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. :thumbup:
