What's your preferred fuel?

[sars]

Hey, wondering if you guys have a favoured fuel type? I've heard of people swearing by Gull gas, but some think it may cause damage or produce less power//more power in certain engines?? I've tried trying different ones in the CBR and tried to distinguish any difference but I can't really, the only thing I noticed is that when I run Gull gas the bike smells nicer... maaaaybe I get more response with BP98 but I dunno...

[Flip]

Modern vehicles, incl my tractor are not that fussy these days. Most modern vehicles have a anti-knocksensor that detects pre-ignition and backs off the ignition timing to protect the motor.

Gull have to get their fuel off shore so some times the fuel spec can vary a bit. Gull are not part of the marsden refinery agrement. They also don't have acess to the wiri and chch pipelines, so incur some addittional expense trucking fuel in the 2 major markets in nz.

All the other fuel is much of the same in NZ. Caltex add a squirt of fuel system detergent which is a good idea. Octane is a fuels ability not to ignite under compression and has nothing to do with power. The more a motor compresses the fuel the harder the pistons are pushed down by the burning mixture, high compression race motors need high octane fuel. The grunt a motor can produce is a function of its tuning not the fuel selected. If you ran white spirits (60 octane unleadded fuel) in a race motor it would preignite and damege the motor or ran 100 octane race fuel in a low compression vintage motor it would not burn fast enough and heat up the exhaust system to reh hot and might damage it.

[Ruahine]

On my CBR i noticed that Gull fuel, while cheaper, gave me less km/l than standard non ethanol blends. It actually worked out to be a false economy. I didn't notice any difference in power between the different brands though. According to the owners manual it will run fine on 95 or 98 and can cope with 10% ethanol blends.

[Mike.Gayner]

It's just petrol, don't overthink it. Put in the octane rating per your handbook. Anyone who tells you X brand is superior, or Y brand causes engine damage, should be shot in the face.

[mossy1200]

Ran 98 with ethanol in the morning 295kph average and gps showing final speed 297 at finish line before power off.
Ran 96 in the afternoon when temps hotter and other bikes running slower than the morning 304kph average, gps showing final speed 309 at finish line.

Couldn't feel the difference in acceleration though.

[Gremlin]

I've seen modern bikes (newer than 2005) have their fuel lines turned to mush by ethanol blends of fuel. I'm staying well away from ethanol for as long as possible, despite what manufacturers claim.

Other than that, pick what works. I've found Caltex gives reasonable economy without going to 98 grade fuels for the BMW, and the Hornet is fed Caltex 91. The BMW fuel tank is large enough to earn smartfuel credit too.

[ducatilover]

It's just petrol, don't overthink it. Put in the octane rating per your handbook. Anyone who tells you X brand is superior, or Y brand causes engine damage, should be shot in the face. This is not entirely true, for your average vehicle anything is generally okay.
However, the Gull force 10 is not ideal for economy, eth needs to be run richer to burn well. And it's just a waste of time without having a set up for it, running a flex sensor and adaptive ECU.
It also gobbles moisture, I spose it's hygroscopic


Modern vehicles, incl my tractor are not that fussy these days. Most modern vehicles have a anti-knocksensor that detects pre-ignition and backs off the ignition timing to protect the motor.

Gull have to get their fuel off shore so some times the fuel spec can vary a bit. Gull are not part of the marsden refinery agrement. They also don't have acess to the wiri and chch pipelines, so incur some addittional expense trucking fuel in the 2 major markets in nz.

All the other fuel is much of the same in NZ. Caltex add a squirt of fuel system detergent which is a good idea. Octane is a fuels ability not to ignite under compression and has nothing to do with power. The more a motor compresses the fuel the harder the pistons are pushed down by the burning mixture, high compression race motors need high octane fuel. The grunt a motor can produce is a function of its tuning not the fuel selected. If you ran white spirits (60 octane unleadded fuel) in a race motor it would preignite and damege the motor or ran 100 octane race fuel in a low compression vintage motor it would not burn fast enough and heat up the exhaust system to reh hot and might damage it.

Many vehicles are pretty happy on your average 91/95, but there are also a lot that want higher octane fuels. A fair few Hondas and whatnot of JDM origins ran different timing to our NZDM ones (IE: the B16A EK Civic SiR and VTiR) and the JDM ones aren't too chuffed about our 91 fuel.
Same goes for the 5.7 Holdens, they have a disgusting head design and detonate to fuck on 91, the knock sensors pull a shitload of timing and they are gutless as fuck, use more gas and get a bit warm when you load em up.

