 Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,335
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,335 |
A friend has 5 vintage Triumph bikes. All call for High Octane. However, he uses regular unleaded gas in them. The only time he has a problem is during hot operation conditions, like a Toy Run were we are riding for 10 or 15 miles at less than 15 mph. At times like this he will add some Octance boost, otherwise regular unleaded works fine.
Tom
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
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 Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 760
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 760 |
I have used both and see no real difference. I alternate between 89 and 92.
Dave
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
After reading this string of posts, I decided to run some regular (87 octane) through Vera. First two tanks I actually got 12 & 15 miles more out of each fillup, compared to mid grade fuel. Now, into my third tank, I am noticing that parallel twin "ping" that is as distinctive as an AK47 in comparison (if you heard it, you won't forget). Don't want to disagree with anyone, but I am going back to 89+ octane.
Dennis
Yup, 87 is too low. 89 is just right and 91 is a waste of cash. BUT, it looks like these engines aught to last long enough to build up a respectable amount of backed on fuel resedue that will raise the compression enough to need 92 in years to come.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,320
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,320 |
89's been great for me, I'll twist the ****** outta that throttle, and with my less than ideal figure, my bike has yet to ping. That's truthfully all I've ever cared about, I'll always run just enough octane to keep the engine from pinging under all my riding conditions. Anything else in the days of $2.299 per gallon of 87 is just a waste of money.
Michael D. Rodriguez
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
However, even today's "ultra" premiums come nowhere near the octane level of the what was available 30 years ago. In those days, octane ratings of 100 were common; today 94 is the best you can get--and the octane level is raised not by lead but by the addition of "aromatics" that may cause problems in older engines.
A different formula was used back then. The "RON" was the standard until a more accurate method was deemed neccesary.
this explains the system and formulas for determining
octane rating.
On another note; turbo or supercharging effectively increases the compression ratio by forcing pressurized air into the cylinders.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 299
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 299 |
Quote:
What are people using who own 60's - 70's Triumphs? If I remember correctly the 70's Bonnevilles recomended premium leaded gas. Premium leaded went away at the pump many years ago. Are there aftermarket additives available?
Yes, there are lead substitutes availabe anywhere that are used. Some restorers make a "no lead head" by inserting hardened exhaust valve seats and/or stellite-faced valves to better handle the lack of lubrication once provided by tetraethyllead in the gas. But frankly, the whole deal with seat recession is exaggerated and not worth worrying about for the average person. The average person does not run at high speeds for long periods and for thousands of miles.
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 207
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 207 |
At one point in my career I hauled gass in the US. When the trucks fill up at the At one point in my career I hauled gas in the US. When the trucks fill up at the refinery they only have 2 grades, Regular and unleaded. At the gas station they only have 2 tanks under the ground. How you get the different mixtures of octane is that the pump “mixes†the two gasses together. If I had more Regular gas than would fit in the tank I would just add it to the unleaded side or the other way around. I was not the only one that would do this. Who wants to drive a truck 300 miles the other way with only 20 to 150 gallons just to unload and drive back home. So unless you want to stand there and test the octane levels every time you fill you only get close. I have installed a K&N inline fuel filter between my tank and carbs. I don’t notice any performance difference but it makes me feel better. ;-)
'02 America
CR-II Carbs
AI-Removal
K&N Air Filters - Airbox Removal
Straight Pipe
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,012
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,012 |
In Sweden we have 95 and 98 octane to choose from. I use 98 octane.
The bike deserves the best and the fuel isn´t the big cost of having a motorcycle up here where it´s winter half of the year.
Gooseman
Bonneville America 904 Black/Silver
Triumph Tiger 1050 Black
Ducati Multistrada 1200s
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Re: Octane: High Grade or the lower?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 394
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 394 |
Mine runs great on 87, even with AI removed, re-jetting and BUB's exhaust. Never a ping. I've run 92 with no noticable difference. There are different gas formulations for different parts of the country which might explain the different problems discussed here.
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