Fuel - Gasoline

[SmokinJoe]

In my years of motoring I’ve found some fuel companies perform better than others. I’d like to see what other members believe.



1- What Major name fuel brand do you find gives you the most performance and efficiency?

(Chevron, Texaco, BP, Shell, Mobile, etc.)



2- What octane rating do you use?



3- If you use a mid or low octane fuel what is your experience?

[Lonewuff]

I run Shell 93 Octane 95% of the time. In my 05 LT I got 53mph consistantly (my 06, well...you've seen that thread).

[DaveDragon]

In my years of motoring I’ve found some fuel companies perform better than others. I’d like to see what other members believe.



1- What Major name fuel brand do you find gives you the most performance and efficiency?

(Chevron, Texaco, BP, Shell, Mobile, etc.)



2- What octane rating do you use?



3- If you use a mid or low octane fuel what is your experience?


I run whatever I can get when out west, here in Florida it's anything but Amico.

[patrick2000]

I use whatever (Regular Grade) is available. There is not an ounce of difference in any of them IMO.

[SmokinJoe]

I use whatever (Regular Grade) is available. There is not an ounce of difference in any of them IMO.
What are you driving? You said your'e using 87 octane fuel, no pinging or loss of performance or gas milage?

[cfell]

My Sporster never ran as good as when I was forced to run Aviation fuel.. We had a gravity feed tank of it for use in our airboats (they had aviation engines)... Motor ran great.. =)

[hagar]

Hess Premium. I get 5% back!

[UncleRock]

I run Citgo 95% of the time. The fuel is the same, I just would rather back someone than Bush with my money. :eek:
Rock

[MarkEngland]

I run 91 octane of any brand (its all the same anyway).

[SmokinJoe]

My Sporster never ran as good as when I was forced to run Aviation fuel.. We had a gravity feed tank of it for use in our airboats (they had aviation engines)... Motor ran great.. =)
aviation fuel (gasoline not diesel) is over 100 octane and is colored, plus VERY EXPENSIVE!
Come on guys, I know there are people in the petroleum industry and some of the biggest differences are the additive, detergent and consistency formulation from vendor to vendor.
I used to think Shell stunk until others have sworn by it....so I may try using Shell again.

[patrick2000]

What are you driving? You said your'e using 87 octane fuel, no pinging or loss of performance or gas milage?

Mine is a 1999 K1200LT. I Have not experienced any pinging , or loss in performance. Gas mileage is up there with the best often getting 50 plus per gallon on the freeway.

Buying premium gas IMO is just blowing $$ out the exhaust pipe.

[jrlakin]

I have a 2000 LT, and always ran 91 or higher octane in it. Last summer when gas prices were so high, I decided to try mid grade (89) and ran a few tanks of it threw the tank. I really didn't notice any performance drop off, but it seemed like during acceleration there was a slight pinging noise. After 3-4 tanks of gas, I went back to 91 +. I do agree that if your bike isn't pinging, running premium or mid grade gas is a waste of money. BUT, only if it isn't pinging.

[Florian]

In my years of motoring I’ve found some fuel companies perform better than others. I’d like to see what other members believe.



1- What Major name fuel brand do you find gives you the most performance and efficiency?

(Chevron, Texaco, BP, Shell, Mobile, etc.)

Sunoco 94

2- What octane rating do you use?

see above

3- If you use a mid or low octane fuel what is your experience?
N/A



F

[BMWphreak]

In my years of motoring I’ve found some fuel companies perform better than others. I’d like to see what other members believe.



1- What Major name fuel brand do you find gives you the most performance and efficiency?

(Chevron, Texaco, BP, Shell, Mobile, etc.)



2- What octane rating do you use?



3- If you use a mid or low octane fuel what is your experience?

Chevron
91 to 93
I never use less than 91

[OKUIII]

In my K75RT I used mostly ARCO. Since that time and K1100LT, R1100RT and my 2000 K1200LT i have used nothing buy Shell premium. Second choice is Chevron when I have to, but hate to have to go inside because they won't take my card at the pump.

[dhendy]

Where are all the posts telling him he is evil and guilty of child abuse???

Two questions?

So what harm can 89 octane do? I understand the power issue, but that is not harm to the bike. But at 65 mph with cruise on on flat ground...??? Cartalk guys say it makes no difference on a car?

Who cares if it pings? Damage to super hard never wear out engine?

[SmokinJoe]

Where are all the posts telling him he is evil and guilty of child abuse???

Two questions?

So what harm can 89 octane do? I understand the power issue, but that is not harm to the bike. But at 65 mph with cruise on on flat ground...??? Cartalk guys say it makes no difference on a car?

Who cares if it pings? Damage to super hard never wear out engine?
Don't know for sure, can't get a direct answer, do know the PISTONS are made of aluminum and aint all that hard (if ya ever saw a hole burnt in the top of one).
Wonder if the fuel management system will adjust, perhaps retarding the ignition?
Any certified wrenches out there?

