My new baby - which gas? 87, E10, or is 91 octane better?

[Woodenfish]

The last vehicle I purchased new that regular gas was recommended by the manufacturer was in 1998 and I owned that car for only 3 years. Everything else since has been premium fuel. Everything I purchased since was either turbocharged or the Spyders with 12.5:1 compression ratio. When my wife and I go out riding we are on two Spyders and between the fuel costs, tolls and everything else it would be much cheaper driving together in our car. These machines eat money but they weren’t purchased for being economical.

 

[Allen42]

When going through Oklahoma, gas choices can get limited.

At one point I had my choice between 93 octane/10% ethanol, or 87 octane/zero ethanol.

I’ve heard so much talk about ethanol being bad, I wasn’t sure which would be the wiser overall choice.

What about pure 87 vs e10/93?
Pure 91 vs E10/93?

I’m just curious how the chemistry works.

 

[troop]

Quite honestly.. Whatever is cheaper. I'd go for 87/100% gas

 

[ARtraveler]

There are a lot of octane threads on the site. You can read for days at your convenience.

You are asking a kind of a chemistry question here. You may get an answer, depending on the readership of your thread.

There are many people on the site over the years that use 87/e10 with no issues or problems. I am one. The computer system adjusts the operation for "optimal" results, regardless of which grade you put in. An occasional tank of something different will not overly affect the way your engine performs.

I used 87 (no ethanol) in Alaska until I moved from there in Spring of 2019. I then used 87/e10 in my spyders until 10/23 when I sold both spyders. I noticed no performance issues with 87 or 87/e10 in any of my spyders. :bowdown:

 

[Bfromla]

When going through Oklahoma, gas choices can get limited.

At one point I had my choice between 93 octane/10% ethanol, or 87 octane/zero ethanol.

I’ve heard so much talk about ethanol being bad, I wasn’t sure which would be the wiser overall choice.

What about pure 87 vs e10/93?
Pure 91 vs E10/93?

I’m just curious how the chemistry works.

Personally prefer E-free & have seen better MPG with it. Can be difficult find regularly. Especially on trips, the computer on spyder will adjust accordingly for whatever octane level used.

https://www.pure-gas.org/. As far as chemistry, understanding is: ethanol is a dilution (also burns/ignites) & octane levels burn/ignite different
**side note - do believe agree ethanol damaging to small & marine engines **

 

[Mikey]

When going through Oklahoma, gas choices can get limited.

At one point I had my choice between 93 octane/10% ethanol, or 87 octane/zero ethanol.

I’ve heard so much talk about ethanol being bad, I wasn’t sure which would be the wiser overall choice.

What about pure 87 vs e10/93?
Pure 91 vs E10/93?

I’m just curious how the chemistry works.

My pick would always be the noncorn cob!!! It will run just fine with the 87!!!

 

[jcthorne]

When going through Oklahoma, gas choices can get limited.

At one point I had my choice between 93 octane/10% ethanol, or 87 octane/zero ethanol.

I’ve heard so much talk about ethanol being bad, I wasn’t sure which would be the wiser overall choice.

What about pure 87 vs e10/93?
Pure 91 vs E10/93?

I’m just curious how the chemistry works.

That is an easy decision. Go for the 91 or better octane first, then the lower ethanol. The engine performance will drop as soon as you put the lower octane fuel in when the knock sensor detects ignition knock and dials back the timing. The bike is designed to handle up to 10% ethanol and any advantages of non-ethanol are longer term only. A 12.5:1 compression engine needs the higher octane to run properly and that's why the emissions label on the bike requires 91 octane MINIMUM.

 

[Leroy73]

Manual states 87 OK in Canada and US. 10% ethanol ok. In other countries the posted octane may be research octane which is lower than US and Canada AKI pump posting. AKI=(R+M)/2. Often times in owners manual the words premium gasoline appear which is misleading. It usually means top quality gasoline.
My MOPAR vehicles state 89 for top performance but 87 OK. I haven’t observed any difference in mpg running 89 vs 87. Pure gasoline does give me more mpg but costs more so not sure it is worth the extra expense.

 

[jcthorne]

Manual states 87 OK in Canada and US. 10% ethanol ok. In other countries the posted octane may be research octane which is lower than US and Canada AKI pump posting. AKI=(R+M)/2. Often times in owners manual the words premium gasoline appear which is misleading. It usually means top quality gasoline.
My MOPAR vehicles state 89 for top performance but 87 OK. I haven’t observed any difference in mpg running 89 vs 87. Pure gasoline does give me more mpg but costs more so not sure it is worth the extra expense.

BRP has confirmed that the owners manual information is superseded by the emissions label ON THE BIKE. The 1330 requires 91 Octane MINIMUM to run correctly or timing retard will occur. Long term that will also foul plugs and carbon up heads leading to yet worse performance. Your owners manual information is out of date and BRP never bothered to correct it.

 

[BajaRon]

It is amazing that some of the simplest subjects can create the widest spread of opinion. Applying science to it would greatly narrow the spread. But hey! That takes all the fun out of it!