Grade Of Fuel Poll

smitty901

another vote for wasted money if the bike calls for 91 then 91 is fine and 93 will do nothing for you but drain wallet.
Even higher could lead to other problems

__________________
The Infantry leads the way

clint

Here in Oregon, premium runs 92, that's what I run. I tend to use what brand is available. Some of the older Chevron stations use the single hose without that crappy anti-syphon attachment. The local Chevron has the attachment and tends to sputter fuel! Ticked me off splattering fuel on my tank!

Oregon has a no self serve policy. All attendants hand bikers the hose anyway, I ask for a paper towel as well (to catch the drips from one tank to the other). I always point the hose to the ground when they hand it to me. I've had residual gas drip out onto the paint when moving the hose to the tank.

My '93 FLSTC is bored 20 over, andrews cam and high compression pistons. I bought it this way from a good friend of mine. I haven't got the exact specs but understand the higher compression requires higher octane. So far, so good. He said run premium so I do.

08FLHX

I was under the impression that High-Test fuel can induce pinging and over-heating. Most Newer HD's already run lean to comply with emissions. The leaner the engine, the warmer the engine.

It all comes down to this:

(1) Are you out for your casual "Sunday" putt?
(2) Racing everything on the road?

If you've done performance modifications, and you are looking to smoke another machine -- then by all means, do it. Odds are you either don't have a warranty, or don't care if the damage is warrantied.

If you're out to cruise, and enjoy the ability to throw your leg over and depend on your machine -- continue running what the Owners manual suggests that you run. Unless Harley tells you to run "nothin' but the finest" in your bike, give it the finest that it really needs. Chevron Supreme, or Shell V-Power fuel.

The money isn't worth it, and neither is the speeding ticket when you get over-confident and decide to race something that you "think" the high-dollar fuel you just put in will put you over the top of.

Sit back, and enjoy the ride =)

08FLHX

STEVE07

I always use 93 tried 87 bike ran 15degrees warmer and mileage sucked,I was travelling with passenger at the time friends tell me lower octane wont make a difference if your riding solo but after that one tank I'll stick to 93

smitty901

87 is to low bike calls for 91 and should run fine on it I know in some areas all you can get is 87,89 or 93 so in that case 93 is the only way to go.

__________________
The Infantry leads the way

tsp45acp

I run 93 only since I can't find 91 around here. Mid-grade is 89 and I'm not about to try an "octane boost cocktail" just to make it 91. Tracy

BUBBIE

I use premium -----91/94 92 at my local tex.
The term premium/ hightest /super ** is some what MISLEADING....

reg gas (lower octane) has MORE btu's than premium(high octane)

premium gas has additives that SLOW the burning rate for higher compression(heat) and advanced spark ..... low octane Explodes under higher compression motors (not a controlled burn) which is needed ** and causes pre- ingition **before top center ** trying to run the motor backwards. KNOCK

In a pinch, I will use low octane fuel sometimes adding 6/? oz of Diesel or Kerosene to the tank of low octane stuff so it doesn't tend to explode as early... (making a slower BURN)...

I have found that i can be ok with 87 in my HIGH PERF. sport
(hot from HD / ROADSTER 1200)
with low octane gas*** If I don't lug motor nor twist on a lot of throttle at one time AND keeping rpm's @23/2600 THIS helps until I can fill with 92.

also did you know:
LEAD used to be ADDED to gas (red gas) ***bad for health and REMOVED

THEN when they took it out BY NOT PUTTING IT IN the price went UP and they called it UNLEADED........ go figure

signed....BUBBIE

BUBBIE

MY understanding is on SLOWER burning fuel (high octane) the higher the octane the LESS heat you will produce.....

so I doubt if you'd burn a hole in piston.........

CAN glider and A FEW OTHERS CHIME IN HERE????

stevewaxy

93 octane only (nothing lower)
when I am in the northeast and near Sunoco I put that 94 octane in it

tsp45acp

Got gas at Costco yesterday (93 octane) and thought everything was OK. Went for a ride today with my wife on board and the first time I kicked it a little, it knocked and pinged sooooo bad I thought that I had mistakenly put regular in instead of premium. Got home and checked my receipt and sure enough, it was PREMIUM! I won't be using Costco gas in my Sporty again. Until now, I had only used BP/Amoco, Shell and a few times Hess. All fillups were with premium except one that was regular (no premium to be found a couple of weeks ago) and then I put in 3 oz. of 104Octane Boost. Never heard it ping or knock until today. Got back from my ride, dropped off the wife and filled up with good ole' BP Super. Ran it hard and (slightly) lugged it to hear it pull from slower speeds in 3rd gear---and Voila'---no more ping or knock.


Nope, no more Costco gas in my Sporty. Tracy