Octane does matter

[robmorg]

You are the first one I know of that is running 100LL, I always thought it would run fine in the spyder. We collect the preflight samples and dump it into the old Simplicity we use for a toter, runs fine. I do not think the 100LL Dispensing Nozzle will fit the automotive (Spyder) fill hole. Security at most airports would prohibit most from access to the fuel.

Frank,

Sorry, that remark was tongue-in-cheek. (Couldn't find a tongue-in-cheek emoticon, so I used the wink. ) You're right, the nozzle wouldn't fit.

I used to dump the preflight samples into our tug, which had a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine. In 10 years, never bought a drop of regular gas for the tug. That thing would cough and sputter, but it would always start on the first pull. :thumbup:

 

[robmorg]

Over a 2 mpg mileage drop... :shocked: :gaah:

Funny, I'm not seeing any improved economy since switching to 93 octane. Maybe I am just riding it too aggressively. :doorag: It does not stall anymore though.:thumbup:

 

[billrob71]

Cant just pull it out of the still out back

 

[Woodsrider]

Makes me wonder if the computer would recalibrate for racing fuel. Then again...at $10 a gallon I'm not thinkin I'd actually do it...more than once .

 

[vided]

You DO realize that we'll get about 27 people to post, saying that they run old bug juice through theirs, and they all run GREAT! :shocked:

Who sells old bug juice? I've been to ten stations, and when I ask if they sell bug juice
I get the old :yikes:

 

[JerryKaren]

Why buy a Spyder

Why spend thousands of dollars on a Spyder if you cannot afford 5 gallons of Hi octane gas?

 

[ARtraveler]

It never takes long to get some action on an octane thread. :thumbup:

I have put the highest octane available in all my :spyder2:'s. Here it is 90. Also available 87 and 89. We do not add ethanol.

When going out into the back country, 87 is usually all that is available. The few times I have added 87, I did notice a difference in both mpg and power.

We pay .20 per gallon higher for the top octane. Not to much difference--so I don't sweat the $$.

 

[mrfats]

Always 93 here!

 

[Bob Denman]

Who sells old bug juice? I've been to ten stations, and when I ask if they sell bug juice
I get the old :yikes:

You have to have friends in LOW places... :roflblack: :thumbup:

 

[Roadster Renovations]

Unless you drive differentlywith the higher octane gas you will also see a better MPG that off sets the higher cost of the fuel. Back in the 70's big name gas would "retune" your car to run on lower octane (a lot of cars required higher octane similar our spyders). They simply retarded the timing to allow the lower grade fuels to burn without knocking, trouble was you fuel mileage along with power would drop noticeably. There was no other choice in those days, today our engines have sensors and electronics that will change the timing automatically to suit the fuel (within reason of course). That being said, the results are the same, less mpg and power when the timing is retarded.

We used to use 1% acetone to raise our octane even further but we had to retime to take advantage of it. I could push my 351 to 13 degrees before tdc and believe me it was a huge increase in HP.

Our back yard method in setting time to the max was simple. Ensure the engine was tuned to spec, using the desired octane gas with additive then add a degree of advance with the timing light. Go to a near by hill and starting a the bottom of it and boot it. If the engine pinged a little that was ok but if it rattled it was too much timing. This was repeated until it could take no more then backed off .5 to 1 degree.

Now THAT is old school cool!! I always timed by ear and Chevys were the easiest. Advance until it just started to diesel, then back off slighty!

 

[swmp321]

I run the highest octane I can get in the area I am in. I find a difference. The engine is smoother and the mileage is higher. It's not a huge increase but enough to see the difference.

 

[midnightbreeze50]

I am sure you guys are like me; always looking for the cheapest "good gas". I have been using either 87 or 89 octane and the other day when I filled up the bike was idling a little ragged. I also noticed that I was getting just a slight tappet noise upon takeoff. I figured that the gas I got was slightly lower octane than I had been running. The engine must have a knock sensor and retarded the engine timing to compensate for the lower octane as the takeoff noise went away. With a little over 1/2 of the tank gone I decided to blend some 93 in there. I could not believe the difference! It has more power than it ever has! Can't say for sure, but it feels like the HP has increased by a goodly amount. I think from now on I will put the higher octane in. Also, not sure yet, but it looks like my mileage has improved with the higher octane. So, the additional $2 on a fillup may be a good enough tradeoff. I'm going to run a few tanks of 93 and see what happens!

Doc, Since day 1 I have run 93 octane,havent had a problem, good mileage, great pickup, it worth running 93 all the time , I am Very Pleased.


Midnightbreeze:yes::yes::yes:

 

[Frank G]

Dilution Facteur

So you pull up to à single hose pump and select 93, chances are the person before you pumped 87 octane. How much 87 do you get before the 93 is dispensed? What is the end resoult in a 4 gallon fill up?

 

[ThreeWheels]

I run 89.
My choices local are 87,89 or 93.
As an engineer, I can immediately tell that neither of them is the recommended 91.

On the occasions when I've had an opportunity to run a few tanks of 91, I have felt that the engine ran smoother, but I didn't see much in the way of mileage increase.

I think running pure gas instead of alcohol mixture give a far bigger increase in mileage.

 

[TexasSpyder]

So you pull up to à single hose pump and select 93, chances are the person before you pumped 87 octane. How much 87 do you get before the 93 is dispensed? What is the end resoult in a 4 gallon fill up?

Ride with a group of bikes and fill last......problem solved. LOL

J. D.

 

[SNOOPY]

Why spend thousands of dollars on a Spyder if you cannot afford 5 gallons of Hi octane gas?

This is the thing that gets me about this whole subject.

So you spend an extra $80 a year for higher octane? :dontknow:

 

[vided]

putting in the lesser fuel in a machine you spent that much on makes no sense,
it's like buying a 400k boat and using clothes line to secure her to the dock because
it's cheaper the dbl braided.
penny wise, many $$$$$ foolish

 

[daveinva]

Well, looks like Bob is disappointed, as only a few voices have poked in yet another octane thread. :joke:

Run the recommended octane. No less, no higher.

Less than recommended hurts your engine and performance.

Higher than recommended wastes money. Fact, period, end of story, it's science. :thumbup:

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0210-paying-premium-high-octane-gasoline

Of course, YMMV, best of luck to all of you, safe riding friends!

 

[Dragonrider]

Everyone should have the PurGas App!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not use etoh gas if it can be avoided. On my 2010, my milage went from 27 overall to 36 overall. Yes, that was 93 octane as well.

NOTE: it will take about three tanks of fuel to purge the crummy stuff out, and the Spyder to adjust. Run each tank into the reserve...

 

[robmorg]

lnteresting

Everyone should have the PurGas App!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not use etoh gas if it can be avoided. On my 2010, my milage went from 27 overall to 36 overall. Yes, that was 93 octane as well.

NOTE: it will take about three tanks of fuel to purge the crummy stuff out, and the Spyder to adjust. Run each tank into the reserve...

Interesting!
Links to apps and more info here: www.pure-gas.org