fuel grade

[wiredgeorge]

I read in the owners manual and also saw placard under the seat that bike (990 twin) is supposed to used 91 octane. In Texas where I live there is 93 octane high test and 89 mid-grade. Which grade do most of you use? The manual also states not to use anything less than 87 octane which is regular grade in my area. Does that mean that 87 is OK in the event of a situation where you can't buy the proper grade or is it OK to use if you are cheap?

 

[JayBros]

Don't skimp on gas for your investment. Use 91 or 93.

 

[3 Wheel Rider]

Premium (93)

 

[Professor]

My guess is that the computer mapping will compensate if you use a lower octane to prevent knocking so while regular would be fine in an emergency - and would probably just result in a little less power - I always use premium.

 

[Highwayman2013]

There is no problem using 87. If you like running 89 or 93 then run it. We use 91 but when you get in rural areas (like Death Valley) only 87 was available so we used it. No problems at all in 100 degree temps. Some here use 87 all the time and have no problems. Your choice.

 

[wiredgeorge]

The octane in gas doesn't give it more power... it inhibits combustion a bit. Higher compression engines squeeze the fuel/air charge and it is more likely to pre-detonate than low compression engines. You can either retard the ignition curve (quite a bit) and lower performance OR use higher octane gas. The effect of using too-low octane is pre-detonation and pinging. My Bonneville America says you are supposed to use 89 octane but the low compression engine runs just as well on 87 octane. I am a bit more cautious as compression in the Spyder is over 12:1 which is kind of high. The shape and size of the combustion chamber also makes a great deal of difference. Had a 95 Vulcan which I performance modded some and used 10.25:1 pistons and you had to run hi-test (93 octane) AND retard the ignition curve some which can easily be done with a Dyna 2000 ignition module which gave you seven ignition curves. My question was for real-world experience before I experiment as I have no desire to experience pre-detonation and pinging. I will first try and get a good gas mileage average using 93 octane (no 91 local) and then try 89... check for pre-detonation and pinging and record mileage and see if I can feel performance difference and then try 87 octane and do the same. If the engine can run in Death Valley with no pinging on 87 octane the ignition map must be compensated and it is a matter of see how much degradation of performance and gas mileage occurs. Thanks! wg

 

[Highwayman2013]

My wife rides the spyder so I can't speak to the performance change. I was on my Voyager and we both filled up with 87 with some 91 left in the tanks, but no noticeable pinging. We have used 89 in the past and noticed no difference.
We don't keep track of fuel mileage so no help there. Good luck with your tests.

 

[BajaRon]

I did an extensive test on a 6,400 mile trip from East Tennessee to California and back. I would run 3 or 4 tanks of one grade and then switch to 3 or 4 tanks of another grade. I did not count the switched tank as it had a mix.

I consistently got 2~3 MPG better with 91/93 octane. There was no noticeable difference between 86/87 and 89 octane. I got between zero and 1 mpg better with 89 over 86/87.

All in all, I measured over 40 tanks of fuel in this test.

As mentioned, you will not get pinging or knock regardless of which fuel you use. The computer retards ignition timing to whatever degree necessary to prevent this. But it will cost you performance and MPG to run this way.

The hotter the temp, the more you need premium fuel.

 

[wiredgeorge]

I did an extensive test on a 6,400 mile trip from East Tennessee to California and back. I would run 3 or 4 tanks of each grade and then switch to 3 or 4 tanks of another grade. I did not count the switched tank as it had a mix.

I consistently got 2~3 MPG better with 91/93 octane. There was no noticeable difference between 86/87 and 89 octane. I got between zero and 1 mpg better with 89 over 86/87.

All in all, I measured over 40 tanks of fuel in this test.

As mentioned, you will not get pinging or knock regardless of which fuel you use. The computer retards ignition timing to whatever degree necessary to prevent this. But it will cost you performance and MPG to run this way.

The hotter the temp, the more you need premium fuel.

Super info! The most reliable data comes from a prolonged ride like 6K plus miles. Sounds like 3-4 mpg better with 93 octane over regular. Thanks about 24 miles per tank. That comes to about $2 depending on prices so when you fill up a tank and pay a bit more for hi-test it becomes something of a wash. Great to know... thanks! wg

 

[MikeinGA]

I read in the owners manual and also saw placard under the seat that bike (990 twin) is supposed to used 91 octane. In Texas where I live there is 93 octane high test and 89 mid-grade. Which grade do most of you use? The manual also states not to use anything less than 87 octane which is regular grade in my area. Does that mean that 87 is OK in the event of a situation where you can't buy the proper grade or is it OK to use if you are cheap?

Spyders have an antiknock feature that lets you use 87 octane fuel, but the engine will run hotter with less performance, I use 89 octane in cool weather, in hot weather or in the mountains 93 octane. I also use Marine Sta-Bil year round. That's IMHO.


Mike

 

[Bob Denman]

I did an extensive test on a 6,400 mile trip from East Tennessee to California and back. I would run 3 or 4 tanks of each grade and then switch to 3 or 4 tanks of another grade. I did not count the switched tank as it had a mix.

I consistently got 2~3 MPG better with 91/93 octane. There was no noticeable difference between 86/87 and 89 octane. I got between zero and 1 mpg better with 89 over 86/87.

All in all, I measured over 40 tanks of fuel in this test.

As mentioned, you will not get pinging or knock regardless of which fuel you use. The computer retards ignition timing to whatever degree necessary to prevent this. But it will cost you performance and MPG to run this way.

The hotter the temp, the more you need premium fuel.

Your experience pretty much mirrors the results that I got during an octane test... :thumbup:
With the anti-knock stuff that these machines have; they'd probably run on anything that you can get to burn... but they'll always run better on the suggested swill...

 

[ARtraveler]

Baja Ron has a very good test above. Best explanation I have seen on a octane thread so far.

Me: I have used the highest octane available in all five :spyder2:'s.
Here, it is 90 octane. We do not add ethanol to our gas. In the bush, sometimes, only 87 octane is available. I have used it when necessary, but always go back to the 90. I do not feel the :ani29: has as much oomph with the lower octane and the mileage is not quite as good. About 1 to 2 mpg less.

 

[wiredgeorge]

I will eventually look into how Can-Am does this anti-knock trickery but there is always a downside. In this case mileage suffers, power and it seems to me that the engine will run hotter. I suspect (don't really know) that they have some gizmo to sense knock and the computer retards the ignition the necessary amount. My 2013 F150 is rated to be able to use E85 which has even lower octane with the added corn juice. The dealer told me NOT to use the stuff as the engine would run rough and hot and mileage would drop greatly. The owners manual says not to use it more than one tank in so many (don't recall) but definitely not to use it at all. Makes you wonder why the govt pushes this crap on us... corn is better used to feed beef cattle.

 

[Chupaca]

As I see it..!!

you can run all of them with no problem in the US. For the best results use the best gas available where you are. Some places are more limited than othes but it's worth it in the end. :thumbup: and then tere are all the additives you can deal with:banghead:

 

[Rockwall]

I have only run Premium since day 1. When you are talking about a six gallon tank empty what is the point of trying to save so little money? In a pinch I would use whatever is available, but go right back to the good stuff.

P.S. I only drink premium booze too.:doorag:

 

[Bob Denman]

...But just not at the same time... :cheers: :thumbup:

 

[Rockwall]

No better way to relax after a great ride!