Premium Fuel

[bearbait]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but I can't find it.

Does everyone find it necessary to use the recommended premium grade (93 octane) fuel, especially in 1600 engines, or do people find it possible to economize with mid grade or ordinary (87 octane) gas?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

If you run anything less than 90 octane you will probably have pinging. If you have an after market fuel processor you can run 87 octane. I ran it in my '08 while it was cooler. I have gone back to running a tank of 89 octane and then the next tank I use 93 octane. That way I always have at least a blend of 90 octane. I wouldn't advise using anything less than 90 octane unless you have a digital fuel processor.

[Top Cat]

Most Sunoco stations here in NY State have 87,89,91 and 93.
I run 91 most of the time. If the weather is hot I run 93.
Anything less and my bike would ping on uphill grades when I gas it.
It is just easier for me to run the higher octane and not worry about it.
Hey, it is only money. ;)

[Cajunrider]

I haven't run anything but 87 since installing the V&H and Chuckster's dual plate intake. Haven't heard any pinging.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

I haven't run anything but 87 since installing the V&H and Chuckster's dual plate intake. Haven't heard any pinging.

I didn't hear any pinging from your bike either. ::)
All I could hear was the pipes. ;)

[ringadingh]

Ive always been able to run with 87 octane, no pinging.

[ccmjr77]

Summer heat here in AZ I have to run 91 to try to get rid of pinging. Winter I run regular with no problems. I have chuckster intake and a tfi and debaffled exhaust.

[Cajunrider]

[quote=Top Cat (TC) ]

Originally Posted by "Cajunrider ":r7q6ku92

I haven't run anything but 87 since installing the V&H and Chuckster's dual plate intake. Haven't heard any pinging.

I didn't hear any pinging from your bike either. ::)
All I could hear was the pipes. ;) [/quote:r7q6ku92]

That's why I can't hear any pinging.....

[madcow]

the lowest grade we have here is 91. but i run a 98 grade in the 1500. does the trick ok..

[AlabamaNomadRider]

How much does the 98 grade cost per gallon or litre? Got to be expensive for you.

[madcow]

im paying between $1.65-$1.70 per litre here, for 98, and about 10 cents a litre cheaper for 91octane, for diesel its $1.65. but in some outback areas i work in it can easily get over $2 a litre.. what do you guys pay?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

We are on the gallon system here. Here in north Alabama the least expensive I have seen is $3.31 per gallon. At one time a few months ago it got up to $3.79 a gallon. It is now down over $.40 per gallon.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

There are 3.875 litres per gallon which means you are paying between $6.39 and $6.58 per gallon. Very expensive compared to what we are paying here in Alabama. Your pay scale is probably much higher than ours here though, so that would offset it.

[ndbigfish]

Let me apologize in advance for the length:

At the national rally I noticed that my fuel mileage went way up. I got 51 to 53 MPG during the time I was there; while riding 2-up. I had no noticeable pinging either. I'm not sure if it was the temperature or a better grade of fuel. I noticed that the pumps did not carry the 10% ethanol warning labels where I bought fuel most of the time.

All this got me thinking, so after I got home I wanted to try an experiment. The temperatures have been close to 100°F nearly everyday here and my bike will ping even with the fuel processor when riding 2-up and climbing the local hills in the heat. So I bought a quart of 108 octane booster and mixed it in the fuel at a rate 1/2 ounce per gallon.

We went for a 2-up ride yesterday and there was no pinging and mileage was 51 MPG at under 60 MPH and 38 MPG at under 70 MPH. Handling the octane booster is difficult and there is added expense. The octane booster has a warning not to expose it to direct sunlight or get in on the paint. However the cost of the octane booster used is about half of the difference of buying 93 octane fuel here; or in other words 15 cents per gallon additional expense compared to 30 cents more per gallon to buy 93 octane.

[ringadingh]

Our gas here is $1.29 per litre today,but it changes almost every day, and also depending where you are. Just north and east of me its about 12cents cheaper. And premium here is about $1.50 per litre. Thats why I love riding in the states, Its almost half price when we fill up.