Gas...

[JoChan23]

hey i was just reading another post and it made me think.... what type of gas are you guys putting in your bikes, i have a gs500e and have put premium in it since i got it in april.  I dont mind paying the bit extra for the higher octane gas but is it needed, or helpful?

what bike do you have and what gas do you put in it?

- Jordan

[Roadstergal]

is it needed

No.

or helpful?

No.

[fettcols]

Sunoco 94 when available... If not I use the best the gas station has to offer, you might spend and extra buck for a fill up but when you're getting fifty miles a gallon it's not that big of a difference.

'04 500F

[Roadstergal]

Octane is a measurement of the resistance of gasoline to detonation.  It isn't the cleanliness of the gas, the extent to which it burns, the heat at which it burns, etc.  It's the resistance of gasoline to detonation.  The higher-compression an engine is, the more octane it needs to avoid knock.  Forced induction will raise octane requirements.  Advanced timing will raise octane requirements.  None of that changes the fact that if the engine is not knocking, your octane is sufficient.  (Modern automobikle engines that have knock sensors and retard timing on knock are not relevant to a discussion of the GS.)

If you read your manual, you'll see that the minimum octane listed as required for the GS is 87AKI ((RON+MON)/2).  This will have already had a fudge factor built in by Suzuki.  I have never had knock on either of my GSs using 87, and I haven't heard of anyone with an engine in good shape having that, either.

It irks me to listen to people say that 94 is "better" for your engine than 87.  The only way in which it can be better is if the additive package is different, which I doubt makes much of a difference on a low-stress engine like the GS's.  But you can dump in your own additive now and then if you like.  Redline's is $4 for 10 car treatments - probably 30 bike treatments.

[Slavik]

higher octain gas makes no difference performance wise (i never saw any proof that it does at least).....but it does have some engine cleaning additives, therefore I fill up with premium once ever 4 tankfulls, but I really think it's useless, but it gives me peace of mind, therefore i do it anyway  

[davipu]

the gs is a low comp two valve per cyl motor, she'll run on 78 octane if  you want her to.   if you people ride your bikes the carbs and gas tank will stay clean     you have to be constantly pushing the gas through and the fuel system will stay clean.

[thirdman]

.
Yeah, what Roadstergal said.  Dittos.

[fettcols]

20 cent difference per gallon.... Less than five gallons per fill... I'll spend it on gas an have one less soda a week...

My van gets between 15 and 17 miles per gallon, it gets the cheapest stuff available and little love when it cost's $50+ to fill... If I'm spending six or seven dollars to fill the bike I'll throw in an extra buck or so a week for the 94.

[RVertigo]

I swear I read 91 minimum Octane somewhere.....    :dunno:  Who's ever seen 91?   :dunno:

[dgyver]

I swear I read 91 minimum Octane somewhere.....    :dunno:  Who's ever seen 91?   :dunno:

I was at a gas station once that had 5 different octane levels at one pump.

You are pissing away money running the higher octane fuel. Even with high comp pistons I was still running 91/92 pump gas.

[Daniely]

I use 91 in my CBR. And ONLY chevron gas...to much alcohol in the afghani gas...

[SmartDrug]

My 1990 GS has a sticker under the seat(the one that tells recommended tire pressure) and it says not to run anything under 91 or 93(can't remember and too lazy to check).  Why would Suzuki print that?  to help the Oil tycoons?  That strikes me as ridiculous.
-Brian

[Roadstergal]

I use 91 in my CBR. And ONLY chevron gas...to much alcohol in the afghani gas...

Er, most gas in any given region comes from one refinery, and the crude comes from a number of sources - probably impossible to determine at the pump end.  And I don't have the numbers on hand, but I know that above a certain single-digit percentage, ethanol/methanol addition has to be marked at the pump.  So - huh?

[Roadstergal]

20 cent difference per gallon.... Less than five gallons per fill... I'll spend it on gas an have one less soda a week...

I'll drink the soda, and my bike will run just as well.   :dunno:

[dgyver]

So what would fuel labeled as "for flexible fuel vehicles" used for? I think it was 80% methanol.

[un1261]

I buy what ever is available but only like to buy sunco...it's american gas.

[Roadstergal]

So what would fuel labeled as "for flexible fuel vehicles" used for?

I have no idea, but when I read "Flexible fuel vehicles," I had a mental image of picking up a GS, folding it, and putting it in your pocket.   :lol:

[Daniely]

So far in my experience of riding. I have found I get better MPG using Cheverons gas than any other gas. I have been told that most of the smaller mini mart joints use alcohol to dilute the gas they have, still fires, but its not as clean of a burn...and yea bad stuff. I know alcohol (isophrobyl (SP?)) Is good for engines as it runs hot and can burn the carbon out of the cylinders, but I dont know details as to what the places in our area are using.

[dgyver]

I saw the sign for it the other day and it was priced at $1.85 (or close to it) where regular gas is $2.05

[Roadstergal]

I buy what ever is available but only like to buy sunco...it's american gas.

From what I understand, Sunco pulls oil from oil sands, which are only found in Canada and Venezuela.  I dunno if they supplement it with OPEC crude, but regardless, it's not 'american gas.'