Back to "High test" gas?

roadhawg · 10-30-2012, 07:49 PM

i said a while back, right on this board that " I didnt notice any difference" between regular 87 octane and high test 92 octane.
So I let my friend/mechanic take it for a test drive today and he told me it was pinging real bad in 4th and 5th gear when you get got on it.
Said I should be using high test gas.
I cant notice it, is my hearing that bad? what did you say? huh? what?

Also said to find a gas pump with a dedicated high test hose, not one with all three reg, mid, high, together, as when they are together you may still be getting regular even when it says 92 octane!

So with that said, I will be using high test from now on.

redjay · 10-30-2012, 08:13 PM

I never noticed a difference in pinging on my 1600 Nomad when using regular or high test. It was bad with both. After a TFI install and Caddman mod the pinging was gone.

roadhawg · 10-30-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redjay

I never noticed a difference in pinging on my 1600 Nomad when using regular or high test. It was bad with both. After a TFI install and Caddman mod the pinging was gone.

So you are saying all stock Nomads have pinging?

redjay · 10-30-2012, 08:34 PM

Nope, just that mine pinged a lot.

Bud2rat · 10-30-2012, 08:47 PM

I've noticed it the last 2 weeks that mine is pinging in high gear. I've always used regular unleaded. So, I've been trying the middle grade and it seems to work. Never really noticed any ping in the past. Maybe, just weak gas.

jandreu · 10-30-2012, 10:00 PM

I'll say it, all stock Nomads will ping unless you run hi-test gas!

**Top Cat** · 10-30-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jandreu

I'll say it, all stock Nomads will ping unless you run hi-test gas!

My Nomad is stock and it will run fine on 87 in cooler weather, no ping.
In warm weather I have to run 91.
When it does ping it sounds like little stones or gravel being thrown up under the fender.

**Jared** · 10-30-2012, 10:09 PM

Is your mechanic familiar with Nomads? They make a lot of noise, especially if the solenoids are still connected. It's hard for me to imagine not hearing the pinging. The few times that mine has started pinging, it stood out like a sore thumb. Sounded like marbles bouncing in a tin can. You can usually down shift and the pinging will stop.

roadhawg · 10-30-2012, 10:38 PM

Solenoids have been disconnected.
I really dont hear no pinging but I will try high test gas to see if I notice any difference.
I do hear the normal engine tapping noise but all Kawasakis make this noise , yes?

**cnc** · 10-30-2012, 11:05 PM

My is stock and rarely pings. High test gas and don't lug it.

**nomadtom69** · 10-30-2012, 11:06 PM

could be the winter blend kicking I heard they are changing over.

**Jared** · 10-30-2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadhawg

Solenoids have been disconnected.
I really dont hear no pinging but I will try high test gas to see if I notice any difference.
I do hear the normal engine tapping noise but all Kawasakis make this noise , yes?

I don't know about all, but most. Especially the 1600s.

roadhawg · 10-31-2012, 09:58 AM

There is a place near here that actually has high octane gas WITHOUT ETHANOL!
They call it "racing fuel".
I am thinking about riding over there and trying this out.

I have seen more and more places with signs for selling ethanol free gas.
Is this a sign of the future?
Ethanol has gotta be one of the govts biggest boondoggles they ever came up with!

spoon059 · 10-31-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadhawg

I have seen more and more places with signs for selling ethanol free gas.
Is this a sign of the future?
Ethanol has gotta be one of the govts biggest boondoggles they ever came up with!

I hope so. No ethanol free places by me though...

Shima · 10-31-2012, 10:59 AM

Can i use avgas in my Nomad? I know people buy it to put in race cars and such. Just curious.

10-30-2012, 07:49 PM	#1
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Back to "High test" gas? i said a while back, right on this board that " I didnt notice any difference" between regular 87 octane and high test 92 octane. So I let my friend/mechanic take it for a test drive today and he told me it was pinging real bad in 4th and 5th gear when you get got on it. Said I should be using high test gas. I cant notice it, is my hearing that bad? what did you say? huh? what? Also said to find a gas pump with a dedicated high test hose, not one with all three reg, mid, high, together, as when they are together you may still be getting regular even when it says 92 octane! So with that said, I will be using high test from now on. __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by roadhawg; 10-30-2012 at 08:28 PM.
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10-30-2012, 08:47 PM	#5
Bud2rat Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: St. Pauls, NC Posts: 2,089	I've noticed it the last 2 weeks that mine is pinging in high gear. I've always used regular unleaded. So, I've been trying the middle grade and it seems to work. Never really noticed any ping in the past. Maybe, just weak gas. __________________ Robert Torrey VBA# 02077 Vroc# 27672 1996 800A Customized (SOLD) 2001 1500 Nomad (The Mistress) 2013 Voyager 2014 SE Rally - Elkins, WV 2016 SE Rally - Helen, Ga Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-30-2012, 10:00 PM	#6
jandreu Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Makawao, Hawaii Posts: 1,409	I'll say it, all stock Nomads will ping unless you run hi-test gas! __________________ James Andreu '07 1600 Red/Silver VBA Member #1356 jandreu@hawaiiantel.net
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10-30-2012, 10:09 PM	#8
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Is your mechanic familiar with Nomads? They make a lot of noise, especially if the solenoids are still connected. It's hard for me to imagine not hearing the pinging. The few times that mine has started pinging, it stood out like a sore thumb. Sounded like marbles bouncing in a tin can. You can usually down shift and the pinging will stop. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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10-30-2012, 10:38 PM	#9
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Solenoids have been disconnected. I really dont hear no pinging but I will try high test gas to see if I notice any difference. I do hear the normal engine tapping noise but all Kawasakis make this noise , yes? __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek
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10-30-2012, 08:13 PM	#2
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	I never noticed a difference in pinging on my 1600 Nomad when using regular or high test. It was bad with both. After a TFI install and Caddman mod the pinging was gone.
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10-30-2012, 08:34 PM	#4
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	Nope, just that mine pinged a lot.
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10-30-2012, 11:05 PM	#10
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	My is stock and rarely pings. High test gas and don't lug it. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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10-30-2012, 11:06 PM	#11
nomadtom69 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryville, Tn Posts: 2,656	could be the winter blend kicking I heard they are changing over. __________________ (NomadTom69)Tom Green Previous bikes - 2004 BMW R1200 CLC 2006 Nomad 1600 Black -1985 BMW K100 RT VBA #001609 Viet-Nam Vet 71-72 Maryville , Tn. Maggie Valley '11-Townsend '12-Estes Park '13- Copperhead fall rally "13- Elkins WV '14- Eureka Springs ' 15- Helen Ga. SE Rally '16
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10-31-2012, 09:58 AM	#13
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Ethanol free gas There is a place near here that actually has high octane gas WITHOUT ETHANOL! They call it "racing fuel". I am thinking about riding over there and trying this out. I have seen more and more places with signs for selling ethanol free gas. Is this a sign of the future? Ethanol has gotta be one of the govts biggest boondoggles they ever came up with! __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek
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10-31-2012, 10:59 AM	#15
Shima Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Glencoe, AL Posts: 19	Can i use avgas in my Nomad? I know people buy it to put in race cars and such. Just curious.
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