Octane Reqirements

[bruiser]

I use Sunoco Racing Fuel in my RT's. Problem is they tend to want to turn left all the time. :roflblack: :roflblack:

 

[Campverdefela]

I can't say I've ever run across someone who has told me they look for ethanol blended gas to buy over pure gas. According to Consumer Reports, ethanol has 20% less energy by volume than gasoline, so you will get lower MPG using the blended gas. It also means we have a "perfect storm" where we are now burning our food. This drives the cost of fuel and food up. Corn crops that used to go to human consumption and animal feed not goes to ethanol distilleries. This drives the cost of corn up, which results in high feed for all livestock. Meats & dairy products then get more expensive. Farmers are also changing their crops to include a higher percentage of corn since it has a higher market value. That means that there are fewer crops planted of many other food items, driving up their costs to the consumer too. It's not an idea that has been properly thought through, but has been made into law.

How true! Just what I had read in the WSJ.

 

[flybuddy]

We use 87 octane fuel and look for ethanol blends where available. Ethanol is a very clean burning and renewable fuel as well as helps to disperse moisture in the fuel system. IMO, I hope we, meaning our governments, lean toward more ethanol in gasoline simply for the fact that it is renewable and can be made out of the crops grown on our farms.

Ok, the speech is over and I am stepping off my soapbox! :thumbup:

I guess we're on a different planet..ethanol sux! 40% of US corn production goes toward ethanol. This number would be higher since there has been a huge increase in corn production overall at the expense of other food staples. Not only has this raised food prices across the board but also cattle, chicken, etc as their feed has gone way up. Food should be for eating. Ethanol does not disperse water in fuel, IT ATTRACTS water increasing corrosion of internal parts and fuel systems. It attacks some plastics and rubbers. The govt subsidizes ethanol to the tune of 45 cents per gallon. It has less energy than gas which reduces mpg increasing pollutants simply because more fuel is burned. Many green organizations have retracted their support of ethanol. It needs to go.

 

[MaybeSpyder?]

I have to disagree. First, the compression ratio on the RS is 10.8:1. I don't know of many engines with this high of compression that recommend 87 octane fuel. Second, I did a fuel test on a 5,000 mile + ride from east Tennessee to California and back. I would run 6 or so tanks of 87, then the same number of 89 and 92 octane fuels. I kept track of mileage (discounting the 1st switch over tank). We did about 120 miles or so on each leg.

Using 87 octane as a base mileage I found that using mid grade (89) didn't make enough difference in fuel mileage to make a definite determination of improvement. But when I switched to premium fuel I got between 2 & 3 miles per gallon better fuel mileage. I did this both going out and coming back and got the same results both times.

Yes, the GS, RS, RS-S will run fine on 87 octane because the anti-knock system simply retards the ignition. Personally, I didn't purchase a performance Can-Am Spyder to run it with the ignition retarded so I put premium in the tank every time.

Logic says that the hotter it is, the more you need a higher octane fuel. The Spyder can probably tolerate lower octane in cool to cold temps. During the run I reference above temps were in the mid 90's to low 100's.

Hi; I'm the newbie here. So is the RS version considered a more performance vehicle than the RT? Just curious?

 

[bruiser]

The RS is the sport version. GS was the original designator. The RT came along in 2010.

 

[ARtraveler]

Think of RS as in "sport bike" or crotch rocket. Think of RT as touring comfort--like Goldwing.

 

[rock]

i would suggest running 92-93 octane allways... i get better mileage and much better performance from high test...

 

[Bob Denman]

Cost versus perceived benefit... In my neighborhood; it's about a dollar's worth of difference at the pumps.
Cheap enough to make me go "Top Shelf"! :thumbup:

 

[MLavore]

Ethanol

Ethanol is one thing if your vehicle was designed to tolerate it, most were not but will not suffer damage. I avoid it whenever possible simply because ethanol in and of itself is 96% pure, the last 4% being water. I took two bowls of fuel and let them sit on a counter top, one 10% ethanol, one non-ethanol, both 93 octane. After about 5 minutes you can see moisture start to gather on top of the fuel and on the inside surfaces of the bowl. No thanks.

 

[MaybeSpyder?]

There was a documentary done by CBC TV in Canada on the difference between regular gas(87), and premium(91-93). Oil companies are claiming cleaner burning and of course better fuel economy with higher octane fuels. In independent lab tests the additives in both fuels were the same so a cleaner burning fuel is not possible. There was a possible slight increase in fuel economy however for the additional cost it more than evened out. Bottom line is, use what you feel is right for you and your vehicle.



We use 87 octane fuel and look for ethanol blends where available. Ethanol is a very clean burning and renewable fuel as well as helps to disperse moisture in the fuel system. IMO, I hope we, meaning our governments, lean toward more ethanol in gasoline simply for the fact that it is renewable and can be made out of the crops grown on our farms.

Ok, the speech is over and I am stepping off my soapbox! :thumbup:

Hi; I see that you own a RT limited 2012. I saw one at a dealership online used with just 300 miles on it. The dealer is asking $27,500.00 is that a fair price or should it be lower. Also white. Bike is at Leer's Powersports, waterloo, Iowa

 

[Bob Denman]

My gut tells me that they can do a lot better on the price than that.
it's used...
It's a 2012, and the 2013s have an awful lot of improvments
there's some serious discounts on leftover 2012s right now

Go talk to them; tell them to sharpen up their pencils!
Good luck! :thumbup:

 

[MouthPiece]

My gut tells me that they can do a lot better on the price than that.
it's used...
It's a 2012, and the 2013s have an awful lot of improvments
there's some serious discounts on leftover 2012s right now

Go talk to them; tell them to sharpen up their pencils!
Good luck! :thumbup:

:agree::agree::agree:

Chris

 

[Frank G]

How about pulling into the local airport and filling up with "100LL"... Yep 100 octane, no ethanol, and some lead(I think).:yikes::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[ARtraveler]

RE: Price for used 2012. The operative word is "used" Should be worthy of more discount than is being offered. I would negotiate more or look elsewhere.

 

[Smokinspyder]

while its not my GSXR or my R6 which definately needed the good stuff. I will run the good stuff in my spyder just because it is a aprilla motor . but if the manual says 87 go for 87, if the manual says 91 run 91.Run what you want honestly but stick with the manual

 

[flybuddy]

How about pulling into the local airport and filling up with "100LL"... Yep 100 octane, no ethanol, and some lead(I think).:yikes::roflblack::roflblack:

Most have a catalytic converter. I wonder if someone that removed the cat can run 100LL?

 

[boborgera]

Most have a catalytic converter. I wonder if someone that removed the cat can run 100LL?

As long as the oxygen sensor is up stream of the Cat,
But with leaded gas you will go through spark plugs real quick.

 

[motoford]

How about pulling into the local airport and filling up with "100LL"... Yep 100 octane, no ethanol, and some lead(I think).:yikes::roflblack::roflblack:

Some of the guys here do that for their dirt track cars. A lot cheaper than race gas and you know you aren't getting last year's gas from some drum.

 

[flybuddy]

As long as the oxygen sensor is up stream of the Cat,
But with leaded gas you will go through spark plugs real quick.

In aviation there's lead scrubbing additives like TCP which help extend plug life and reduce lead fouling.

 

[BajaRon]

There was a documentary done by CBC TV in Canada on the difference between regular gas(87), and premium(91-93). Oil companies are claiming cleaner burning and of course better fuel economy with higher octane fuels. In independent lab tests the additives in both fuels were the same so a cleaner burning fuel is not possible. There was a possible slight increase in fuel economy however for the additional cost it more than evened out. Bottom line is, use what you feel is right for you and your vehicle.

It is true that the respective oil companies put the same additives in all grades of fuel (which varies by company). You have to watch the wording. They never say they don't put these additives or even the same amount in other grades. Of course the way they present it you will naturally ASSUME you're getting more with their premium fuel.

If you have a vehicle that will run optimally on regular grade you will not see any increase (and even a possible decrease) in mileage by running higher octane. My opinion is that though the GS, RS, RS-S Spyders will run on regular fuel, it is not the optimal fuel. That would explain why I experience improved fuel mileage when I run premium in my 2008 GS.

It has been suggested that premium fuels may have less Ethanol in them. I don't think so but if it is true, then so be it. Even more reason to run premium fuel in the Spyder.

We use 87 octane fuel and look for ethanol blends where available. Ethanol is a very clean burning and renewable fuel as well as helps to disperse moisture in the fuel system. IMO, I hope we, meaning our governments, lean toward more ethanol in gasoline simply for the fact that it is renewable and can be made out of the crops grown on our farms.

Ok, the speech is over and I am stepping off my soapbox! :thumbup:

This is the reason that propaganda will never go away, it's very effective. When you take a look at the whole picture it is not nearly as rosy as the environmental machine would make it appear.

Did you know...

The E85 (15% Ethanol) fuel that you want everyone to go to will drop your mileage 25-30%? (as compared to gasoline according to 'Green Car Reports')

Polution output from 10% Ethanol fuels are about the same as gasoline. The 'Improvement' comes from factoring in the amount of C02 that the corn plants remove as they grow. But farming equipment used to plant/fertilize/spray/irrigate/harvest & transport the corn and all the energy need to produce and supply these farming products are not factored in.

It takes 3 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of Ethanol

It takes more energy to make a gallon of Ethanol than it does to make a gallon of Gasoline

Corn requires a lot more (Petrolium Based) fertilizer than other crops

More (Petrolium Based) pesticides and other chemicals are used to grow corn that we would otherwise not need

Farmers used to rotate their corn crops because corn depletes the soil. Now that Corn is so profitable, farmers just use more fertilizer

More fuel and other oil products are used in equipment to farm the corn

A 10% ethanol mix will give you at least a 10% reduction in fuel mileage requiring you to burn at least 10% more to go the same distance

Burning food drives up the price of food which drives up the price of nearly every other commodity in the world

Forested areas are being cleared to plant corn

Ethanol attracts moisture causing millions of dollars worth of damage to engines every year

10% Ethanol fuel has a shelf life of 90-100 days

Gasoline has a shelf life of over a year (which can be extended with stabilizers)

No product exists that will prevent water absorption by Ethanol (alcohol)

Those that support Ethanol production cherry pick their facts just as I did here. However, we constantly hear how good Ethanol is, it's much less common to hear 'The Rest of the Story'.

My humble conclusion is that Ethanol blended fuels are a bad deal, that is why governments have to 'Manage the Facts' and force it upon their people.