On the other hand, a mate's Escort rally car would make no more power on Av gas , but will det to death on 91.

So, run whatever the hell you want, but I, personally run 98 in my bikes (they all tend to have ignition advancers anyway). A fair few bikes will happily run on 91, but the likes of your 600RR will be running more efficiently with decent petrol.

[Tazz]

oooooo shit that's a can of worms mate! To be honest I've never had a good pie or cookie at a Gull station so I stick to Z and BP purely for food and opening hour options :woohoo:
I got bored of the mileage tracking needed to see what minuscule difference what makes 6 vehicles ago, now if it runs and is not noticeably worse, I'm happy.

[Richard Mc F]

91 leaves more money for beer

[EJK]

91 leaves more money for beer

*Sigh* I'll say again, put diesel. It's cheaper.

[kiwi-on-wheels]

98 in mine.... but its old, it just runs nicer

[awa355]

98 in mine.... but its old, it just runs nicer

Same here. On super, the little V twin idles smoother, has better response under load, doing better mileage per tank and adds less than a dollar more to the cost of a refill.

[WNJ]

Run 98 seems to run smooth get 280k per tank

[unstuck]

I just use whatever I can syphon out of the cars hiding out the back of the pub, those bastards shouldn't be on the road anyway. Let them walk it off.:Punk::Punk:

[Mo NZ]

*Sigh* I'll say again, put diesel. It's cheaper.

What sort on a numb nuts comment is that?

Perhaps you can name a few bikes that actually run on diesel.

BYW If you add the RUC'S and the difference in the Rego prices ( for example a ute ), to say nothing about routine maintenance, you have to do high k's to beat a petrol powered vehicle. Plenty written about that.

[Moi]

I use benzina in the Italian one and gasolina in the Spanish one... :yawn:

[Moi]

... Perhaps you can name a few bikes that actually run on diesel...

This one (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/T-800CDI.4.jpg)...

[STJim]

This issue has been discussed previously. See the link below.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/162479-What-brand-of-fuel-do-you-use-for-your-touring-bike

[caspernz]

Fill it up with whatever the manual recommends. As for brands, each has their own favourite and obscure reasons for it.

[pritch]

My Jap import car was designed to run on 100 octane but goes OK on 95. I don't see the point in driving half way across town to buy 98 when there is a Z station a couple of blocks away. The bike goes OK on 95 too.

I once read that riders are not able to detect any increase in power under about 10%. A higher octane rating is not going to give you over 10%, so any perceived increase in performance will likely be entirely in the mind.

On the other hand if buying 98 gives you warm fuzzies, go for it.

[rastuscat]

Just an amusing wee dit.

At the weekend one of the Booze Bus staff filled the bus with petrol.

It's not a petrol vehicle.

It's been seen being towed away for fixing.

DOH !!:Police:

[F5 Dave]

oooooo shit that's a can of worms mate! To be honest I've never had a good pie or cookie at a Gull station so I stick to Z and BP purely for food and opening hour options :woohoo:
I got bored of the mileage tracking needed to see what minuscule difference what makes 6 vehicles ago, now if it runs and is not noticeably worse, I'm happy.

Finally a sensible answer.

Pepper steak. Mmmm.

[Moi]

At the weekend one of the Booze Bus staff filled the bus with petrol...

Booze bus needs wodka... :yes:

[Old Steve]

I put the octane in that the manufacturer recommends, in all three of my bikes that's been 91.

In NZ I always use Caltex because of it's detergent additive (Techron?). Over here in Aus, Caltex don't additise their 91, so I've been using their additised 95. I'm looking forward to the better 91 octane fuel when I'm finally home next week, but am not looking forward to the prices, $1.32/L for ULP91 here in tropical QLD.

A detergent additive in the petrol keeps the injector pintle clean of deposits and produces a better spray out of the injector which means the fuel burns better, and keeps deposits off the back of the inlet valve which gives easier starting and smoother running when up to temperature. A detergent additive in the petrol also cleans a carburettor if you have one. You can get up to 4% better fuel economy, especially in a smaller engine.

