engine up more than it had been. I ran the rest of the 87 out yesterday and its full of Shell once again. On July 15th I'm riding to western Pa. and looking forward to it.

 

I run premium (usually 92 or 93) most of the time. Every now and then hit a station with only 87 or 89. Never had a problem with it....but don't know what it would be like if I only ran the lower octane.

Around here I like BP or Exxon...when on the road I just look for stations that don't have older tanks...don't want the crap that pumps out of them.

(883 EFI)

Kevin

 

I find it odd that HD on their website recommends 91 octane for the sportsters. I have never even seen 91 octane. 87,89, and 93 is what we get here. Maybe we should mix the top two grades 50/50 lol

 

No one can win an argument with you. You know WAY too much!

 

I have a BP gas card and there are tons of their stations on my regular routes, so I use that gas brand pretty much exclusively..
89 octane in the carbed bike runs fine

 

Higher altitudes have lower octane gas for the same grade. That is, our 87 regular is 85 at high altitude, etc. This is why they suggest 91, it's often the highest octane available in the mountains.

 

Gas is not "just" gas, knock is very real, ECU's and ECM's are limited in their ability to protect machines from the human element, and I honestly don't care what others do to, or with, THEIR machines.

I have some knowledge that is based on empirical data, I do not require anyone else to believe in what I believe in, and my understanding of things is not subject to anyone's approval. However, I have always tried to remain open to new thoughts and ideas as technology develops. If someone requires proof of why this would be important, just compare the track statistics of a 1953 corvette to a 2012 corvette.

With that said, until I get everything sorted out enough to run e-85 on this bike I will continue to use the highest octane fuel available at the pump. I don't mind the extra $0.10 per gallon as the most I've pumped at once was 1.8 gallons.

 

I've been pumping gas since 1996 and have never had an issue. I've owned 4 cylinders to V-8 modified Mustangs. I don't know what people are talking about when they have "BAD GAS". Check your plugs or air filter. You're all insane to me.