Still no issues useing 89 oct!
They're low compression engines and will run regular easily, unless they get hot. Stuck in an hour long traffic jam with the thermometer hovering at 95 degrees it needed the high test that day.
And since I can't predict the next time it's gonna' get really, really hot, I'll keep the 93 in it all the time.
And since I can't predict the next time it's gonna' get really, really hot, I'll keep the 93 in it all the time.
LOL, Thought I was the only stickler about that...Shop teacher beat it in our heads, carried it with me the rest of my years...now I lecture my kid (Senior in Tech for motorcycle/OPE)
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
I was in the Sierra foothills a couple of weeks ago. As I passed a sign indicating the elevation to be 4000 feet my bike (See my signature.) was pinging, sounded like a bag of marbles, and had little power. When I got down to lower elevations everything was as normal. My bike is stock, I always run 91. As I was that day.
Add the fact that most gas stations have one hose at the pump. And up to a gallon of fuel resides between the valve in the pump and the nozzle. So if you always fill up when you have a 1/2 tank (like a good friend of mine does), and the person before you used 87, it's likely you're get mostly 87-89 octane in your tank.
I always go to Chevron, where you can tell what the person before you pumped. I find a pump that has an arrow over the 91 price and use that one. I never seemed to have a pinging issue doing that.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 545
Likes: 5
From: California
California gas sucks. I've talked to a couple dyno tuners about it.
Add the fact that most gas stations have one hose at the pump. And up to a gallon of fuel resides between the valve in the pump and the nozzle. So if you always fill up when you have a 1/2 tank (like a good friend of mine does), and the person before you used 87, it's likely you're get mostly 87-89 octane in your tank.
I always go to Chevron, where you can tell what the person before you pumped. I find a pump that has an arrow over the 91 price and use that one. I never seemed to have a pinging issue doing that.
Add the fact that most gas stations have one hose at the pump. And up to a gallon of fuel resides between the valve in the pump and the nozzle. So if you always fill up when you have a 1/2 tank (like a good friend of mine does), and the person before you used 87, it's likely you're get mostly 87-89 octane in your tank.
I always go to Chevron, where you can tell what the person before you pumped. I find a pump that has an arrow over the 91 price and use that one. I never seemed to have a pinging issue doing that.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
I was in Northern Cali last August down by Ft. Bragg. Fuel was not real great, Seafoam helped out the situation. Would like to have access to 93 octane fuel, as it is I can get non-corn 91/92 octane, will stay with that.
On a side note, my 04 mazda 3 was dropping mpg added seafoam, corrected the issue.
On a side note, my 04 mazda 3 was dropping mpg added seafoam, corrected the issue.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 538
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Exactly. Even at 25k miles a year I only stand to save $62.50 a year by running lower octane. Seeing as I have always run 93 and never had problems with pinging, I'll pass. Maybe 87/89 would also work just fine and I'm squandering almost $70 a year paying for premium, who cares??? Not this guy...
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Goldsboro, NC
Funny, I've always stayed away from 89 octane in all my vehicles, maybe it's just me but see most people tend to use either 87 or 93, so I always suspect the 89 sits around the longest in the tanks and collects water... Maybe that's crap, dunno...
The money never made sense to me either. I put 7k miles a year on the bike and get like 40mpg, which amounts to 175 gallons of gas. Where I fuel up, 89 is about $0.10 cheaper, so that amounts to saving, $17.50 a year...
Not even worth the thought, IMHO.
The money never made sense to me either. I put 7k miles a year on the bike and get like 40mpg, which amounts to 175 gallons of gas. Where I fuel up, 89 is about $0.10 cheaper, so that amounts to saving, $17.50 a year...
Not even worth the thought, IMHO.
Last edited by djaudette; Mar 19, 2013 at 01:09 PM. Reason: error
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 7
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Lol...this is probably one of the best explanations I have ever heard on this forum. When you break it down like that, it makes it all seem so silly to even mention the difference between the 2 octanes....
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Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
The 91-93 octane requirement is all about detonation and pre-ignition. These motors run hot, even with a tuner and even at 12.8 to 1 they run way hotter than our cages.
When prolonged detonation or pre-ignition occurs cylinder head temps go through the roof, plus it can melt a hole in a piston. I have seen it happen.
Why on earth would you put your engine in jeopordy over a few cents. Fuel quality today is questionable anyway, especially since we are burning a corn mixture.
Use whatever you want, but I have far too many $$$$ invested in my bike to chance squeezing a few pennies at fuel-up. As for me I will continue to run 93.
When prolonged detonation or pre-ignition occurs cylinder head temps go through the roof, plus it can melt a hole in a piston. I have seen it happen.
Why on earth would you put your engine in jeopordy over a few cents. Fuel quality today is questionable anyway, especially since we are burning a corn mixture.
Use whatever you want, but I have far too many $$$$ invested in my bike to chance squeezing a few pennies at fuel-up. As for me I will continue to run 93.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
bob2002:
Cobra Fi2000r. Not the Pro model which only operates during acceleration. I have run these bikes all over the North American Continent and put 25K or more a year combined on them. My bikes run cool strong and have no issues at all. No pinging.
Pinging has more to do with operation and maintenance than the octane of gas. Lugging is the primary cause not doing carbon cleaning is the other .
Some do not know that the nanny government requires all manufacturers to produce engines that run on 87 octane. That is why HD can only recommend 91 or better and not require it. I did the same with my Corvettes and Viper without any issue also. Had the same number of posters there claiming the engines would destroy themselves. Drove one seven years, two of them four years and one for three years. All ran great. They are now trying to do with small aircraft what they did with cars. They are trying to get aircraft engines limited to 87 octane also.
Some folks like to argue against success. The lower compression HD motors will run just fine. It is how you operate and maintain them. If the use of 87 octane would put the engine at risk then it would have happened on one of the 10 bikes and 5 sports cars. So I call total BS on those who claim that they would destroy themselves. Total BS.
Of course if the bike is modified with higher compression, race cams and what not the higher octane is needed. Just not needed for stock set ups.
Cobra Fi2000r. Not the Pro model which only operates during acceleration. I have run these bikes all over the North American Continent and put 25K or more a year combined on them. My bikes run cool strong and have no issues at all. No pinging.
Pinging has more to do with operation and maintenance than the octane of gas. Lugging is the primary cause not doing carbon cleaning is the other .
Some do not know that the nanny government requires all manufacturers to produce engines that run on 87 octane. That is why HD can only recommend 91 or better and not require it. I did the same with my Corvettes and Viper without any issue also. Had the same number of posters there claiming the engines would destroy themselves. Drove one seven years, two of them four years and one for three years. All ran great. They are now trying to do with small aircraft what they did with cars. They are trying to get aircraft engines limited to 87 octane also.
Some folks like to argue against success. The lower compression HD motors will run just fine. It is how you operate and maintain them. If the use of 87 octane would put the engine at risk then it would have happened on one of the 10 bikes and 5 sports cars. So I call total BS on those who claim that they would destroy themselves. Total BS.
Of course if the bike is modified with higher compression, race cams and what not the higher octane is needed. Just not needed for stock set ups.
Last edited by lh4x4; Mar 19, 2013 at 04:35 PM.