What fuel do you use?

**koba** · 13th August 2008, 22:27

91 in the VFR, RG, GSX250, GSXR250, Pitbike, KLR600 race engine....

Everything except Str8 jackets A100.
When The A was running (must get of my arse n fix it) It loooved the 98.
Top speed was limited by gentle pinking on 91.

May have somthing to do with it being farked....

**cs363** · 13th August 2008, 22:33

Originally Posted by slofox

OK OK already, interpret it as you will......I take the word recommend to mean just that - it is recommended. I doubt that this word would be used if there was risk of damage, especially since the guarantee is in place....I spent a lot of time with alcohol fueled engines in the past and saw no damage at any time......I stay with my choice. And incidentally, yes, I can and do read and understand English............

When you say 'recommend' I assume (always dangerous, lol) that you are taking that from the page heading in your owners manual, as in 'Fuel, Oil and Coolant Recommendation' or similar. If so, I wouldn't class that as being THE fuel that Suzuki recommends, more one of the fuels they advise you CAN use.
If you look at the attached (from a VX800 manual, but I'd bet this page is fairly standard give or take a few words for Suzuki manuals) you'll see that under the heading of gasoline/Ethanol blends the wording is 'may be used'.
In fact after reading this page a few times what i get from it is that Suzuki would prefer you use unleaded petrol with an octane rating of 91 or higher, though you 'may' use any of the other fuels listed without issue.

Personally I prefer the good old fashioned stuff in preference to Ethanol blends or similar, but more due to the fact that I don't like pseudo green stuff like bioethanol or hybrid cars which seem to exist more to give Hollywood stars and the like a holier than thou attitude over us mere peasant fossil fuel users, while totally ignoring the disastrous effects their supposedly green transport methods/fuels actually have in the real world....but I am digressing

At the end of the day, if your manufacturer is ok with it and you like it then go ahead and use it!

**bikerboy011** · 13th August 2008, 22:41

i always use 98 ay...i think its better for th engine.

**nico** · 13th August 2008, 22:49

Originally Posted by Toaster

With the price of petrol as it is, I'm surprised no-one has had the balls to steal a petrol tanker yet....

.... I guess one would need a rather large shed out in the country to hide it in (and they are probably tracked by satellite).

lol no need to steal one when you work at the airport with the good stuff
anyone got a light?

**slofox** · 14th August 2008, 08:15

Originally Posted by cs363

When you say 'recommend' I assume (always dangerous, lol) that you are taking that from the page heading in your owners manual, as in 'Fuel, Oil and Coolant Recommendation' or similar. If so, I wouldn't class that as being THE fuel that Suzuki recommends, more one of the fuels they advise you CAN use.
If you look at the attached (from a VX800 manual, but I'd bet this page is fairly standard give or take a few words for Suzuki manuals) you'll see that under the heading of gasoline/Ethanol blends the wording is 'may be used'.
In fact after reading this page a few times what i get from it is that Suzuki would prefer you use unleaded petrol with an octane rating of 91 or higher, though you 'may' use any of the other fuels listed without issue.

Personally I prefer the good old fashioned stuff in preference to Ethanol blends or similar, but more due to the fact that I don't like pseudo green stuff like bioethanol or hybrid cars which seem to exist more to give Hollywood stars and the like a holier than thou attitude over us mere peasant fossil fuel users, while totally ignoring the disastrous effects their supposedly green transport methods/fuels actually have in the real world....but I am digressing

At the end of the day, if your manufacturer is ok with it and you like it then go ahead and use it!

I think you are probably right in what you say here cs363 - I agree that my useage of "recommend" might have been a little liberal....I was dredging from memory when I put that in the post. After re-reading the page I think your interpretation is more correct.
My support for the ethanol blend comes from experience with alcohol fueled bikes in years gone by, supported by a price advantage. In practice the bike goes like stink on Force 10 and seems quite happy on that diet......

**Toaster** · 14th August 2008, 09:50

Originally Posted by nico

lol no need to steal one when you work at the airport with the good stuff
anyone got a light?

You'll love this avatar then:

**Dakara** · 14th August 2008, 10:22

Always ran 91 on my 250's and will do some testing on the ZX6R... hoping it's happy with 95/91 as I'm not a BP/Mobil fan

**pritch** · 14th August 2008, 10:45

Some years ago (not *that* many) the refinery was buying crap petrol and boosting the octane rating with ethanol or similar. There was a sudden rash of problems with seals deteriorating and fuel systems developing leaks.
And there is an inherent risk involved in spraying a hot engine with petrol.

I can't remember how it came to pass that we found out about the "new" petrol but it wasn't because the ugly sisters rushed to inform everybody. There sure as Hell were no notices at gas stations...

**cs363** · 14th August 2008, 11:26

Originally Posted by pritch008

Some years ago (not *that* many) the refinery was buying crap petrol and boosting the octane rating with ethanol or similar. There was a sudden rash of problems with seals deteriorating and fuel systems developing leaks.
And there is an inherent risk involved in spraying a hot engine with petrol.

I can't remember how it came to pass that we found out about the "new" petrol but it wasn't because the ugly sisters rushed to inform everybody. There sure as Hell were no notices at gas stations...

That was when unleaded was introduced, it was just few old shit box cages like old Cortina's etc. It got blown out of proportion by the media (what a surprise!) and was just basically scare mongering.

**Naki Rat** · 14th August 2008, 13:23

95 in the Trumpy, except when I'm outside the 'Naki in which case it is a toss up between 98 or Gull 95 'cause neither is available out here in the colonies

**Big Dog** · 15th August 2008, 13:10

Originally Posted by koba

91 in the VFR, RG, GSX250, GSXR250, Pitbike, KLR600 race engine....

Everything except Str8 jackets A100.
When The A was running (must get of my arse n fix it) It loooved the 98.
Top speed was limited by gentle pinking on 91.

May have somthing to do with it being farked....

Ahh, finally somenone mentions why we have alternative octanes.
Yes thats right it has nothing to do with power and everthing to do with how much of it you can burn at what rate before your engine pinks.

The power difference of what you speak comes from the other additives in the fuel.

**Rashika** · 15th August 2008, 14:06

geepers and I thought I posted something about pinking way back on post 40... guess I'm just a chick, what would I know?

**Bend-it** · 15th August 2008, 17:05

Originally Posted by slofox

Just curious - what fuel do you feed your bike? Not interested in brands - just octanes etc...........

Do brands make a difference? My dad will only buy his preferred brand (which changes over time, strangely)... but I've never noticed any difference.

Don't the different brands have to be standard?

**Big Dog** · 15th August 2008, 18:03

Originally Posted by Rashika

98 in the Buell, runs far better on that than 95 or 91 (often get pinking when hot on the others)... tho I will use those on occasions when I cant get 98.

AVgas for the racebikes: FXR 150 and RD250LC

Apologies Rashika. Not sure why I have not seen your post. Especially as I was looking for somone smart enought to know the real reason for high octane fuels.

Nope was not a sexist thing. Just had not seen the post.
Besides if it was predjudice it would have been the Buell that put me off not the woman thing.

**Rashika** · 15th August 2008, 18:16

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Apologies Rashika. Not sure why I have not seen your post. Especially as I was looking for somone smart enought to know the real reason for high octane fuels.

Nope was not a sexist thing. Just had not seen the post.
Besides if it was predjudice it would have been the Buell that put me off not the woman thing.

ahh thats ok...

I guess next time just cos it has a Buell in the text doesn't mean its a bad thing eh? And I guess you know no better riding a bus