What octane gas do you run in your GS?

[galahs]

Not exactly true.

It comes from the same base stock, but when talking about the higher spec (tademarked) fuels, they have different additives and refining processes.

[LimaXray]

differant brand fuels also have differant ethanol content, unless it's regulated by law in your area

[galahs]

Most of our fuels advertise if they contain ethanol.

By law it cannot be higher than 10% without clearly labelling it.

Shell Optimax Extreme which is a 100 RON Octane fuel has 5% ethanol.



I thought Suzuki doesn't recommend using ethanol in its bikes?

[LimaXray]

I don't think you'd want to run it, it lowers the AF ratio of the fuel, and in a vehical with no feedback from an O2 sensor, it can cause you to run even more lean.

In NY for example, I don't think there is anyway around it, I'm pretty sure all gas sold must have 10% ethanol by law.  It does cause a noticable differance. In my car, which can adjust its fueling to the O2 content in the exhaust, I get 400 miles on a tank of cheap full service NJ gas and only 350 miles on a tank of expensive self service NY gas because it has to burn more of the watered down fuel to be stoch.  Grr I hate NY

[galahs]

Ethanol can be used to increase the octane rating of fuel (as in Shell Optimax Extreme) but in most cases your bike/car must be tuned for it.

[LimaXray]

I love ethanol as fuel, E85 is over 110 octane, it burns colder and with the proper tuning can make far more power than regular gasoline for less $$ per gallon with close to the same gas milage.  When they use <10% ethanol its for emissions to help oxyginate the hydrocarbons or some crap like that, and replaces the old MTBE that can leak in the ground water and kill millions of women and children. 

[galahs]

Can you get E85 in the USA!


I thought only Brazil offered it.

[LimaXray]

Yup! Only in the midwest right now tho.  Do a search on Google.  Bush is really pushing for it to replace a lot of petroleum in the next few years.  The government is giving people all kinds of money and tax incentives to make E85 refineries and gas stations.  Have you seen any of GM's 'go yellow' E85 commercials?  A lot of their models they sell in the US can come as flexible fuel vehicals now.  Oh boy I'm psyched, 110 octane fuel for less then what I pay for regular, the possibilities are endless. 

[galahs]

Nah, here in Australia we had BP pushing for E10 and a big scare campaign led by Shell got it knocked back. The public demanded all petrol companies to demand they had no ethanol in their fuel.

Suprise suprise, now Shell has ethanol in the Ultra Premium Opimax Extreme and suddernly ethanol is wonderfull again. A new campaign is being pushed for us to use fules with ethanol and this time moting bodies and our local car manufacturers are saying E10 fules are great!


I hate oil companies!

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Uhh... I understand the burning cooler part as an advantage. But honestly, what advantage is there to having 110 octane fuel? Seems to me that you'd just need to run hotter spark plugs to get complete detonation, or have super high compression. Am I missing something else?

[galahs]

Ethanol being totally renewable? and Carbon neutral.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Well yeah, that too. But I'm referring specifically to it being 110 octane. LimaXRay seems pretty excited about that octane rating, and I'm not sure why. I just want to know if I'm missing something (I'm admittedly dumb when it comes to seeing obvious things sometimes) 

[galahs]

Higher octane allows an engine to run more advance and more compression without detonation whic improves efficiency = ie more power! 

In a stock GS, higher octane fuels wouldn't noticably improve power.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Higher octane allows an engine to run more advance and more compression without detonation whic improves efficiency = ie more power! 

In a stock GS, higher octane fuels wouldn't noticably improve power.

Ok.. that's more or less what I was getting at. If anything, gas of that octane in a stock GS would be a detriment, as I don't think it would combust completely, unless you stepped your sparkplugs up a step or two on the heat range. I understand that higher octane allows higher compression without premature detonation. I didn't get why LXR was getting so excited about something not practical for a GS, or for a lot of cars, for that matter. It's cool to think about what kind of compression ratios you could run with 110 octane though.. Hmmm... might be time to bolt 2 turbos on my friend's Vette.. that sounds fun 

[3imo]

here's one.

does topping out the tank have ill affects?  I went on a 160+mi journey last night. I topped off to the very top.

for the first say, 15-20ish miles  she was boggy at 70-80mph.  not much but I had to keep accelerating to keep from boggin a bit.

after that the rest of the ride was smooth as silk.

BTW I filled up with 87 octane cheap 7/11 fuel.  for the first time since last summer. could that do it?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Ehh.. I don't think topping off the tank would do that, as long as your tank vent was functioning properly. And if the vent wasn't functioning properly, then you'd have symptoms even when you didn't top off completely. Buuuut.. I don't actually own a GS.. or any other bike, so I can't be of too much help. I'm sure someone else will chime in with advice. Sounds to me like there was something impure in there that burned off. Could possibly be water in the gas? I know that can cause issues, but dunno if it would be bogging like that.

[3imo]

water in the gas?  from a gas station?

I seriously doubt there is much if any water in my tank.  she's my daily driver. if she don't go I don't.    rain or shine.
unless I'm haulin stuff. 

oh well..

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

water in the gas?  from a gas station?

I seriously doubt there is much if any water in my tank.  she's my daily driver. if she don't go I don't.    rain or shine.
unless I'm haulin stuff. 

oh well..

Actually, yeah, I've heard of it happening (supposed to be rare, but I've read stories.. of course, that was back in the day, it's probably not likely).. I just thought maybe the bike had been sitting, and accumulated some condensation in the tank, but I guess not. Hmm.. no idea then, wait for a FOG to chime in.. might wanna make your own thread about it, since most people won't look in this thread for an issue about bogging. Just a thought.

[3imo]

or i could let this thread die, but weheres the fun in that?

[RVertigo]

E85 vs Gas...  Some say E85 runs slower...  But, it depends on how the car is built.  Check out this Snaab:

SPECS	GASOLINE	E85
POWER	148 hp	184 hp
TORQUE	177 lb.-ft	207 lb.-ft
MAX. BOOST	5.8 psi	13.8 psi
0-62 MPH	9.8 sec	8.5 sec
TOP SPEED	134 mph	140 mph
PRICE	$35,000	$35,000