Triumphrat

09-09-2004

Two quick questions:
1) Is it always the case that a higher octane rating is better when it comes to gas for my bike (1995 t-bird)? A mechanic told me that my bike prefers 87?

2) Anyone know any cool fixes for a very small puncture in my seat -- I don't mind the looks as is -- I just don't want it to get any worse. j

Your knowledge is appreciated!
Sigi

mecscc · 09-09-2004

Hi,
Let me take the second question first. A small puncture can be sealed permanently with a drop of SuperGlue. I did that with the seat on my wife's Virago over a year ago and it is fine. It sets up hard so be sure that it does not stick up when dry. And do not use much, just a drop.

About gas. You'll get a lot of varying opinion on this one but the truth is that your bike should run fine on 89 octane - which is what the bike was designed for. 87 will normally make a bike with its compression ping a bit, especially when accelerating from low rpms. You can use, and many do, higher octane gas, but it is not necessary, UNLESS it has a lot of carbon buildup from the prior owner always using the highest octane. The problem with using higher octane is that it closes the detonation window and causes inefficient ignition, which leads to buildup. It is NOT better to use a higher octane than the engine needs.

There are a lot of threads that work this issue to death on these forums so you can do a search and get other opinions.

I would try 89 octane and see how you like it. Mine runs great on 89.

Take care,

Monte

09-09-2004

Thanks for the info......

Sigi

jimmyj900 · 09-09-2004

On gasoline...

My personal opinion is that you should only use brand name gas.

I've had some bad experiences with "no-name" gas since they're buying outdated product and refinery overruns. You never know what you're getting or how long it's been sitting in a tank somewhere.

Jim

tntremainiac · 09-09-2004

I put 89 in my T-Bird sport IF the pump has individual/separate hoses for each grade of fuel. If it has multiple grades running thru one hose I'll fill up with 92.
I'm probably getting a gallon of 87 left in the hose from the cager who just filled her minivan. Bottomline is, I try to fill up at stations with separate hoses.
TnT

parrycm · 09-09-2004

Wow!! With the title "gas and seat holes" I was expecting to find that one had caused the other!! What have you been eating!!!???

shedds · 09-09-2004

BANG ZOOM!!! 89 octane sunoco or shell works great mobil not bad either, but exon not me (remember exon valdez)??? before you gas up

97TB · 09-09-2004

I always use the hightest octane I can find. Its worth the extra 10 cents a gallon.

mecscc · 09-09-2004

I don't want to start a war or anything, but, if you have NOT been using high test, say 93 octane, then don't start. All higher octane does is reduce the size of the window for combustion.

It IS necessary for engines with bikes with a high combustion ratio, which the Tbird engine does not have. But, in an engine designed to run on lower octane when you burn a higher octane gasoline all you are doing is causing minute misfires and incomplete combustion, and those, over time, build up carbon deposits on the top of the pistons.

The irony is, of course, that, given enough time, the carbon buildup will, itself, increase the combustion ratio, thereby making the use of high octane gas necessary. In other words, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you use 93 octane long enough you will NEED 93 octane, and you will prove yourself right. Problem is that you didn't need it in the first place.

Now, it could well be that a 97 Tbird that has always used 93 octane gasoline will, in fact, need to use it. Either that, or you would have to take off the head and scrape the deposits off of the pistons. In that case, I too would buy the 93 octane gas instead of taking the engine apart to save a dime a gallon.

Monte

[ This message was edited by: mecscc on 2004-09-09 20:16 ]

Beemie · 09-09-2004

Higher octane fuel runs hotter so it's not really better to use it if the specs don't call for it.