I'm sure this topic has been done to death elsewhere but thought I would bring it alive for some further discussion.
So, fuel, what do you guys use?
The reason I ask is picking up my new Gen II last week the dealer made a few remarks before I rode away. First of all I asked if I should be putting 98 RON in it and he said no, you should use 95 RON which is actually better for it. He said 98 RON wasn't as good. He then went on to say not to use Shell and in particular their V Power (red pump) fuel. The reason being is a.) it is 98 RON so argument as above and b.) he said it is full of chemicals and is not good for bike engines, this he said stands for all shell fuels so said to avoid shell. He said bike engines and car engines are very different and the chemicals in shell fuels can really fowl up bike engines. I'm not sure if this is a throw back to 2 stroke bike engines and now just about all new bikes are 4 stroke it doesn't really matter and they are not that different to car engines, dimensions excepted.
I was advised to use BP or Caltex and in particular for the 'busa use 95 RON fuel.
After years of using shell and in particular their V Power (98 RON) fuel I'm confused. Thoughts? What do you use?
Cheers,
Delirious.
not 98 ,95 is all i use! 98 is rubbish,i had to replace a motor after using it, got a bad batch while in the snowies
I use 95 octane, i heard or read somewhere that unless the bike is turned or mapped for 98 there is nothing kaned in using 98 and here in NZ its about 10cents a litre dearer than 95 which is 8 cents a litre dearer than 91 but when we buy petrol here in NZ we get a jar of vaseline, i have had to put 98 in a couple of times but never noticed any difference in how the bike went.
From what I've read/heard Shell use too many detergents in their 98 for constant use in bikes. When in Vic, I use 98, either Mobil (7/11 still use Mobil fuel) or BP. In Darwin 98 is 30c a litre dearer than 91. So 95 it is.
My mech told me that as 98 is denser and therefor burns slower, unless you are using it in a big piston bike such as above 1000cc (so a 250cc single piston and above) that its pointless and actually works against you... Not sure how true it is but I use the 98 just for the degumming agents in it to help reduce the carbon build up around the combustion chamber-not sure how much truth that has either, but it gives me piece if mind.
Plus mine is tuned with a pc for 98.
I always go to Caltex.. not for any other reason than I get a 5% staff discount off fuel
I was always under the assumption that higher compression motors required the higher octane levels. When I bought my busa I checked on Caltex site (yes I know it's all self PR for it's own products) to see which fuels they recommended. This is what I found...
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from this I decided to stick with 98
I currently use united 95 wich is an ethanol blend, the reality of fuels is, if your bike isnt tuned for 98, then there will be no advantages in using it, alot of people say otherwise, but i have done back to back dyno tests on cars and bikes, for nothing more than my own piece of mind
No two engines are the same, and no two engines will run the same on the same fuel.
My Busa runs the best on Shell 98 so that's what I use. When I get caught out and need to use BP 98, the difference is almost
immediate (harder start, rougher idle, burns it quicker, dull at the throttle).
This is and always will be an each to thier own subject, that will never have a singular definate answer to what is the best to use.
Plus your always going to get caught somewhere out bush where you have to put in whatever you can find. That always makes me cringe...
(26-02-2013, 08:36am)Batfink Wrote: [ -> ]I always go to Caltex.. not for any other reason than I get a 5% staff discount off fuel
That's the same reason I use it
.. I find no difference between 95 and 98 so I use 95 ..
I use Caltex because I have a Caltex card. Our local servo's Premium is 95. They do have them tested often, and you, the customer can ask to see their latest pump test. Caltex Tallangatta's 95 is usually between 96-97 octane. (I assume that's pretty standand for Caltex everywhere)
When on the bike I always buy the 98 if available, the extra $1 or 2 per tank hardly seems worth worrying about.
My car has a warning inside the cap stating "98 minimum" If I'm feeling generous, I'll whack 98 in it. If it's a huge price difference, I'll often just stick 91 in. Don't really notice any difference in performance or economy. Probably run 98 ever 2nd tankfull.
Bike pings and splutters on 91 - it just hates it.
Caltex 98, if I can't get it then use 95. Had to use 91 twice as it was the only fuel available out in the sticks and the poor girl rattled and pinged badly. Fueled up as soon as I could. I remember fuel 30 yrs ago only lasted about 6 weeks but the 98 seems to last months in the boat or BMW.
Bp 95ron 01' busa & 08' harley, 98ron 06' wr450f
bp ultimate 98
used caltex 95 before but had a bad experience and now use only bp if available
Interesting, thanks guys. It seems everyone has their own favourite and reasons to it. I guess I'm just going to find out which I feel the most comfortable with and runs the smoothest for me. I was always under the impression though that high compression ratio engines, and the Gen II is a 12.5:1 ratio, require higher RON fuel. Think I'll tinker around with the 95 and 98 and see how they feel. Will also vary suppliers and just see which fits best.
Cheers,
Delirious.