View Poll Results: When did I use premium gas and when regular?
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Reg in 2016, Prem in 2017
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Reg in 2017, Prem in 2016
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Regular both seasons
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Premium both seasons
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Random mix both seasons
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Very Active Member
Now for the answer!
For me, this has been a real hoot!!
Many of you aren't going to want to believe this, BUT......
The poll option that most closely matches my fuel selection over the 2016 and 2017 riding seasons is ---------
The option that got ZERO VOTES!!
That's right. I ran premium all the time (unless it wasn't available which was very seldom) until about 15,000 miles when I switched to regular on my trip to Homecoming. My nephew who went with me to Homecoming said he runs regular all the time in his 2010 RT and has experienced no problems, so I decided to see what the result would be for me. Since I haven't had any reason to tear down the engine, and have no plans to do so, I cannot say what the effect has been inside the engine. But I will unequivocally say premium does not give better gas mileage!
I hope all of you have enjoyed this exercise!
Last edited by IdahoMtnSpyder; 11-10-2017 at 04:08 PM.
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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Active Member
The only reason I use premium is because it's the only fuel I can get without ethanol!
that crap destroys seals.
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Originally Posted by JIM W
The only reason I use premium is because it's the only fuel I can get without ethanol!
that crap destroys seals.
No it does not. Not in an engine that was designed for it, that is.
So that means any engine made in the past 35 years or so.
Note: cheap Chinese two-cycle engines are another story.
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Very Active Member
Last edited by Wildrice; 11-11-2017 at 09:29 PM.
2015 F3's , two 12 volt power outlets Orange & Black
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Wildrice
Don't use ethanol in your lawn mower or other small engines that use a spring return on a rubber type diaphragm. Large engines with a fuel pump can usually handle it but ethanol with distort the small engine rubber diaphragm even on current yr small engines. I know it has nothing to do with Spyders but ethanol will need a carb rebuild after a few months--I'm speaking from experience. Maybe those engines were built in China Briggs & Stratton.
B & S doesn't agree with you. https://www.briggsandstratton.com/na...endations.html
Gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (gasohol) or up to 15% MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), is acceptable. Some fuel stations are now selling gasoline with up to 15% ethanol. This E15 product is not recommended or approved for use in small engines.
BTW, B & S engines are made in USA, believe it or not. At least that's what they say on their web site! Well at least 90% + are US made from what I find. They have 10 plants in foreign countries, I think mostly making engines using brand names other than B & S.
Last edited by IdahoMtnSpyder; 11-11-2017 at 09:48 PM.
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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Originally Posted by Wildrice
Maybe those engines were built in China Briggs & Stratton.
Having an "American" company name on it does not say anything about where it was built.....so you might be right.
Just for the record, I have been using regular E10 in all of my small engines ever since it came out.
That includes probably 30 different ones over more than 30 years.
Never had ANY problems with anything but grass trimmers and chain saws. It's hard to find those things that are not cheaply made.
For my other things.......lawn mowers mostly, I don't buy cheap stuff and kind of got away from B&S a LONG time ago.
With Kohler or Kawasaki engines, I've had ZERO trouble, with just a tiny bit of good fuel management practices.
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Very Active Member
[QUOTE=IdahoMtnSpyder;1315955]B & S doesn't agree with you. https://www.briggsandstratton.com/na...endations.html
I had a 15 yr old Craftsman riding mower. The neighbor would borrow it on occassion & used the 10% ethanol. Two (2) times after she used it approx 2-3 months later--the vacuum operated fuel pump in the carb--the rubber type material distorted. But that was from 15 yrs ago on a Briggs & Stratton Engine. The diaphragm material must have upgraded on newer models. Replaced it last yr with a Cub Cadet 46" Kohler 7000 Series twin cyl. I agree on the B & S but the engine was still running fine--the deck was the maintenance issue. I bought the Cub Cadet because the deck was one (1) gauge thicker than other mfgs. Plus the mulching was best in the reviews.
http://www.fuel-testers.com/manufact...hanol_e10.html
http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_...ms_damage.html
Darrell
Last edited by Wildrice; 11-12-2017 at 03:35 PM.
2015 F3's , two 12 volt power outlets Orange & Black
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Very Active Member
E85 vs. Gasoline Comparison Test
Very interesting comparison on run between Calif to Las Vegas
https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy...QaAii_EALw_wcB
2015 F3's , two 12 volt power outlets Orange & Black
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Wildrice
First, based on my experience with my Spyder MPG their test was far too short to really be meaningful.
It's not specifically mentioned in the article but it sounds like they were comparing non-ethanol regular with E15. For that type of comparison to have any real meaning today you'd need to have comparisons of E10 vs E15 and each E version against non-ethanol. Given the lower energy output and lower MPG of E10, when compared to non-E I'm doubtful of any cost savings with non-E. Every pump of non-E regular I've seen is higher priced than premium.
The move to E gas was prompted in large part to high levels of imported oil, the fact that corn is home grown, and its ability to boost octane number and help with emission control. One of the drives to E15 is to get more power via compression boost. The original octane booster, tetraethyl lead, is an environmental poison. I read years ago that traces of lead have been found on high mountain top water sources. The only place it could have come from was vapor from gasoline burned in vehicles. The replacement for ethyl was MTBE, but it too is an environmental pollutant when gasoline containing it leaks into the ground, not an uncommon problem.
As an octane booster and oxygenator, and having a lower pollution factor, ethanol looks to be the best choice. From the standpoint of energy output, not including the argument it takes more energy to produce it than it produces, and the impact on food supply, it is a poor choice. As in all things of life, there are no easy answers!
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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Originally Posted by IdahoMtnSpyder
As an octane booster and oxygenator, and having a lower pollution factor, ethanol looks to be the best choice. From the standpoint of energy output, not including the argument it takes more energy to produce it than it produces, and the impact on food supply, it is a poor choice.
I didn't know that. Thanks.
2014 RTL Platinum
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Very Active Member
[QUOTE=IdahoMtnSpyder;1316057]First, based on my experience with my Spyder MPG their test was far too short to really be meaningful.
667 mile r/t on the same hwy was far too short to compare mileage??? Sounded perfect to me.
I spent a week with friends in McCall Idaho on lake Payette --it was beautiful. Also snow skied Sun Valley for a week--very nice also. I'd prefer the mountain areas to live but my wife's children live local in Ohio. I've skied most of major Rocky Mountain resorts--2 decades ago.
Darrell
2015 F3's , two 12 volt power outlets Orange & Black
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Very Active Member
Last edited by BLUEKNIGHT911; 12-08-2017 at 03:14 AM.
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Very Active Member
TYPE OF AIR
Last edited by BLUEKNIGHT911; 12-08-2017 at 03:12 AM.
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