gas additive...yes or no?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
RE: gas additive...yes or no?
Hey Bigpapa,
You might ask that H-D "mechanic" about the various additives that the MOCO itself markets and recommends. I'm fairly certain thatH-D techtraining only consists of teaching them to say "that's normal, they all do it" or "I can't get it to do what you're complaining about" with a straight face. Other than that, in my opinion, they're completely useless/clueless.
Ride safe,
John
You might ask that H-D "mechanic" about the various additives that the MOCO itself markets and recommends. I'm fairly certain thatH-D techtraining only consists of teaching them to say "that's normal, they all do it" or "I can't get it to do what you're complaining about" with a straight face. Other than that, in my opinion, they're completely useless/clueless.
Ride safe,
John
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Joined: May 2008
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RE: gas additive...yes or no?
Not impossible or silly, just the facts. I used to get 30-50 more miles per tankful in the Suv when loaded with regular instead of premium. Didn't say it ran better, just longer. Have no reason to misrepresent. I always thought it might be that the 87 burns slower but again, not a chemist or expert as firetender must be so i will defer to the experts and forget my experiences.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
RE: gas additive...yes or no?
Asatguy,
This is the first place that I've ever seen it stated that High octane gas contains more potential energy than lower octanes. I really do not think that's the case. Like you said, it's just the amount of anti-knock additives that keep it from detonating. Therefore, a higher compression engine can produce more power on the high octane gas that it's designed to use because it won't detonateand will burn more efficiently. My understanding is that all basic gasoline contains the same amount of potential energy and higher compression engines justextract more of it.
John
This is the first place that I've ever seen it stated that High octane gas contains more potential energy than lower octanes. I really do not think that's the case. Like you said, it's just the amount of anti-knock additives that keep it from detonating. Therefore, a higher compression engine can produce more power on the high octane gas that it's designed to use because it won't detonateand will burn more efficiently. My understanding is that all basic gasoline contains the same amount of potential energy and higher compression engines justextract more of it.
John
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Royston, BC
RE: gas additive...yes or no?
ORIGINAL: jpooch00
Asatguy,
This is the first place that I've ever seen it stated that High octane gas contains more potential energy than lower octanes. I really do not think that's the case. Like you said, it's just the amount of anti-knock additives that keep it from detonating. Therefore, a higher compression engine can produce more power on the high octane gas that it's designed to use because it won't detonateand will burn more efficiently. My understanding is that all basic gasoline contains the same amount of potential energy and higher compression engines justextract more of it.
John
Asatguy,
This is the first place that I've ever seen it stated that High octane gas contains more potential energy than lower octanes. I really do not think that's the case. Like you said, it's just the amount of anti-knock additives that keep it from detonating. Therefore, a higher compression engine can produce more power on the high octane gas that it's designed to use because it won't detonateand will burn more efficiently. My understanding is that all basic gasoline contains the same amount of potential energy and higher compression engines justextract more of it.
John
"...premium pump gas has less available heat energy than regular unleaded! The reason you can get more power from a higher compression engine is that there is less heat released (sic), but you have turned more of it into useful work. The flip side of this is that engines that are running perfectly well on regular pump gas will actually make less power, all other things being equal, when being run with premium."
Gary
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
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RE: gas additive...yes or no?
I put a FI cleaner/additive in my car at every oil change. I just did an oil change from Syn 3 to Amsoil at 3500 mi. Also, put in Amsoil fuel additive. Butt dyno has noticed a phenomenal change in bikes performance. The exhaust sounds deeper and fuller. I get more pull when I open the throttle. I'll continue to add the Amsoil fuel additive at each oil change. Yes, tier1 fuels have detergeants, but a little extra cleaning is better.
If keeping your engine as clean as possible is important, then I recommend using the same brand of fuel. Since returning from Germany last year, I've been loyal to Shell. When I lived in the east, I always ran Sunoco 94/93 octane. Using the same brand ensures a uniform deposit of fuel sediments/deposits/whatever.switching brands creates a non-uniform deposits both in quantity and quality. You wouldn't switch oil brands at every oil change so why switch fuel brands? Predictability is what you want with engine performance and that should extend to fuel choice.
So, whether you use an additive or not, I proffer the argument that constantly using the same brand of fuel is as important if not more so.
If keeping your engine as clean as possible is important, then I recommend using the same brand of fuel. Since returning from Germany last year, I've been loyal to Shell. When I lived in the east, I always ran Sunoco 94/93 octane. Using the same brand ensures a uniform deposit of fuel sediments/deposits/whatever.switching brands creates a non-uniform deposits both in quantity and quality. You wouldn't switch oil brands at every oil change so why switch fuel brands? Predictability is what you want with engine performance and that should extend to fuel choice.
So, whether you use an additive or not, I proffer the argument that constantly using the same brand of fuel is as important if not more so.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
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From:
RE: gas additive...yes or no?
I never use an additive but the thought has crossed my mind, is the 'regular' better these days because it is fresher? Has the 91 been in the ground for weeks due to the price? Just wondering. I can use, but dont normally, the 87 oct. I may try it the 3K mile roundtrip to the Dragon next week.
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