What octane rating of fuel do you use?

[doctorbeemer]

What octane rating of fuel do you use? :dance: :bmw: :histerica

[Moonshine]

You should have added Ethanol fuel also. That is the mid grade here in the mid-west at most stations, price is right and that is what I run in my LT

[eljeffe]

How about "whatever the manual says".

[tvguy]

you can't say "whatever the manual says" because that would open a whole can of worms on what tire pressure to use - (it's in the manual) or what type or brand of oil to use. thats in the manual too...

[K1200LTryder]

10.8 to 1 compression = mandatory premium fuel.

Go cheap on lower octane, and flirt with a piston, or pistons whith holes in them ?

[usmctpdog]

This question comes out every now and again so I guess it is time again like the motor oil & Filter question :)

I use Regular unleaded in my 05 and find no difference in running and possibly even alittle better gas mileage then the premium... :dance:
*There <> And it does not run any hotter..

Come on Spring riding weather!!!

[JATownsend]

I answered 'Premium' but, there is more to the story than that. In the Summer, I always run premium as it seems to help the 'Stop-Light-Stumble' issue. BTW, I have NOT cut the Brown wire.

As I also ride a lot in the Fall and Winter (with regard to ice and snow) I tend to shift to Mid-Grade with no apparent side affects whatsoever. The cold dense air certainly is more combustion friendly than thin Summer air.

Just my $0.02 of course. YMMV. ;)

[DaveDragon]

In the LT it's mid grade or better to prevent pinging.

In the 06 GS-Adv, I had been running Prem, but it gets better mileage on 87oct and runs cooler.

I use some Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant with each tank full to keep the top end clean and well lubed.

Out west, in the higher elevations, I got outrageous mileage on the low-end fuels. I keep a bottle of Lucas UCL in the side case when traveling.

MMO works, probably just as well as the UCL.

Modern Gasolines have had damn near all of the oils refined out to reduce Hydrocarbon emissions, so to keep the o-rings, injectors, throttle bodies and compression rings in good shape, it's a good idea to use some type of lubricating fuel additive.

I exchanged email with the Sr. Petro-Chemical Engineer at Lucas a while back and he indicated that his antique BMW Bike was his test bed for several of the additives they market. He even shared with me a way to mix rear-end and tranny lubes for the bikes.

Been using that mixture in the LT for the last 3 years (2002 LT) and now over 100,000 miles on the clock and she runs and shifts like the well oiled machine she is.

Also, in over 100,000 miles, the valves are still in spec, having never needing adjustment.

jm2cw

[brianbeemer]

. He even shared with me a way to mix rear-end and tranny lubes for the bikes.

Been using that mixture in the LT for the last 3 years (2002 LT) and now over 100,000 miles on the clock and she runs and shifts like the well oiled machine she is.

Also, in over 100,000 miles, the valves are still in spec, having never needing adjustment.

jm2cw

So are you going to share the secret with us???? I for one would be real happy to keep it all running sweetly for that distance and more...

[UncleRock]

spring summer and fall I use high test.
winter I use regular.
"Cleaner burn across more of the face of the piston from lower ignition point of reg vs high test, Thus producing a better power stroke and reducing the minute cylinder scouring that occurs from a less than ideal firing."
So I have been told by Chemists, Crew Chiefs and Mechanics.
Rock

[usmctpdog]

DaveDragon, WOW, 100K on the LT and never needed a valve adjustment?

I am impressed.......

I took the V-Strom in @ 20,000 Mi and all the valves were in compliance and did not need an adjustment. The Tech said if you don't run the engine hard with higher RPM's chances are a valve adjustment will not be needed in m ost motors..

I don"t lug any engines and pretty much run the LT from 3000 - 7500, with staying in the 3rd -4th gear 4500 - 5500 range in the mountains.... Hopefully I will get some long mileage valve adjustment intervals also....

[sprdoorman]

Always run premium. Typically difference between premium and mid grade is about 10 cents a gallon. On a tankfull, can't see worrying about a 50 cent savings by using cheaper gas in a $20,000 plus machine. Just my "2 cents"

[SilverBuffalo]

Premium

I do it because the oil companies need the extra money

[rkirker]

Premium

I do it because the oil companies need the extra money


There ya go Hans you are the only one here who gets it !! :D

I use premium because I make too much money and feel guilty :D

[Jentine]

Early last spring, the wife and I ventured to Vermont in a roundabout fashion through Rhode Island and the Cape. The weather was crisp and clear with early morning temperatures in the 40 degree range. Over the two day trip from Western Massachusetts to Cape Cod and then to Burlington, VT and back home, I used a variety of fuels. The first fuel used was 93 octane - the result was 39 mpg. The second fuel used was 89 octane with an increase in the mileage to 42 mpg. The last fuel was regular with an octane of 87 and surprisingly, the mileage jumped to 49 mpg. I was very surprised by the results. None of the fuels indicated any pinging, power loss or power gain. Since this little experiment, I have used only 87 octane fuels.

[Steve_R]

I run all grades and use the Lucas UCL stuff like Dave Dragon. So far my mileage runs between 44 and 50 depending on how hard I'm pushing it.

[hdfan]

Anybody know if the LT have knock sensors?
The mid 90's technoloy for some cars using motronic had knock sensors that would automatically retard the timing to avoid pinging. The performance (get up and go) was reduced accordingly. The technology is quite stunning, you can have major leaking in one cyclendar and never really know it.

[StLHeadake]

You know how the rest of it goes. I run mid grade. Around here it typically is an ethanol blend 89 octane. I don't run premium in the cooler weather becuase I don't tend to push the bike in cooler weather. I pretty much just commute. It was 12 this morning when I fired her up.

In the summer (hot weather) I run premium, cooler weather I run mid grade. I am pretty comfy with my arrangement. If it breaks, I'll fix it.

[javandyke]

I recently purchased a new '06 LT and the manual for the bike and my dealer tells me to use premium only. I'm confused by the sticker on the fuel door that says use 89AKI. I've used both this fall with no discernable difference but would really like to know which is actually the recommended octane.

Sounds like it might be the standard "it depends" situation.

Jim

[cfell]

"depends".

If the only choice is to use a multi-grade-single-hose dispenser and I am only "topping off" with a gallon or two, I use the cheap stuff (because according to the State of Texas Ag Dept they "flush" with 5 gallons to ensure they are getting a good "sample". They do NOT do this "flush" on Single-grade pumps)

If I am refilling a 1/2 empty tank, I take the plunge and buy the best available...maybe I'll get lucky and get the pump someone just filled their car with premium.

[BecketMa]

As the day time temps head towards and over 100F, I switch from 87 to Prem.

In my un-air conditioned garage, its just too hot to have to deal with the possibility of pinging.

Bob

[mefly2]

As the day time temps head towards and over 100F, I switch from 87 to Prem [to avoid the] ...possibility of pinging.

Bob

That works for me as well with the addition of upper cylinder lube ... added to the tank (if I'm near home) just before a fill up.

[hallzee]

Fans of Lucas Upper Cylinder Lube... How much do you put in an LT tank?

[cdrprn]

Very first tank was dealer freebie premium. Changed to Chevron regular tank #2 and it ran better, i.e. smoother idle, less peaky. Must have a knock sensor in there somewhere under the tupperware. No change in temp noted and MPG avg 52 on daily work commute of aboput 40 miles. Plenty of power on rare highway treks. This is my first BMW, still getting used to all the differences. Only complaint is loud rear brake, sounds like a DC3 at low taxi speed. Dealer says "normal". 2005 LT