High Octane

[everythingwastaken]

Strange question here but I bought an '09 FB a few months ago and it's never ridden quite like I've expected it to. My '04 LTNG seemed to have WAY more torque. Both bikes are equipped similarly but I've been having issues with this one. The only way I can describe it is it seems like it has been running very lean. Way more lean that the "normal" lean that most Buell's run. To the point that at freeway speeds, I don't even feel comfortable passing unless I have plenty of room because it feels like I'm only running on one cylinder. Plugs looked fine, wires were good, clutch is fine and adjusted properly, manual TPS reset.... I finally took it to the stealership and all they did was a hard TPS reset. The bike ran better, but it still wasn't right. Until today. I've been putting 93 octane in it and for some reason, when I fueled up this morning, something told me to put 87 in it. Ran like a CHAMP this afternoon. I know the bike has a Buell race ECM and I'm starting to think the PO told me it had been adjusted or tuned (I know the EBR ECM's cant necessarily be tuned) for 87 octane. So, after all that, could running a HIGHER octane than the bike was tuned for cause that big of a performance problem? Pre-detonation maybe?

 

[BambamXB12r]

I have never heard of such a thing but then again what do I know. In general higher octane fuel is used to avoid pre-detention. Also every now and again I put a tank of race fuel through my 09 XB12r, which is a big boost in octane compared the 93 octane premium available in Las Vegas, with no adverse effect. I think your problem is elsewhere. However maybe one of the really mechanically inclined people will chime in.

 

[mrlogix]

would highly suggest downloading TunePro RT and purchasing a comm cable. Upload your maps and post them here.

Like Bambam said, Hi octane fuel is a preventative for pre-ignition. Tuning for a lower octane fuel isn't so much the fuel amp as it is the ignition map timing and advance settings.

 

[everythingwastaken]

Can I use TunerPro with a Mac?

 

[mrlogix]

no won't work with a Mac. Some one here though should know of a comparably known firmware that will work for you with a Mac.
You might want to post a new thread titled 'tuning software for a Mac computer?'

 

[seancrete]

It won't work directly on a Mac but it will run in an emulator like Wine.

 

[AZmidget91]

Lower the octane, the more power you make, but higer the octane, the more timing you can run. More timing makes more power than lower octane. So, long story short, you want the lowest octane you can run, for the tune you have. If tuned to 87, you will loose power running i
93, but if tunes for 93, you have to run 93...

 

[everythingwastaken]

Lower the octane, the more power you make, but higer the octane, the more timing you can run. More timing makes more power than lower octane. So, long story short, you want the lowest octane you can run, for the tune you have. If tuned to 87, you will loose power running i
93, but if tunes for 93, you have to run 93...

Hmm, interesting. I never knew these bikes/tunes were THAT sensitive. I'm only saying that because it was a fairly dramatic change. Plus... It's an EFI system so I figured it would have been able to compensate accordingly.

 

[mrlogix]

It's an EFI system so I figured it would have been able to compensate accordingly
the oxygen sensor relays info to the ECM about the unburned oxygen (fuel ratio to air ingested) in the exhaust gases, but that is not a indicator of octane. More advanced digitally controlled engines utilize a knock sensor to know when the timing advance has exceeded the octane capability of the fuel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane
http://www.exxon.com/octane-rating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqvhaPLuTPI