87 Octane fuel

[Dan McNally]

I've been using premium, but have discovered there are some stations in the area that sell ethanol-free gas, but only in 87 octane. I'm going to give it a try, since I assume no ethanol is better than a higher octane with ethanol. Does anyone have any data on that assumption?

[spydaman60]

Only the RT requires higher octane. The RS models are fine with the 87.. last time I checked.

I go with what BRP says. Ran 87 on my GS/RS for 56,000 miles. Tried a few tanks of 91-93 and it was a waste of money.

My 2012 RT says 91 --- so that's what I run.

couldn't agree more. our 2012 rss runs great on 87 and the few times i've tried the 91 and 89 i didn't see any difference, mileage or performance wise!

[Magdave]

Its a Porsche and pronounced Pour Sh A.

And her I though it was Porch something to swing on

[spydaman60]

I use 87 in BR1 and my Gold Wing trike, Punkin'. The reason....the ranch next door has several vehicles and a 250 gallon bulk gas tank. I stay up late and sneak over around 1:00 am, waiting for his huge bull to be asleep and fill up a couple of five gallon cans. I have mentioned if he thought about 93 and he said with the amount of gas he uses, he can't afford to upgrade....oh, well, I will just have to live with this.

gotta love it!!!!!

[chipshotin]

we run on the mid grade here in delaware ...always good performance and gas milage....some say lowering the windshield gets better gas mileage too...it all comes down to that right hand...im a half twister ..slo and steady

[Bob Denman]

With the difference in price being maybe a quarter per gallon; Assume a four gallon refueling and I'm sorry to have to ask if that dollar all that important?
Put it another way...
Assume that you ride 10,000 miles per year
You get 30 mpg
Total gallons used: just a bit over 333 gallons
Assume again 25 cents per gallon price differential...
That's $83.33 over the course of an entire year...

[NancysToy]

With the difference in price being maybe a quarter per gallon; Assume a four gallon refueling and I'm sorry to have to ask if that dollar all that important?
Put it another way...
Assume that you ride 10,000 miles per year
You get 30 mpg
Total gallons used: just a bit over 333 gallons
Assume again 25 cents per gallon price differential...
That's $83.33 over the course of an entire year...

Amen!

[flybuddy]

Good math...Amen +1
When gas was 50 cents a gallon, it was about a dime more to get premium, a 20% difference.
Now it's like 6 or 7%. Not worth considering on a 20K (+) machine.

[Bob Ledford]

Is it a full moon yet? Strange things are happening around here lately! 😂

[Bob Ledford]

you do that for two years and you can a free LOF service!

[Dan McNally]

My question has nothing to do with the cost of gas, but is in regard to the ethanol in the gas. The owner's manual for my 2013 RT has bold print where it discusses using gas with a maximum of 10% ethanol . . . the minimum requirement for gas is 87 octane, so it is acceptable, but better performance is derived from higher octane. Bold print items in my USAF maintenance days meant it was very important . . . so, again, I ask . . . does anyone have any information regarding ethanol, and if it is better to use ethanol-free 87 octane, than a higher octane that contains 10% ethanol? Surely, someone knows!

[Mr. White]

This is what the owners manual says to use. You can use 87 octane, but 91 gives better performance. Do as you please. I use 87 octane because I am a penny pinching cheapskate who saves .30 per gallon with each fill up. After I buy 100,000 gallons I will have saved enough to buy a new RT-S.....

FUEL OCTANE RATING
INSIDE NORTH AMERICA
Recommended Minimum
91
(RON + MON)/2)
87
(RON + MON)/2)
Use premium unleaded fuel for
optimum engine performance.

[bruiser]

Porsch''a'' Is the Feminine Pronunciation.

I thought Poscha (Portia) was Ellen DeGenerates wife.

[boborgera]

I thought Poscha (Portia) was Ellen DeGenerates wife.

P/C; Life Partner; [till the next one comes along]

[epiphysis]

interesting thread...last year, I went to the Adorondaks and rode with other Spyders who got gas less frequently than me......they used premium and I used regular(87 octane)....I have since switched and noticed that I used to get 25 mpg, now I get 30+mpg, even when I two up! so I am sticking with the premium.

[Elembytes]

We run 87 with no problems- but hate ETHANOL-----try to put REAL gas in when I can but it comes at a premium in price (Darn it)

[Bob Denman]

87 octane will run just fine for the life of your bike...
91 might make it run a WEE bit better
I use the higher octane swill due to the poor quality of the fuels that are available...
I'd rather err on the side of caution with the "Better", bad stuff...

[Illinois Boy]

My question has nothing to do with the cost of gas, but is in regard to the ethanol in the gas. The owner's manual for my 2013 RT has bold print where it discusses using gas with a maximum of 10% ethanol . . . the minimum requirement for gas is 87 octane, so it is acceptable, but better performance is derived from higher octane. Bold print items in my USAF maintenance days meant it was very important . . . so, again, I ask . . . does anyone have any information regarding ethanol, and if it is better to use ethanol-free 87 octane, than a higher octane that contains 10% ethanol? Surely, someone knows!

Ethanol receives more "bashing" than it truly deserves. Most comments I see about fuel are based on folklore and misinformation -- rather than fact. (The internet is not necessarily a good source for information on fuel. It is littered with misinformation.)

I would say there are definitely concerns about ethanol, (moisture, corrosive qualities, and etc); however it you ride and re-fuel often, some of these problems (moisture) may not be a problem; at least not to the degree you will notice on your Spyder (boats and sports craft are a different deal... do not use ethanol).

However, do not store your Spyder for longer periods with ethanol fuel in it -- at least not without treating the fuel first (moisture build-up mostly).

With regard to mileage, knocking, and power... try it for yourself and see. Make sure you run several tanks of each to compare (there is a difference between fuels).

Temps, humidity, altitude, terrain, vehicle weight (with rider and luggage), driving-technique, and more all contribute to an individual's experience with fuels. Thus, it is difficult to make a blank statement about one fuel over another. You simply have to experiment for your style and needs to see what works best for you.

Personally, I would only use what gives me the most power performance. I would not be concerned about saving a few nickels.

Stay within the recommended range in your manual though. I can promise they state that range for a very important reason.