fuel choices
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 911
Likes: 10
From: Wisconsin
fuel choices
Whats better (if there is any difference at all) to use in the bikes?
91 octane with no ethanol
93 octane which may contain up to 10% ethanol
I have been filling up with the 91 but I see HD's going to the other station all the time.
91 octane with no ethanol
93 octane which may contain up to 10% ethanol
I have been filling up with the 91 but I see HD's going to the other station all the time.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: New Orleans, LA
My choice would be the 91 octane 100% gas. It's not all about octane and either one has enough octane for street worthy compression ratios anyway. I have noticed 2 - 3 MPG improvement when using 100% gas. The whole ethanol thing just rubs me the wrong way. Be glad that you have a choice.
Captsluggo
Captsluggo
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: Jaw-Jaw (Near The BIG Chicken!)
I work for a division of General Motors and I'm pretty sure virtually every car manufacturer adapted to ethanol a number of years back. It still causes some issues with seals, etc. in the earlier vehicles... talk of more than 10% certainly won't do anything good to most present engines. I would like to think HD adapted to the current standards a few years back. Now with that being said, I personally have NO use for anything in my gas BUT gas. Unfortunately, I know of no service facilities selling "straight" gas other than just regular grade. If non-ethanol were available around here in high octane, that would be my choice!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
There are no service stations with ethanol in my area that I'm aware of. I have found that 93 octane yields the best fuel mileage but the cost increase doesn't justify the difference. I've used Shell and found that my scoot does run as well with the nitrogen enriched fuel. My Harley has been getting terrible fuel mileage in this extremely hot weather we've been having. I’ve talked to guys that say Shell is the best fuel they have ever used. Go figure!
I just want it to cool down a bit.
I just want it to cool down a bit.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
Both my current bike and my last ('06 Dyna) preferred the 93 with ethanol vs. the 91 without. Definitely runs smoother.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,172
From: Oxford, Nc
Now that NASCAR is using Ethanol blend this year, the Crew Chiefs have to schedule more frequent pit stops than previously. Milage dropped from 4.5 mpg to 4 mpg, (if what they showed a couple of weeks ago is accurate.)
We shouldn't be any different. Ethanol decreases milage apparently.
We shouldn't be any different. Ethanol decreases milage apparently.