Petrol issue

[nudemetalz]

Mrs Nudie came home from work this afternoon on the Guzzi.
First thing I noticed was it's poor idle. It was really rough and this concerned me a little.
She said it was going just fine until she filled it up with 98 Ultimate in town.
So it's obviously a bad batch of fuel. Pisses me off that the fact we pay more for it per litre and it's worse !!!

Anyone else had this issue?

[sunhuntin]

is it normally run on 98?

all i can suggest is at least ring the station and let them know they may have bad fuel.

i was talking to the tanker driver when he came in the other night... he says theres a shut off in the tank that operates the instant another type of fuel is detected [ie, diesel leaking into 91] so it doesnt get into the main tank. they may have water in there [the site tanks] and will need to test for it.

[xwhatsit]

I had something similar recently with BP 98. Died quite a few times pulling up to the lights, just switched off without even a cough. Even more difficult starting than usual, mid-throttle farting, all kinds of bad shit. I knew it was the fuel, as it started only a few kms after I left the service station, so I just drained it into the mower's fuel supply and filled up again with 95 from down the road.

Didn't think to ring the fuel station, sunhuntin, that's a good idea. Pain in the arse, though -- wouldn't buy 98 for the mower, so it's wasted money really, even though it runs fine on it. I go out of my way to fill up at BP for the 98, as it seems to make my over-advanced ignition run cooler.

[nudemetalz]

I rang the garage. They weren't overly concerned, so I rang the 0800 number.
Outside hours unfort.

I normally run it on Challenge fuel as I know that is the best fuel being part of Gull Petroleum and not Mobil. They import their own fuel.
Challenge Newlands just closed down last week so figured next best fuel would be 98 Ult.
How wrong I was !!
So we're going to go out to Challenge Porirua to fill up from now on.

[TKDSKIP]

I had something similar recently with BP 98. Died quite a few times pulling up to the lights, just switched off without even a cough. Even more difficult starting than usual, mid-throttle farting, all kinds of bad shit.

My bike just started doing the same thing this morning after its first taste of BP98. May have to take the tank off as it has a vacum operated tap. I wonder if BP would my labour bill.

[thehovel]

Challenge Petroleum is owned by Caltex which is part of Chevron NZ. The only independent importer is Gull.

Quote from Challenge's web site
"Challenge was launched as a competitor in the New Zealand petroleum market in 1998. The brand was "born and bred" in New Zealand and we're proud of it!
During 2001 Caltex New Zealand acquired Challenge Petroleum. Today, Challenge is one of the brands operated by Chevron in New Zealand and it is managed as a brand that stands for kiwi independence, value for money, down-to-earth service and being genuine with our valued customers"

Now do Google search on Chevron NZ and you get Caltex which is supplied from Marsden Point,same as Shell ,Mobil & BP. Better known as the Ugly Sisters of the oil industry.Also their address is 5 Caltex House Fanshawe St Auckland.

I have had dirty fuel from Shell & Mobil. Also remember when the contaminated diesel came out of Marsden Point the only clean fuel was Gull.

[Madness]

I normally run it on Challenge fuel as I know that is the best fuel being part of Gull Petroleum and not Mobil. They import their own fuel........So we're going to go out to Challenge Porirua to fill up from now on.

What that guy above me said is correct. Best you ride to the nearest Gull from now on. That'd be Masterton by my reckoning.

Incidently, I filled up with BP 98 from Melling today, running like a dream

[nudemetalz]

Ah oops, you're right. Duh me !!
Challenge is part of Caltex. I got my wires crossed. I did know that Gull is independent but Masterton is a wee way away to fill up every time.

Looks like I'll have to dump the fuel and buy another batch from another garage

[sunhuntin]

not sure that the individual station would fit the bill, as the petrol we get is what we get. until someone tells us of a problem, theres nothing we could do. and even if we get told, i think all we could do would be to stop selling that grade until the tank is drained and refilled.
you might have to chase bp itself, or their importer to cover any major bills.

personally, i never run my bike on anything but 91. my parents use 95 in their cars.

good luck getting the bike back in order, guys!! luckily only one of the 4 bps here in town has 98... and its not the one i work at! *dances*

[NotaGoth]

Put 30 of 91 in the car I'm borrowing off my old lady.. Was so I could get to work today and fill up completely in Kerikeri..

Started mums car.. Backed up... Went to put it in 1st and drive off.. Managed to stall....

Car won't start... Filled up 2 days ago.. Drove 5 mins.. Parked up now the car does that..

Wondered if its water in the fuel which is highly likely at the moment..

Worst thing is... I'd say I'll end up with the sack..

[nudemetalz]

Just a pain in the backside having to do this. Petrol is not cheap and went it's relelgated to the mower, well, rather frustrating.

Mr Guzzi in Italy recommends a minimum of 95 for the V11 with preferred being 98 (I guess it's cause of all the old-tech in the engine ).

[Brett]

Funny you say that...I put in Mobil 98 today and have had a rough idle all day...Odd.

[Wasp]

I usually use the j'ville '98 but last fill up was mana - havnt noticed anything

[R1madness]

There is a comon point being raised here.

91 is the most stable fuel because it has the least addatives to stop it detonating. The more stuff they add to the fuel the quicker it goes off due to evaperation etc.
I have been told by someone who should know (a fuel techinican) that the fuel types go something like this

91 for all modern engines cars and bikes.
95 for old stuff like HQ holdens etc
98 for lamborgini and farrari etc.

Part of the problem is the density of the fuel (as the grade goes up so does the density) making it harder for the bike to draw fuel out of the carbs. Hence it runs a little leaner. As most bikes are a little rich (due to carb wear, air filter dirty etc) the leaner running makes it look and feel cleaner.
However if your bike is not set up to run on the gas it may not burn at the correct time (remember we are talking miliseconds here) ie too late and you end up with a wet mixture in the combustion chamber as the exhaust valve opens, the plug does not have sufficent heat to dry itseld and suddenly cough cough splutter. fouled plug. Bugger.
There is no guarentee that any fuel here is any good. But it is all to do with economics, i can supply ELF motor spirit (its not petrol but a dedicated race fuel) for about $6 per litre but i bet you will not pay that for your road bike.

[Deviant Esq]

Interesting. I thought for a long time that the higher octane fuels were better for a higher compression engine... but I've found it not to be the case. For ages I ran my NZ250 on 96 (now 95) or 98, depending on the petrol station I went to. Anyway, using around 8 litres of fuel it would return somewhere between 175 and 195 km before it needed a refill.

Then I read something about the difference between the fuel octanes, I think it was on KB somewhere, a search will probably dredge it up, and thought I'd give 91 a try after that. What a difference! Suddenly the bike was running better, smoother, and seemed to be returning slightly better power. On top of that, I was getting anything from 210 to 240 km out of those same 8 litres... as well as the fuel costing less at the pump.