no premium fuel
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 27
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From: South Carolina
no premium fuel
In my town in South Carolina premium fuel can not be found anywhere. I have run premium in my 2005 FLRHI since it was new. How will regular gas effect my bike and should I even take the chance? Would it be alright to add some type of octane boost product to the regular gas? Just wondering , I would hate to mess up my machine.
Last edited by reservecop; Oct 4, 2008 at 08:19 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 112
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From: NC
We haven't had any around here either, so I'm using regular. The research I did basically said the higher octane, the higher a spark temp needed to combust and as long as your motor doesn't spark knock theres no problem. I've heard no knockin' so I'm still ridin. Also, maybe I'm crazy, but, I swear I'm gettin' better MPG outta' the regular. And I always thought I did with the Springer too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,216
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From: Mill City Mass.
isnt there a post about this about three post down on the main page??? haha! I'm glad I don't have that problem here.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
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From:
I carry a bottle of the HD fuel additive with me on trips just in case I can't get premium. It seems to work well, no major spark knock, and it gets me to the next fill-up at a station that hopefully has the good stuff.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Punta Gorda,FL
We haven't had any around here either, so I'm using regular. The research I did basically said the higher octane, the higher a spark temp needed to combust and as long as your motor doesn't spark knock theres no problem. I've heard no knockin' so I'm still ridin. Also, maybe I'm crazy, but, I swear I'm gettin' better MPG outta' the regular. And I always thought I did with the Springer too.
You should only put in the highest octane that your engine requires. putting in higher octane then needed actually hurts the overall performance.
Does your owners manual call for premium?
The 2005 SE Fat Boy manual calls out for premium, so that is what I use. If all I could get was regular I would carry some octane booster with me and see how the engine runs on regular, before I bothered to add the booster.
Tom
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I just got back from a business trip to North Carolina and gasoline is in short supply there for some reason, with some stations completely out and others with 20 minute lines. What I noticed is the pumps running slow so you need to be aware of picking up dirt or water and crap from their low fuel tanks. Might be best to filter the gas as it enters your tanks. High test was out there too....