What petrol to use?

[Donald Duck]

Hi
I brought my Ducati from SA where it ran on leaded petrol. As there is no leaded petrol in NZ, what is the best to use?

[Ojai]

Hi
I brought my Ducati from SA where it ran on leaded petrol. As there is no leaded petrol in NZ, what is the best to use?

how old is it? Unless it's a much older bike, it should run on unleaded with no problem.

[MadDuck]

Hi
I brought my Ducati from SA where it ran on leaded petrol. As there is no leaded petrol in NZ, what is the best to use?

What I use? Whatever makes the bike go vrooomm vrooomm when I turn the key.

[Taz]

You're a little light on the information. Year and Model would be helpful. Then there's always google.

[Donald Duck]

You're a little light on the information. Year and Model would be helpful. Then there's always google.

Thanks for the replies - It is a 996 and is a 2000 model

[vifferman]

Whatever minimum octane is recommended for your model in the owner's handbook. Note that NZ fuel's octane rating is RON.
If you can, use 91 (more power) or 98 (expensive, as it's imported from Perth, but no chance of pinking). Avoid 95 (too much crap added to it to boost the octane rating, so it's sooty).

[johan]

The manual says:
Gasoline 95-98 RON

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/service/manuals/2000.jhtml?family=manuals

I'm curious what leaded fuel would do to a desmo. Have you had the heads looked at recently? cheers

[steve_t]

I'd use 98 then.
Hey, how do bikes go using E10 98? Hmmm.... I probably should have used the search tool before asking that :dodge:

[slofox]

I'd use 98 then.
Hey, how do bikes go using E10 98? Hmmm.... I probably should have used the search tool before asking that :dodge:

My K7 SV650S has only ever been fed Force 10. Goes just fine...well fast enough to get an instant ban and around 60 - 65 mpg in the old money...you just need to check that your fuel lines etc etc are ethanol compliant.

[Cary]

If you can, use 91 (more power) or 98 (expensive, as it's imported from Perth, but no chance of pinking). Avoid 95 (too much crap added to it to boost the octane rating, so it's sooty).When I had the 999 serviced the mechanic at Haldanes recommended i use 95 & not 98........

[YellowDog]

So if you have been running on leaded fuel, it doesn't have a Catalytic Converter. Good start! I'd get it down to the local Ducati service department to get them to check out the VIN. I doubt it would have any special characteristics differing from an NZ bike however it is always best to check as if it goes wrong, it will be a very expensive item to fix. I'd be surprised if they didn't say that it will be fine on basic 91 grade fuel.

[Donald Duck]

The manual says:
Gasoline 95-98 RON

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/service/manuals/2000.jhtml?family=manuals

I'm curious what leaded fuel would do to a desmo. Have you had the heads looked at recently? cheers

Thanks to all for the help. Excuse my ignorance but what does RON mean?

[vifferman]

Thanks to all for the help. Excuse my ignorance but what does RON mean?
"Research Octane Number".
There are two common methods for measuring/stating the octane rating - RON is the one used in new Zealand.
US uses both methods, so their octane rating gives a lower number (87 Mrkn is about the same as 91 NZ).


When I had the 999 serviced the mechanic at Haldanes recommended i use 95 & not 98........
Well, from a purely technical viewpoint, based on the octane rating, 98 is unnecessary, and would result in some lost performance. But (however!) the 95 here is of more variable quality, and all comes from the Marsden refinery, where they add toluene and xylene to it (nasty carcinogenic mix that gives the burnt fuel that sickly chemical smell) to get the required octane rating cheaply. Xylene and toluene are byproducts of the refining process, and are used in paint manufacture and a few other things.
However, the 98 comes in from Oz already refined, and is (generally) of a more consistent and clean quality. From personal experience, the 95 was so shitty, my '90 VFR750 wouldn't run on it (it sooted up the tiny electrodes on the sparkplugs). I've had no such problems with subsequent bikes (mostly because I won't use it if I can help it), but my wife's Peugeot pinks badly on it, but runs fine on 98.

If they recommend 95, then use it - plenty of people do, with no problems. My personal preference is to avoid it if I can.