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Author Topic: A Gas Question  (Read 2847 times)

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BaggerProud

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A Gas Question
« on: June 28, 2013, 05:46:37 PM »

I recently purchased a 2005 SEEG CVO.
I have only put 90+ grade (usually Shell) in her. Just got an earful about ethanol and the use of ethanol free gas.
My questions are:
1) Which gas brand (Shell, Sheetz, Exxon) is best to use or is there really any difference?
2) Which octane is best?
3) If I can't get 90+ ethanol free is the 87 acceptable? (I can find the free stuff but it is rated 87 octane.)
4) Should I use an "octane boost" product?
5) What about EFI cleaners/conditioners?
Thanks for the input.  :bananarock:
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Fired00d

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Re: A Gas Question
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2013, 05:55:08 PM »

My bike's ('04  :pumpkin:) manual (and I'm sure your's is probably the same) recommends =/> 91 octane and "gasoline/ethanol blends can be used in your motorcycle if the ethanol contain does not exceed 10%".

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grc

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Re: A Gas Question
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2013, 07:31:04 PM »

I recently purchased a 2005 SEEG CVO.
I have only put 90+ grade (usually Shell) in her. Just got an earful about ethanol and the use of ethanol free gas.
My questions are:
1) Which gas brand (Shell, Sheetz, Exxon) is best to use or is there really any difference?  Any name brand, avoid no-name stations.  I personally like Shell, but I've also run BP, Exxon, or Marathon with no problems
2) Which octane is best?   91 or higher
3) If I can't get 90+ ethanol free is the 87 acceptable? (I can find the free stuff but it is rated 87 octane.)  NO
4) Should I use an "octane boost" product?    NO
5) What about EFI cleaners/conditioners?   NO
Thanks for the input.  :bananarock:


Try to not let people mislead you when it comes to ethanol in gasoline.  There are plenty of ill-informed people wandering around proclaiming doom and gloom because those sorry SOB's put ethanol in the gasoline.  Don't fall for the old "sky is falling" BS.

First, ethanol does not reduce the octane rating of the gasoline, so why do you think you need to add an octane booster?  Ethanol actually has a significantly higher natural octane rating than pure gasoline, and part of the reason it's in your gas is to improve the octane rating.  If the rating on the pump is 93 for instance, it doesn't matter if it's got ethanol in it or not, the octane is still 93.  And if you think adding that stuff you find in the little bottles at the gas station to 87 octane gas will actually raise the octane to 91 or better, you will be sadly disappointed.

Second, all gasolines sold in the US are required by law to include injector cleaners.  All the big name brands also tend to add more of those cleaners to their premium fuel, to help justify the higher price.  You would be wasting your money adding even more.

Third, on a bike that does not have oxygen sensors, like yours and mine, ethanol can result in a slight difference in air/fuel ratio.  If your bike has never been tuned, or if it was tuned fairly aggressively using ethanol free fuel, then running 10% ethanol can result in a leaner than intended mixture that can induce some pinging.  If yours develops that problem, it makes much more sense to get the bike tuned properly using the 10% ethanol blend rather than waste money on octane boosters that may not help anyway.

Fourth, if you store the bike, like over the winter, then I would suggest adding a good fuel stabilizer to a full tank of fuel before putting it away.  That's actually a good idea even when using ethanol free fuel, and it's the way I've always done it going back decades.  I've been running reformulated gas with ethanol for a long time now, and I've had zero problems caused by the fuel in my motorcycles, my cars, my lawn equipment, etc. 

Jerry

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FlaHeatWave

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Re: A Gas Question
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2013, 01:19:36 AM »

'Run 93, if I can't get 93 (travelling), I'll run 91. No additives unless that particular bike is going to be setting for awhile(stabil)
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spydglide

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Re: A Gas Question
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2013, 07:48:18 AM »

The ethanol blend will reduce your gas mileage over straight gasoline and cause problems if left too long before using.  If available, use the all gasoline if octane rating is high, but otherwise opt for the ethanol blend.  A website called puregas or all-gas (or something of that nature) will tell you where the non-ethanol high octane is available near you.  It will cost more, but the increased mileage will usually even out.  spyder
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