I meant to also ask when you were taking the "extra" 10,000 gallons of regular gas and putting it into the premium holding tank, what is the size of the premium holding tank? i would tend to think it would be smaller than the regular holding tank.

 

I live in KC, and bought my bike in Carroll, IA. On the way up there for my 'free' 1000 mile service I had to buy gas at a station that didn't have premium, in a small town. No knocking or pinging, but I lost 10% on my milage. running 87 octane(regular in my part of the country) cost more money than running premium would have if it would have been available.

 

Good observation. Anti-knock sensing will protect your engine but the timing is sub-optimal for performance and efficiency. But heck - if people want to use 87 octane gas far be it for me to get in their way.

 

I'll always fill with 91 octane when it's available but have had numerous instances when 87 was all that they had. No problems ever noted. Just fill with premium at the next gas stop.

Only time I've ever had a 'gas issue' was a fill with 93 octane one time. Bike ran like crap. No idea how long that stuff had sat in the tank but I know I'd rather fill with fresh 87 than old 93.

 

I agree 100%. I could never understand why people buy a nice car or bike, use premium oils ect., take good care of it but when it comes time to fill up they not only put the cheapest $hit in but they will go out of their way and drive across town for it. Our vehicles deserve better than that and BTW all gasoline's aren't created equal.

 

PKelly,

Actually, your results make perfect sense. Additives meant to boost octane displace fuel, thereby reducing the "caloric" value of the gasoline. Lower octane fuels actually contain more calories (energy) by volume. However, having said that, if your motor (i.e., Harley's air cooled motors) requires a higher octane to run properly (due to factors such as heat, compression ratio,etc.) then you should only run the higher octane fuel. As mentioned earlier, higher octane increases the temperature at which fuel detonates. If you were to operate in a very cool climate and at a sedate pace, you MAY be okay using lower octane fuel. This is not a risk I am willing to take, though. YMMV.

 

Not an urban myth at all, anything from the switch point (3 or 4 tank lines to 1 pump) to the nozzle is what you get first. The amount all depends on how close the switch point is to the pump.

 

typically the storage tanks are the same size, but stations will keep less high octane onsite due to high cost. you now have to pay for a load of gas upfront due to high cost. I might add though that refinery's that own stations tend to have better gas.....BP as an example, personally I prefer to buy gas for my truck at the mom & pop station where they turn the pump on when I pull up. But for the bike I use BP only.

 

Me too, or Sunoco. BP also doesn't buy gas from our enemies. Walmart gas I hear is refined in Arkansas.
High test doesn't sell as well and sits longer in tanks. You have more chance of getting water with that, but the same is true for any tank almost empty due to condensation. But you don't want to fill up at a station that has just had the tanks filled due to stirred up crap at the bottom. Gas is denser when cooler, so they say to fill in the morning and you get "more" for your money. I'm dubious on this one, since ground temps usually stay at 55F.
It occurred to me from what Deadhead said that you might get in line behind the big SUV, cadillac, porsche, or Jag and have a better chance of them pumping hightest before you, clearing the lines of regular from the guy with the old pinto.

 

Well then, I guess the riders that are worried about what they serve to their bikes will need to dump a half gallon on the ground before putting any in the tank, just to be sure?