By the way, the spec for NZ fuel is pretty good, it doesn't just specify octane (both RON and MON) but has specs for things like volatility which change over the seasons and trough the country, and aromatics content. Originally 98 was just ULP95 which came out of Marsden Pt with a RON of 98 - Marsden Point was MON limited, to meet the MON standard they had to give ROM away. So any ULP95 which came out of Marsden Pt as 98ROM/85MON went into special fuel terminal tanks and was sold as 98.

[ducatilover]

What sort on a numb nuts comment is that?

Perhaps you can name a few bikes that actually run on diesel.

BYW If you add the RUC'S and the difference in the Rego prices ( for example a ute ), to say nothing about routine maintenance, you have to do high k's to beat a petrol powered vehicle. Plenty written about that.

You're suggesting people pay RUCs? :laugh:

[Reckless]

My SV1000 ran fine on 91 the Bonnie to. With the bike I stop anywhere but as its injected might start to use Caltex more often if Old Steve is correct :)

In the car I generally use Gull Because I have the shits with my local (up the road 50m) rip off BP shop.
$1:92 when in East Tamaki 5k away the prices are usually 10-12c plus cheaper?
Went out West Auckland last week stations where up to 14c cheaper.
Cant tell me it costs 12-14c per liter to deliver petrol out east, Fucken rip off bastards!!
So I've started supporting Gull or Pak n Save (with the grocery voucher discount) just because they are the only ones making the big guys keep their fuel prices down. If I do a big shop and get 20c discount off the already 10c a litre cheaper petrol I'll take my cans in and fill those for Road bike and MX bike refills.
My mate was just back from the USA yesterday and he said fuel per barrel is cheaper than its ever been?
Blatant price gouging it is?

I dont even know who's fuel Pak N Saves is LOL???

[Akzle]

My SV1000 ran fine on 91 the Bonnie to. With the bike I stop anywhere but as its injected might start to use Caltex more often if Old Steve is correct :)

In the car I generally use Gull Because I have the shits with my local (up the road 50m) rip off BP shop.
$1:92 when in East Tamaki 5k away the prices are usually 10-12c plus cheaper?
Went out West Auckland last week stations where up to 14c cheaper.
Cant tell me it costs 12-14c per liter to deliver petrol out east, Fucken rip off bastards!!
So I've started supporting Gull or Pak n Save (with the grocery voucher discount) just because they are the only ones making the big guys keep their fuel prices down. If I do a big shop and get 20c discount off the already 10c a litre cheaper petrol I'll take my cans in and fill those for Road bike and MX bike refills.
My mate was just back from the USA yesterday and he said fuel per barrel is cheaper than its ever been?
Blatant price gouging it is?

I dont even know who's fuel Pak N Saves is LOL???

hate/love to tell you. but whangarei is on average, 10-15c cheaper again.


also, if you're at shell on ti rakau? iririanga? some te fuken road, go around the corner to harris? rd for cheaper. cunts, there's less than 1km between them.

[pete376403]

This one (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/T-800CDI.4.jpg)...
And this one

[Moise]

The only decent petrol you can buy here is BP Ultimate, unless you live far enough south to get imported petrol.

Marsden Point can't make decent petrol, Gull add butane to their 91 to keep costs down, or ethanol to make 98.

And why does Ultimate cost 50% more here, even with dollar parity???

[Larksea]

I use 98 when I can, but you can't get it everywhere unfortunately.

have a mate who took his strimmer in to get a full service because he basically thrashes it and used it for hours each weekend doing stuff around the house.
when he picked it up the guy who did the service asked him why he bought it in because the engine looked basically new, the inside was completely clean and showed very little sign of wear.
When said mate explained how much he used it the service guy couldn't believe it. IT made no sense at all, the small engine guy who did the service had never seen anything like it.

Turns out he only ever uses 98 octane fuel with it. Which you would image is pretty rare for small engine gardening kit like that.

He seems to think its simply a better spec fuel, less impurities.

hard to know, lots of stories around and may people who have very logical and technical explanations for why there is no noticeable difference. In practice there does seem to be a difference but the human mind can play strange games on us.

Like that cake experiment

take two identical cakes and get people to taste test them, say one is a $20 budget cake and the other is a $100 gourmet cake made by a professional using better quality ingredients. people will almost always complain about the cheap cake and praise the expensive one even though they are actually identical.

