Different fuel types?

[The End]

My bike, the Hornet 900, is commonly known to run quite rich.

It also produces a stinky exhaust smell which I can only describe as smelling like unburnt fuel. Some people in the USA have reported using a lower octane fuel reduces this issue.

I have exlusively used 91 since I have owned this bike.

Are there any reasons for a motorcycle not to use different fuel stations such as Gull, GAS ALLEY, or CHALLENGE? I've never used them previously, and 90% of the time I will use Z - from what I've read online, some people claim they use different fuel compounds/'ingredients'?

For reference, my exhausts get pretty sooty - the numberplate and tail tidy are pretty black & yellowish too:

[Moise]

I can't comment on how your bike runs. But all 91 sold in Auckland except Gull comes down the pipeline from the refinery at Marsden Point. Gull import their petrol.

Different brands may have their own additive package, eg Caltex Techron, but the petrol will be the same.

[p.dath]

It has fuel injection doesn't it? It sounds like the mixture is not right. Perhaps the O2 sensor is not working correctly (which helps decide how much furl to inject in).

[Mike.Gayner]

I'm not fussy about petrol, just delivery. I only buy petrol locally from stations that let me pay at the pump. Obviously often this isn't an option in the wops somewhere though.

[nzspokes]

It has fuel injection doesn't it? It sounds like the mixture is not right. Perhaps the O2 sensor is not working correctly (which helps decide how much furl to inject in).

they don't have an O2 sensor. HTH.

[bogan]

If you can smell it, it may well mean its the idle mix, so adjusting the fuel screws might be help. First check, cos it's easy, give it a few revs (somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 revs) and see how they drop back to idle, if the mix is wrong it will hang above idles revs for a little bit, or dip below them before recovering back up; if it's good it'll just drop quickly/smoothly right to idle rpm (make sure bike is warm and idle set correctly before doing this obviously).

[Maha]

I can't comment on how your bike runs. But all 91 sold in Auckland except Gull comes down the pipeline from the refinery at Marsden Point. Gull import their petrol.

Different brands may have their own additive package, eg Caltex Techron, but the petrol will be the same.

...and Gull are continually the cheapest fuel around $1:71 in Rotorua on Monday. I'll fill the car with Gull fuel no problem.
All fuel comes down the same pipe from Marsden to Wiri, where it is then separated and tweaked to (as you say) brand specification.

I am not fussy on what 91 fuel goes into the bike.

[FJRider]

My bike, the Hornet 900, is commonly known to run quite rich.

It also produces a stinky exhaust smell which I can only describe as smelling like unburnt fuel. Some people in the USA have reported using a lower octane fuel reduces this issue.

The most common issue that causes running rich is a dirty air filter ...

I have exlusively used 91 since I have owned this bike.

As do I on my 1200 ...

For reference, my exhausts get pretty sooty - the numberplate and tail tidy are pretty black & yellowish too:

It is the unleaded petrol that causes the "Sooty" thing ...

[onearmedbandit]

I wouldn't put 91 in my lawn mower. Spoken to a couple of industry insiders and the quality of that fuel has convinced me to run 95.

[Moise]

I wouldn't put 91 in my lawn mower. Spoken to a couple of industry insiders and the quality of that fuel has convinced me to run 95.

That's another story! At present, it can only refine about half of NZ's petrol, so if you live far enough south, you'll be buying imported, better quality product.

Petrol quality should improve after the latest upgrade is completed later this year but in the meantime, use Gull if you're running 91. I assume Gull have stopped adding butane to it since they got pinged ...

[The End]

The most common issue that causes running rich is a dirty air filter ...

I've tried filter as is, cleaned filter, no filter, rag as a filter and no improvements from any of them.

[EJK]

Are there any reasons for a motorcycle not to use different fuel stations such as Gull, GAS ALLEY, or CHALLENGE? I've never used them previously, and 90% of the time I will use Z - from what I've read online, some people claim they use different fuel compounds/'ingredients'?

Yep, Ferrari juice.

[p.dath]

they don't have an O2 sensor. HTH.

Wow that is interesting. So does the FI system have any feedback system to adjust fuelling?

[p.dath]

Dumb question. What condition is the air filter in? Perhaps it is all clogged up, starving the bike of air, making the system fuel rich, causing un-burnt fuel smell at the exhaust.

Oops, just spotted the air filter comment further up the page. The bike doesn't have a power commander or anything on it adjusting the fuel mapping?

[p.dath]

Another thought just went through my head, Perhaps something has changed the airflow rate through the engine. Does the bike have a standard exhaust, or an after market exhaust?