Fuel choices

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Jul 12, 2011 | 09:01 PM

#21

killerk95

Club Member

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 356

Likes: 0

From: IOWA

I usually will look for the 92 or 93 octane, and prefer the non ethanol types, although sometimes hard to find in CORN country.

Jul 12, 2011 | 09:22 PM

#22

FXSTaCy

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 137

Likes: 0

From: Dania Beach, FL

Lowest octane you can run without detonation (pinging) will give you the best performance and mpg. As ls4x4 said "lower octane burns more complete", or has a lower flash point, which equals efficiency. As long as there's no detonation. This is very hard on the rod bearings and crank. Owners manual recommends 91 as a whole, different regions will require octane adjustment. Unless of course your motor is tuned locally for a specific grade.

Jul 12, 2011 | 09:29 PM

#23

whiskyls1

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 457

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUPRPIG

What brand stocks that I can't find anything but 10% Ethanol added?

Here in Wisconsin we have Kwik Trips. Ethanol free 91 octane. Citgo carries ethanol free 93, and some, not all, Shell stations V-Power is ethanol free.

Jul 13, 2011 | 06:49 AM

#24

fabrik8r

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 2,916

Likes: 31

From: earth

The ethanol blend situation is ridiculous, its virtually unregulated so there is no guarantee of what you are getting when you squeeze the pump handle. Most folks don’t even recognize the variation in fuel, but being involved in my own tuning I see it in black and white every time I look at my logged data. From a tuning standpoint the random E blend creates problems for carbed and non-O2 EFI systems. I’ve been running the DTT WEGO for a couple years now, and depending on where I get my fuel, my AFRs will fluctuate as much as .8, doesn’t seem like much unless you are trying to tune for maximum economy; where’s the EPA when you really need them? Not so much a problem for O2 systems, but there are lot of older machines on the road. The solution is not as simple as just getting all your fuel from the same place while tuning, because eventually you will have to get fuel somewhere else. We should all get Gov’t subsidies to pay for upgrading our fuel management systems to utilize this crap fuel. I don’t care for the ethanol at all, but we should be able to expect a reasonable consistency in our fuel from one station to the next, and one week to the next.

Jul 13, 2011 | 07:24 AM

#25

vtwinbob

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 552

Likes: 2

From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harsh1828

I think ethonal is pretty much mandated for all gasoline in Colorado.

do you live close to any of theses towns??http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=CO

Jul 13, 2011 | 08:40 AM

#26

Chunker

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 1,905

Likes: 66

From: Hartford, AL

FUEL UPDATE to my post. Here in SE AL there are a couple of stations that have the ethanol free gas and I tried a few tank fulls in my Kaw 1600 Nomad. Frankly I didn't see any advantage either in performance or mileage, just the additional cost. I used the premium, 91 or 02 octane when I did. The stations are not close to me so I haven't tried any in the HD and don't plan to. Hopefully the congress will get a back bone and put corn where it's supposed to be, on the table not the tank.

Jul 15, 2011 | 12:29 PM

#27

Willie D

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 781

Likes: 3

From: 85.38W 42.13N USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunker

Been running 87 for a few tank fulls and getting 2-3 mpg better, no pinging under any load and no hotter. Maybe if the intake and exhaust were stock it would be different. I don't believe everything HD or the government tells me.

I have run 89 for the entire life of my 2010 LoBoy and have not any ping/knock and it gets 47-53 mpg. Recomened and Required are 2 different things. These new motors with EFI and 02 sensors will pretty much adjust for slight octane differences. I have added Nightrider 02IED for the closed loop part of the throttle, and it runs like a scalded dog with only the exhaust changed. still have the stock AC. I know 10 cents is NO big deal, but the motor likes the lowest octane and will make more HP at 9:1 compression. I try to stay with the BIG brands, Shell/Marathon. . . NO Citgo/Speedway

JMHO

Lowest octane you can run without detonation (pinging) will give you the best performance and mpg. As ls4x4 said "lower octane burns more complete", or has a lower flash point, which equals efficiency. As long as there's no detonation.

Jul 15, 2011 | 12:48 PM

#28

Rat1

Road Master

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 1,231

Likes: 5

From: In the north

I see there are a few here that have not fallen for the mini mart talk of having to use a certain OCT fuel. I run the lowest oct available without ethanol, sometimes I don't have a choice and have to run ethanol. My scooter actually perfers the power grades over the higher grades, It is quicker, faster on top and gets better economy using the lower grade fuel. Oh and NO my motor does not ping etc.

I remember Polaris used to recomend 91+ oct in many of their snowmobiles. Funny thing is that the instructor at the Polaris Star certification class, that I had to take, told me that the machines actually run better on the lower grade fuel and will be just as reliable. The 91 oct recomendation was just a gimic.

It is your money, you can pay an extra dollar per tank or an extra 10 dollars per tanks. I will save that extra dollar per fill and buy myself something or go an extra few miles at the end of the day when you figure out cost per mile traveled. it all starts to add up after awhile.