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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: chupacabrah on June 16, 2004, 08:07:06 PM

Title: What octane?
Post by: chupacabrah on June 16, 2004, 08:07:06 PM
what octane do you guys/gals run?


what does the owner manual say?


I've been using premium, but some guy on sportbikes.net said he used to have a gs, and that manual said to use regular

:dunno:
Title: What octane?
Post by: dgyver on June 16, 2004, 08:23:56 PM
The Suzuki service manual states minimum of 87. I recall a thread a good ways back that most riders ran regular. The GS does not have a high enough compression to gain by using premium.

Personally I run premium but them my motor is not stock.
Title: What octane?
Post by: pizzleboy on June 16, 2004, 09:28:57 PM
Manual says 87.

I try to always run 94 from sunoco.  I find I get more milage as well.  Plus it gives me that warm tingly feeling.   :o
Title: What octane?
Post by: Richard UK on June 17, 2004, 08:20:09 AM
In UK/Europe use 95 RON (Research Octane Number) unleaded
Title: What octane?
Post by: Ed_in_Az on June 17, 2004, 08:23:34 AM
I run 91 octane just for the heck of it. Experiment if you like. If your bike runs OK on 87 and you want to save some change, go with that.
Title: What octane?
Post by: jakers the 1 on June 17, 2004, 12:11:44 PM
Only the best for my gs.
Title: What octane?
Post by: Kerry on June 17, 2004, 12:14:30 PM
Only the cheapest for mine.  85 octane here in UT. (MON+RON/2 method)

30,000 miles and still smiling....
Title: Octane...
Post by: The Buddha on June 17, 2004, 02:01:28 PM
Octane... ok I use 87 in all the bikes I have jetted... and if anyone has use a similar formula like I have posted on here oh only about 100,000,000 times... 87 is fine... the jetting experiments and O2 sensor observations etc were all done with Arco 87 in the tank. Rich mix burns slowly and resists detonation and runs cooler than a leaner mix and the jetting I use is pretty much the richest there can be without having serious bogging...  So rejetted = 87, I also use 87 in water cooled bikes. Rest all get 91.
BTW the higher octane making better gas mileage... is a bit of a 1/2 truth. It will make more mileage in cars... the sensors will lean the mix out to the point it starts knocking... and then richen it very slightly. Under steady throttle it will make better mileage. Now on a carbureted bike, cruising ... steady throttle doesn't have any extra benifit, but you will pick up a mph or 2 for the same throttle position after you stay at steady throttle for a few seconds... and that make that 1 mph or so bump in gas mileage... not even noticeable, and higher octane doesn't make more power... in fact it makes slightly less power, and that extra rpm creep on steady throttle making that 1 mph gain will also be smaller. So effectively... higher octane is good for cars, bad for GS'es, Higher octane will resist detonation more and that is the only benefit really.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: What octane?
Post by: pizzleboy on June 17, 2004, 03:09:04 PM
...not to be insolent, but... 8)

If the above statement is true, then why do I regularly go over 300 km on a tank before switching to reserve with 94, but have never reached 300 on regular gas?

Just wondering. :dunno:
Title: What octane?
Post by: manofthefield on June 17, 2004, 03:18:44 PM
Quote from: pizzleboyIf the above statement is true, then why do I regularly go over 300 km on a tank before switching to reserve with 94, but have never reached 300 on regular gas?
Placebo effect :dunno:

Like Shirnath said, higher octane is more resistant to detonation.  Just because a higher grade is more expensive, it doesn't mean it's "the good stuff" for your particular vehicle.  Lower compression engines need lower octane fuel that will detonate more easily.  Not to say that you will have bad results if you up the octane a little to say 91.  But IMO you are better off saving your cash and putting in the minimum recommended octane in your vehicle; it was designed to use that higher detonation (low octane) fuel.
Title: What octane?
Post by: pizzleboy on June 17, 2004, 03:23:53 PM
:o  :o

Well, I DO like saving money...

OK, I'll try it out for this bike trip.  :cheers:
Title: What octane?
Post by: MarkusN on June 18, 2004, 01:50:01 AM
Quote from: manofthefieldLower compression engines need lower octane fuel that will detonate more easily.  Not to say that you will have bad results if you up the octane a little to say 91.  But IMO you are better off saving your cash and putting in the minimum recommended octane in your vehicle; it was designed to use that higher detonation (low octane) fuel.
Not quite. Detonation is not the same as controlled burning ignited by the spark. There is no actual benefit in using low octane fuel in low compression engines, but there is none in using hig octane either.
Title: What octane?
Post by: alerbaugh on June 18, 2004, 12:08:23 PM
my dad works for a gas firm and i got discount and free aditives.  I usually average sumwhere around 104-110 octane but i race and everything.
Title: What octane?
Post by: manofthefield on June 18, 2004, 05:45:33 PM
Quote from: MarkusNNot quite. Detonation is not the same as controlled burning ignited by the spark. There is no actual benefit in using low octane fuel in low compression engines, but there is none in using hig octane either.

Well, I guess I'm partially wrong then.  But I'm still doing no harm to my engine and saving bank at the pump :thumb: