Listening to Car Talk this morning a question about octane @ altitude was dicussed. This person lived in Denver. She wanted to know, because of the thinner air, if she could use a lower octane in her car without the a problem and Click & Clack thought she could. I live @ sea level and found that I can run mid-grade just fine. Since I don't ride a mile up I was wondering how high you would need to be to drop down to an 87 octane? I don't remember this octane question being discussed before. If it has, sorry for bring it up again but in this economy a buck saved means I can ride more.
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Interesting octane question
- Thread starter caser
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Firefly
Active member
Try a tank and see - most run 87 - which is what the Spyder seems to like. I tried 91 and the Spyder ran like crap. Midrange is just as big of a ripoff as premium. If the Spyder needed it - you would know.
What's the altitude your running at or does it matter?
jwfranklin
New member
I tried running mid grade in my Spyder, got a lot of backfiring and seemed to not have as much power. Went back to regular and runs a lot better.
On my trips to Sturgis and points futher west and north, there regular is 85 octane, not 87 as we have in the southeast. This is because of the higher evaluation, thus the thinner air, less oxygen, less octane needed.
Wayne
On my trips to Sturgis and points futher west and north, there regular is 85 octane, not 87 as we have in the southeast. This is because of the higher evaluation, thus the thinner air, less oxygen, less octane needed.
Wayne
shunkmanitu
New member
Octane requirments are a relationship>>>>
>>>>>of fuel burn rate to the compression ratio of the cylinder. It is possible that the internal pressures could be reduced enough at high altitude to require a lower octane. Remember, the Spyder has a computer controling the burn, including the fuel/air ratio, and the ignition timing. Spyder SHOULD run quite well on quality regular (87) at any altitude.
Carburated engines without engine control are much more sensitive to altitude and mixtures than modern injected systems.
>>>>>of fuel burn rate to the compression ratio of the cylinder. It is possible that the internal pressures could be reduced enough at high altitude to require a lower octane. Remember, the Spyder has a computer controling the burn, including the fuel/air ratio, and the ignition timing. Spyder SHOULD run quite well on quality regular (87) at any altitude.
Carburated engines without engine control are much more sensitive to altitude and mixtures than modern injected systems.
effgjamis
Ride Forrest Ride!
I am barely at sea level, being in Flordia.. and I use only 87 ... tried the 91 and I felt no difference, but the pocket book.
max continuous
New member
I ran the bike down to Calgary last weekend and at around 3500 ft. ASL I could only get a ethanol blend at 91 octane. Bike didn't seem to mind until I got to the city and up to 5 bars of temp. It started to stutter and the flat spot at 3500 rpm came back. A lot of our fuel in Canada is 10% ethanol and that's another can of worms!
Max
Max
barb36jack31
New member
The gas here in FL is all 10% ethynol . I run 87 octane and get right at the 30-32 MPG range. Bike seems to have a ton of power and when I get it over the 5K rpm, it flies! Now if only I had a good seat.....
bone crusher
Alignment Specialist
87 is all you need...in higher altitudes they do sell 85...the higher you go, the thinner the air...
Above 5,000 feet, the 85 would work just fine...however, you'd have to remain above that altitude or you're gonna ping!
Above 5,000 feet, the 85 would work just fine...however, you'd have to remain above that altitude or you're gonna ping!
Tom in NM
New member
Variable High Altitude
There is genetic therapy, but your best bet is cosmetic surgery.
ray:
As for the Altitude ( and ethanol mix ) issue, I live in Albuquerque NM at 5,000 feet. But it is just a few miles to 7,000 (and higher) and a few hours down to 3,500. It does not help that they put the octane blends out of sync with the BRP recommendations. But, I have found "regular" works best and gives the best mileage. ( 41 mpg, but that might have been all downhill )
Tom
There is genetic therapy, but your best bet is cosmetic surgery.
ray:As for the Altitude ( and ethanol mix ) issue, I live in Albuquerque NM at 5,000 feet. But it is just a few miles to 7,000 (and higher) and a few hours down to 3,500. It does not help that they put the octane blends out of sync with the BRP recommendations. But, I have found "regular" works best and gives the best mileage. ( 41 mpg, but that might have been all downhill )
Tom
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