[jkersh1]

I normally run mid-grade 89 octane or 88 someplaces. I have run 93, 91, 87, and even 86; and not noticed any differences. My feeling is when BMW put the sticker under the fuel door that says "min. Intermediate 89 AKI" they weren't kidding.

[tmgs]

[size=3]In my years of motoring I’ve found some fuel companies perform better than others. I’d like to see what other members believe.[font=Verdana]



To be honest with you, I try not to pay attention too much these days. Traveling far and trying to get there quickly most of the time, it's just a inconvenience to worry about which brand I "need" to find for my bike.
What I have found Over the years, is the bike runs good on about any brand of fuel. I have a couple times got what I thought was bad gas, one time at a Texaco station that was pretty new. As a rule though it just doesn't seem to make enough of a difference to worry about it.

I do try to at least get a mid octane gas 89 or so, and still many times traveling back roads the only thing you can find is low octane gas (mostly in farm areas it seemed). and running mid grade gas sometimes the mileage is better.

I guess it really got to me long ago while traveling around fl with a friend, he wanted Mobil in his bike and that was all, I mean he would get off at every exit till he found it!, man was that irritating! he would go round and round at a intersection, crossing every thing he needed to get to a Mobil station, gas stops turned into a major PITA! (BTW I quit riding with him)


Tom

[Beemerider]

Chevron. Premium.

[Dick]

Which ever station is open when I see the mileage meter sez 'better git gas'. If I miss that, then it's which ever one is the closest walking distance!! :D

With five vehicles, plus Edgar's lawnmower, I'm not brand loyal!! Just half-broke! BTW - I alwayz use 91+ octane. 'Specially, when I found out my neighborhood gas-up dude said he only had two underground tanks, but sells three grades!! Gets mid-grade 89 by mixing low 87/high 91! I axed what I'd get if I mixed equal parts 89 and 91 - we both couldn't do the math!! :rolleyes: :D

[STARFIGHTER]

1st choice Shell premium
2nd choice Chevron premium
91-93 octane

38 mpg average on my 2003 2up

mileage is 3-5 mpg less with other brands

[sbrooten]

Most of the time run either Chevron or Shell. That is pretty much all I can get here... 91-93 octane most of the time. Some of the really little towns around only have regular, so if I need gas, that is what I get!

[meese]

Cheapest available usually, or most convenient. Almost always regular. The bike still runs just fine.

[BecketMa]

Tonight, I put 5.9 gallons of regular, 87?, in the tank.

Gas station is on the right hand side of the road, just before the turn off to my house. Think it is a regional brand.

When I head out, or come back from the other direction, I use a "major" brand station, Texaco?

I run regular in the winter, temps 40-80 degrees. In the summer, temps above 100F, I use High Test 91

[SmokinJoe]

Tonight, I put 5.9 gallons of regular, 87?, in the tank.

Gas station is on the right hand side of the road, just before the turn off to my house. Think it is a regional brand.

When I head out, or come back from the other direction, I use a "major" brand station, Texaco?

I run regular in the winter, temps 40-80 degrees. In the summer, temps above 100F, I use High Test 91

The 2005 > have the higher hp & rpm (8 K) engine and want 92 test. What year is your bike?
I have found Texico and Chevron to be a good choice of fuel because it contains 'Techton" additive.
Later

[deputy5211]

My Sporster never ran as good as when I was forced to run Aviation fuel.. We had a gravity feed tank of it for use in our airboats (they had aviation engines)... Motor ran great.. =)

Used to be a place around here that sold 100LL and 105 for use in motor vehicles.

[brianbeemer]

We're lucky in Euope to have decent octane fuel - I run my R1100R on BP 95 octane, which to us is 'regular'. :p Premium is 98 octane, sometimes 99. In the US running the same bike on premium 91 octane I used to get about 45-50 mpg, but over here I average 50-55 (allowing for US vs imperial gallons). Litres is easier - 20 litre tank and 11 miles per litre on average, 12 if I'm riding the autoroutes...

Isn't there a stamp on your gas filler that says 'Use Premium unleaded fuel only"? There is on mine... and it's a US-spec bike that I imported back to the UK. Incidentally, it's very handy for continental touring as the US headlamp dips the correct way over there :)

[Prin]

I am in Phoenix, AZ. When driving in town, I use Diamond Shamrock fuel most of the time. If not, then I use QT. These 2 seem to be more economical than the "leading brands." I do add Chevron's Techron additive every thousand miles or so. Techron was recommended to me by a Tech that I knew personally so I use it in all my vehicles.

When I am on the road, I use either Loves Truck Stop, or Chevron, Shell, Texaco, whatever happens to be close when I need fuel. Since I ride a lot at night, the truck stops (Loves or Flying J) are always handy for fuel.

I use premium only. I tried going to mid-grade for several months & found a significant decrease in performance & gas mileage. When I went back to premium (after 2-3 tank fulls), things got back to normal.

[cfell]

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/vp_01_fuels.html

I have found Shell to work pretty good... the premium... if I can get a discreet hose feed. Otherwise, if I need less than 6 gallons, I just buy the cheapest.