unclepickle1
Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2010
- Messages
- 9
I just bought an 03 Blast. The previous owner told me to use the next grade up from Regular because they put ethanol in Premium now and it can damage my engine. Is this true?
-
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will see less advertisements, have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
What grade of gas should I put in my bike?
- Thread starter unclepickle1
- Start date
Help Support Buellxb Forum:
Red93stang
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 2,149
Yes, they do put ethanol in premium gas, thats true! I run 91 in all my bikes. Their are still some places you can get premuim without ethanol, usually near lake areas. Do to the ethanol killing small two stroke engines.
upthemaiden
Well-known member
Is that something you need to look out for with the XBs as well? I usually always put 91, but sometimes I get a pump with 91 and 93 and I'm never sure.
Most places that mix ethanol in their premium gas will post it on the pump. Also, the mixture is usually about 10% ethanol or less.
I can't speak on what damage it can cause. In the car world, people are starting to do e-85 conversions because it runs cooler and produces more power. It's not as efficient, so gas mileage suffers. Also, older fuel systems can start to corrode with a high mixture like that, but I doubt the 10% mixture does anything.
I always use premium so I'd like to know the possible damage as well.
I can't speak on what damage it can cause. In the car world, people are starting to do e-85 conversions because it runs cooler and produces more power. It's not as efficient, so gas mileage suffers. Also, older fuel systems can start to corrode with a high mixture like that, but I doubt the 10% mixture does anything.
I always use premium so I'd like to know the possible damage as well.
kalifornia
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2009
- Messages
- 747
ive read ethanol will corrode certain rubber and plastic compounds. race gas won't have any, but that is very expensive.
same here on my xb9
9,000 miles of premium that I can personally account for and another 8k from the previous owner.
I don't look for usually ethanol; but pumps that have separate hoses for the grades. with only 2.8 gallons per average fill up on, I don't want 9 feet of hose filled with the last guys regular floatin' around in my tank.
This is very complicated question, the manual says 87 octane on my 2006. I just got this bike and will try 87 in it first. Higher octane burns hotter and is needed for higher compression motors. My last dirt bike would ping with anything less than 100 octane and you could not let it idle after warm or it would over heat. In an air cooled motor with out an oil cooler you should use the least octane you can. If you modify the motor I am sure you would need to run higher octane but a stock motor should be fine with 87.
IrieBolt406
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2011
- Messages
- 32
I use only Supreme from a station that doesn't mix it with ethanol
bobaganoosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2010
- Messages
- 808
Your just wasting money if u use higher that the manual says. I have run 87 89 and 93 in my xb haven't really ever noticed much difference. I usually run mid grade in the bike. People get the false impression that its more expensive so its better and will give u more power. That's not true
Havent tried it on my Buell but my car costs more to use regular. If I use premium 92-93 I get way better gas mileage and in the length of the tank it actually saves me money to run premium. The mileage is really bad with regular 87. I only run premium in my Buell. Not sure if it would do the same thing with the Buell as it did in my car. Just another thing to consider.
firefighter1c57
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 872
What does the manual say... hmmmmm.
I'm not a chemist by any means, but I am pretty sure ethanol and methanol are different. Based on the screenshot above, the manual says not to use gasoline mixed with methanol. The original post was asking about gasoline mixed with ethanol.
The portion of the screenshot above that is cut off:
ETHANOL: is a mixture of 10% ethanol (Grain alcohol) and 90% gasoline. Gasoline/ethanol blends can be used in your motorcycle if the ethanol content does not exceed 10%.
Just an FYI - this is from my 2005 Buell XB9R's manual. I would assume it's the same for all Buell's, but cannot be certain.
Hope that helps also!
-Matt
The portion of the screenshot above that is cut off:
ETHANOL: is a mixture of 10% ethanol (Grain alcohol) and 90% gasoline. Gasoline/ethanol blends can be used in your motorcycle if the ethanol content does not exceed 10%.
Just an FYI - this is from my 2005 Buell XB9R's manual. I would assume it's the same for all Buell's, but cannot be certain.
Hope that helps also!
-Matt
firefighter1c57
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 872
Matt, you maybe correct. I understood the question to be 87 or 89 or 91 or 93 etc. etc. Not ethanol or no ethanol.
Correct, the manual does say up to 10% ethanol is ok... I prefer 100% gas 91 or higher.
Correct, the manual does say up to 10% ethanol is ok... I prefer 100% gas 91 or higher.
Yeah, but he specifically asked should he not use premium because it contained ethanol. Around here, every grade contains 10% ethanol, or maybe that was back in FL (I just moved to OH)? I'll check the next time I fill up, but I'm fairly sure in both OH and FL all grades contain 10% ethanol (Not just premium). My car requires premium, so I've always used premium in everything.
-Matt
