Could Excess Heat Be Related to Octane Levels?
Ran across an article on octane levels as follows:
"Using low octane fuel in a high octane engine will result in severely reduced performance because the engine will attempt to adjust to the lower octane gasoline. In extreme cases, or with prolonged use of low octane gasoline in these engines, pinging or pre-detonation can occur and can eventually destroy your engine. Pre-detonation causes very hot conditions in your engine and can melt spark plugs and pistons."
I always run 91 to 93 octane gas in my 2013 ST and have never experienced heat problems. For those 2013's with excess heat, what octane gas are you running? Could running lower octane gas at least be one of the contributors to excess heat? :dontknow:
How much is significant....?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bob Denman
I don't think that it's directly related to octane levels...
The computers might play with ignition timing to try and preven pre-detonation, but it would take some pretty wild circumstances to cause the temperatures to rise a significant amount... :shocked:
It has been said that the 2013s were set up to run a bit leaner; in theory to gain some better fuel economy... :shocked:
Running lean can raise combustion chamber temperatures :yikes:...
If the computers start sensing high temps; I wonder if they would richen the mixture in an attempt to cool off the combution chamber? :dontknow:
And THAT; would LOWER fuel mileage! :gaah:
Oops :opps:... I got off topic!
Sorry!
Bob, I can't find any definitive studies that quantify the increased heat from early detonation, but to cause engine damage, it has to be very significant. When riders are using their "skin" to ascertain whether they feel excess heat on thighs, feet, etc., couldn't even a small increase in heat from using lower octane fuel be a contributing factor? Wouldn't even a few degrees potentially make a difference? Why do you say it would take "pretty wild circumstances" to raise temperatures significantly? Some folks are taking dramatic measures in an effort to get their spyders to cool enough simply to ryde, so every little bit of heat reduction helps, and upping the octane is a simple measure IF it helps....that's the unknown....how much does it help?