[Swoop]

My preferred fuel is JET-A1. Lovely smell and certainly brings back many memories of turbines of all shapes and sizes.
For the bike: petrol.

Least favourite: Diesel. It's Satan's mouthwash.





What sort on a numb nuts comment is that?
Did you notice a "whoosh" sound as something went over your head?

[Paul in NZ]

My fave fuel is gf weetbix and fruit first thing - don't care middle and a nice steak for dinner...

[F5 Dave]

Atlantic is the best but I haven't seen one of their stations around for a while:innocent:.

So what kind of oil do people like?


[Runs away and hits the unsubscribe button giggling]

[Akzle]

So what kind of oil do people like?

http://tokesignals.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Hemp_extract_fine.jpg

[Moise]

Europa was the best!

[F5 Dave]

Ahh the big E on the quay in wgtn.

[Flip]

Ahh the big E on the quay in wgtn.

That takes me back............. You how old that makes you?

Almost as old as me.

Mobile1 4w50 in the sports car. Valvoline 20w50 mixed fleet lube in everything else.

Mobile1 V2 or HD syn3 in the tractor.

[awayatc]

Just an amusing wee dit.

At the weekend one of the Booze Bus staff filled the bus with petrol.

It's not a petrol vehicle.

It's been seen being towed away for fixing.

DOH !!:Police:

That's funny......

red on blue...

must have been a she surely......

No promotion for a wee while .?

[RDJ]

I am not ruling out - entirely - the possibility of Placebo Effect, but my V8-engined motorcycles (old-style Detroit V8 crate engines) run way best with BP 98. Gotta supercharged AUII 2000 XR8 which definitely does not like 91/93 but runs smoothly on 98 (95 at a pinch...). The '73 Land Rover and the '05 Toyota supermarket basket don't seem to care.

[F5 Dave]

That takes me back............. You how old that makes you?

Almost as old as me.

Mobile1 4w50 in the sports car. Valvoline 20w50 mixed fleet lube in everything else.

Mobile1 V2 or HD syn3 in the tractor.
Nah I'm not that old surely. And I was of course joking about turning it into and endless oil thread.
But I'm not sure if I trust bridgestone Tyres. Made in Japan aren't they?

[speedpro]

My car manual tells me how much power it makes with various octane fuel - more with higher octane. My old turbo Cefiro definitely made more power with 98 and was sharper, and the previous car, shitbox 1.8 Legnum, did not like 91 and at the end even 95, at all. My Scooter is noticeably faster on gull E10 compared to even BP98.

[Moi]

That takes me back............. You know how old that makes you?

Almost as old as me...

You're not old... unless you remember filling your Sunbeam with Plume from 4 gallon tins... :laugh:

[manxkiwi]

My SV1000 ran fine on 91 the Bonnie to. With the bike I stop anywhere but as its injected might start to use Caltex more often if Old Steve is correct :)

SV1000's handbook states 91 as the recommended octane fuel, so that would make sense.

I was at Manfield many years ago, when Glen Williams had just got his SV650. He was saying to me it went best on 91, on track.

I'm in the camp of; 'if you run anything above what the manual states', you're wasting your money, when it comes to average, stock vehicles.

[Big Dog]

This is not entirely true, for your average vehicle anything is generally okay.
However, the Gull force 10 is not ideal for economy, eth needs to be run richer to burn well. And it's just a waste of time without having a set up for it, running a flex sensor and adaptive ECU.
It also gobbles moisture, I spose it's hygroscopic



Many vehicles are pretty happy on your average 91/95, but there are also a lot that want higher octane fuels. A fair few Hondas and whatnot of JDM origins ran different timing to our NZDM ones (IE: the B16A EK Civic SiR and VTiR) and the JDM ones aren't too chuffed about our 91 fuel.
Same goes for the 5.7 Holdens, they have a disgusting head design and detonate to fuck on 91, the knock sensors pull a shitload of timing and they are gutless as fuck, use more gas and get a bit warm when you load em up.

On the other hand, a mate's Escort rally car would make no more power on Av gas , but will det to death on 91.

So, run whatever the hell you want, but I, personally run 98 in my bikes (they all tend to have ignition advancers anyway). A fair few bikes will happily run on 91, but the likes of your 600RR will be running more efficiently with decent petrol.

