fuel... super vrs regular

[jim]

so what do you all think of this???

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2012/11/pumpfiction.html

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut12.shtm

[RoadStarRaider]

[budaman]

I owned a gas station for many years and I believe the reports are saying if you take a regular vehicle and put super gas in it does it benefit, I say no but when you have a high performance vehicle like our bikes yes you do need the higher octane. So basically do what the car or bike manufacture are recommending. They do not benefit from talking us into buying super gas actually it may be a consumers turn off.

[dreadly]

It's been discussed many many times

[Ares X]

I took it the same way Budaman did.

My Infiniti G35 coupe and my Raider both require Premium from the manufacturer and that's what I use. My Durango gets normal unleaded.

[Jeremy]

My V6 Dodge Pickup gets about 3 mpg better on middle grade than it does Regular.  I tried premium and the results were similar to that of Mid Grade, so I stuck with Mid Grade.  I would never hurt to run a few tanks of a higher grade and see what the out come is.  You are talking a few extra dollars a tank.

[Coldfinger]

What is the difference between "Recommended" and "Required"?  Legally, the definitions are clear and I'm sure Yamaha legal reads these manuals with a fine tooth comb so I'll take it as not a requirement but rather a recommendation, as stated in the manual.

I try to use 91 whenever possible but have filled many times with something less, even 87, because there was no alternative at the time.

[Ares X]

Actually I was incorrect when I said "required". The Raider manual states:

Recommended fuel: PREMIUM UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY

I was at a gas station once where I desperately needed fuel and they were out of premium, so I filled it partially with the highest they had just to get by.

[RaidWA]

Sorry, wrong thread. Deleted.

[A.T.]

Premium, especially as our fuel is polluted with corn squeezin's

[CHROMINATOR]

Premium, especially as our fuel is polluted with corn squeezin's

   Corn may be good for making shine but it sucks in gasoline...

[GlacierBlue]

Most modern cars that take premium gasoline have engine control units that will dial back the timing (and thus the horsepower) if engine knock is detected.  In the manual, they will tell you that the car can run on regular in a pinch. 

I don't think our Raiders are that sophisticated.  You might do some damage if you routinely run the bike on 87 octane.  That's my guess anyway.  I wouldn't do it unless I had information to the contrary.

[GlacierBlue]

As I was fueling my new Raider yesterday from one of those pumps that run 3 grades through one hose, it occurred to me that my two gallons of premium was probably 1 gallon of regular and 1 gallon of premium.  I am going to avoid that type of pump going forward where possible.

[Mr. T]

As I was fueling my new Raider yesterday from one of those pumps that run 3 grades through one hose, it occurred to me that my two gallons of premium was probably 1 gallon of regular and 1 gallon of premium.  I am going to avoid that type of pump going forward where possible.

Almost impossible to find a multiple hose pump in Texas.

[jeb6294]

True or false, every once in a great while when a gas station runs out of regular fuel remember hearing that you're supposed to get the midgrade.  The rumor was that midgrade was just regular mixed with premium so if they were out of regular you'd be getting premium at midgrade price.  Anyone know for sure?

[Kit Sullivan]

It would never hurt to run a few tanks of a higher grade and see what the out come is.  You are talking a few extra dollars a tank.

Actually, running a higher octane than required consistently can and will be detrimental to your engines. Mild results are accelerated carbon deposits and long term use can lead to valve damage.