Will Using 87 Octane impact performance?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Now y'all have me wondering if I could switch down from 93 in my Lexus RX-450hl. Fill ups in that thing can get quite expensive, and gets about the same mpg as my Spyder, lol.

I know what is recommended in my 14 RT; and what BRP advises us to use ....... the same should be done in ANY car make and model - some systems can handle 87 reg. w/ethyl... our Spyders can... good luck! ... Mike

 

[BajaRon]

Let's see: my 2021 F-150 2.7L Ecoboost can get over 24 MPG on 87 octane regular (think up to 10% alcohol) and that is 99% all that has been in it for 33,000 miles; my Kawasaki KRX 1000 SxS has run fine for over 4,000 miles on 87; and both of my 2018 Spyder RT's run fine on 87.

My F250 is diesel. It's supposed to run with a minimum of 40 Cetane. Maybe I can get away with 35!

Straight from the horses mouth. How could anybody argue with that.

I think that question has answered itself! Which leads us right back to the theme of... :bdh:

 

[troop]

In my area, 91 100% gas is around .70/gallon more than 87 10% ethanol. 89 10% ethanol usually splits the difference. Locally, I tend to flip/flop between 87/91. When traveling long distances, I tend to run 87 octane during the there/back drive and 91 when at destination. No reason. Just because

 

[iSilentP]

Interesting thread. I read ALL the posts. I bought my 2014 RT SE6 late last year. I've been using 93 octane since day 1. Now considering switching to 87 octane, but unsure if my year/model has the ECUs knock sensor mentioned in some of the posts in this thread. Can someone please confirm/deny if that exists on my bike? From some of the posts it appears that the 1330 engine does have the ECU, but I want to make absolutely sure before I decide to make the switch. I asked Chat GPT and it said it does, but the experts are here. Thanks!

 

[iSilentP]

:agree: ( mostly ) however the Gas price difference " in my neck of the woods " is .70 ( 87 vs.91 ) .PER GALLON .... I have been here over a decade and never heard from anyone stating " their engine failed because they only used 87 " ....... JMHO .... Mike

RIP BlueKnight911 . I wanted to add to this post for others to show the price difference in my area (NE Ohio USA) between 87 and 92/93 -It's about $1/gal (33% difference). This is prompting me to consider using 87 in my 14.


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[troop]

I just checked locally. The difference in cost between 87/10% ethanol and 91/no ethanol is $1.00 a gallon. I'm heading out on a Lake of the Ozarks M/C Rally trip on Monday. I'll flash in my stock tune on my PV4 for the trip. No reason to spend $1/gallon more on fuel while traveling 900 miles round trip up/down the highway.

 

[jjc54]

Heading there myself, troop. I will keep an eye out for you. I will be the black 2016 RTL riding with a bunch of H-D bikes. Good people, just brainwashed!

 

[troop]

Heading there myself, troop. I will keep an eye out for you. I will be the black 2016 RTL riding with a bunch of H-D bikes. Good people, just brainwashed!

Ha ... I'll also be with six other guys on H-D's. I'm also a past H-D owner I'll be on a 2022 dark blue RT S2S. We'll be staying in Osage Beach. A group of the guys are going to golf on Wednesday AM. I'm likely going to ride 90 miles South to Lamonster Garage.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Interesting thread. I read ALL the posts. I bought my 2014 RT SE6 late last year. I've been using 93 octane since day 1. Now considering switching to 87 octane, but unsure if my year/model has the ECUs knock sensor mentioned in some of the posts in this thread. Can someone please confirm/deny if that exists on my bike? From some of the posts it appears that the 1330 engine does have the ECU, but I want to make absolutely sure before I decide to make the switch. I asked Chat GPT and it said it does, but the experts are here. Thanks!

All modern Electronic Fuel Injection engines have an ECU - an Engine Control Unit, so rest assured, your Spyder definitely does have an ECU; and one way or another, it has a method detecting 'knock' and within the scope of its control parameters, adjusting the timing of injection pulses &/or spark to minimise the risk of damage from running different octane fuel. This 'adjustment' to suit 'less than optimal' fuel does mean that you'll get lower performance/worse fuel economy from your engine, even if you don't notice it/can't readily measure or feel it, but just like the ECU, it's definitely there; altho as many here have noted, you're unlikely to be running on the extreme limits of the engines' output levels for long enough for it to be really noticeable.

 

[Metalman]

I just put in 87 last fill up as I read that it would be ok at low alt and not on hot days, we are only at about 400 feet here and was about 68 out. Went for about a 60 mile ride and stopped at a boat landing for a view. Leaving the parking lot it has a steep grade and I stopped at the top before entering the main road. On take off I got pre detonation pining for the first time since I got it. So it is back to 91 for me.

How hard did you hit the throttle when you took off? I've been running 87 octane since I got the bike and now I have ridden about 1200 miles. I detected a slight knock when I pulled out from a stop sign while accelerating harder than usual. I'm very careful about lugging the engine and keeping my RPMs above 2500 going up hills or rapidly accelerating. I will continue to use 87 octane, unless I find that it's pinging under many conditions.

 

[djh3]

So another option I have not seen anyone mention. When you get to say 1/2 tank top off with which ever you didn't fill with last. Say you had 87, when you get to 1/2 or a bit lower, top with high test, then next time, 87.

 

[troop]

So another option I have not seen anyone mention. When you get to say 1/2 tank top off with which ever you didn't fill with last. Say you had 87, when you get to 1/2 or a bit lower, top with high test, then next time, 87.

Ha ... I do this on occasion when traveling, going 89/87/91 repeat. Hard to find 89/10% ethanol in many areas. Need to be careful and read the pumps with 85% ethanol.