If it is not too far out of my way I always try and get Gull force whatever their 91 is. if I can take on at least 3/4 of a tank.
Runs like poo at 50/50 or less. Black smoke smoke, uneven idle on the DR, just not as much pull on the fuel injected bikes I have tried. Namely, Hayabusa, er6, CB1300.
With the tank almost empty first there is noticeably more linear power and if you run several tanks in a row a less black pipe.
The DR smells like whiskey when running it. Especially if I have been giving the berries. Enough so that it got commented on going through some checkpoints.
The Hayabusa was far more linear an went through the rev ranges much more quickly.
Er6 was not long enough for comment beyond it idled more evenly.
CB runs like silk on it. A lot of the angry in the pipe when downshifting is gone.
The only reason it is not my go to fuel is it is a fair distance to go to get it. Not terribly far but enough that any economy gain is lost getting there.

On economy:
DR on any other fuel 19km/l.
On gull first tank no evidential difference. Subsequent tanks 21 km/l.

Hayabusa 16km/l on normal fuel.
BP 98 on the open road better economy not sure how much, significantly more inefficient and lumpy at city speeds.
Gull it got 17.5km/l normal usage. About the same as BP 98 for the open road, and a bit better than ordinary fuel around the city.
CB I have only had a few tanks through. Most of my riding is motorway these days. Gets between 15-17km/l most days. 16-18km/l was recorded for the tanks of gull.

Not definitive be any stretch. But that is my observations.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Erelyes]

In NZ I always use Caltex because of it's detergent additive (Techron?). Over here in Aus, Caltex don't additise their 91, so I've been using their additised 95. I'm looking forward to the better 91 octane fuel when I'm finally home next week, but am not looking forward to the prices, $1.32/L for ULP91 here in tropical QLD.

A detergent additive in the petrol keeps the injector pintle clean of deposits and produces a better spray out of the injector which means the fuel burns better, and keeps deposits off the back of the inlet valve which gives easier starting and smoother running when up to temperature. A detergent additive in the petrol also cleans a carburettor if you have one. You can get up to 4% better fuel economy, especially in a smaller engine.

Look like the death of Techron in NZ may be nigh. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11458052)

[Big Dog]

Look like the death of Techron in NZ may be nigh. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11458052)

From the related links: http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11458369


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[jonnyk5614]

My GSX250 used to run better gas mileage and was much smoother on 91.

The GSXR hates 91 and runs equally fine on 95/98 (but gets slightly better gas mileage on 98).


My old Triumph Stag used to barely work on 91, loved 98 and wasn't over the moon on 95. The best it ever ran was with 20l of AVGAS is the tank though :D


I haven't tried Gull Force 10 yet (my cars have always been way too old for ethanol) but the bike can probably take it. Will check.....

[Flip]

This is interesting.

Shell (Z) has just brought Caltex.

Caltex does not have access to the Wiri and Christchurch pipelines so they have a increased cost to service those markets. They do now.

I see comments in the media that this reduces competion, well in my opinion it will allow Z to service the Caltex customers at a reduced cost and help to keep profits up for Z and hopefully price down. If I was BP/Mobil I would be shitting bricks.

[Big Dog]

This is interesting.

Shell (Z) has just brought Caltex.

Caltex does not have access to the Wiri and Christchurch pipelines so they have a increased cost to service those markets. They do now.

I see comments in the media that this reduces competion, well in my opinion it will allow Z to service the Caltex customers at a reduced cost and help to keep profits up for Z and hopefully price down. If I was BP/Mobil I would be shitting bricks.

I wonder why they don't have access to Wiri any more?
In 03 or 04 they told me they had a stake in the terminal and had been operating on site since the terminal opened when I applied to transfer to the distributions division from retail.

At that time all of the big 4 sold their refined but unmixed fuel to the consortium (owned by the big 4) who pumped it all into common tanks and then purchased the mixed fuel to their spec (Caltex with their techron plus other aromatics, bp with the aromatics plus their detergent etc.). They also sold to any of the smaller chains that paid. Including challenge and gas sometimes Gull. I say sometimes because it was only when there were shortages or delays getting gull up from Tauranga.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Flip]

Caltex were not party to the original Wiri pipeline, never have been. It has placed them at a small disadvantage for as long as I have known.

[Big Dog]

Is the pipeline different to the terminal?


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.