Triumphrat

Dale_K · 03-22-2008, 08:24 PM

I stopped at a gas station the other day that did not sell mid-grade gas. Only choices were 93 or 87 so just for experimental reasons (and the fact I'm a cheapskate) I filled up the Scrambler with 87. I couldn't notice any difference compared to the 89 I had been using, except my wallet was fuller. I put in another tankful today. I'm listening for pinging but not hearing any. It's not too hot yet, so maybe I'll see problems when the temps rise but life is good so far.

metasac · 03-22-2008, 08:42 PM

the scrambler's an awful expensive toy for a self-proclaimed cheapskate to be risking it's health on something like gas. i'm one too, but i allow for the possibility that i'm getting ripped off in the admittedly unlikely event that there really is some kind of a benefit to using high octane... i err on the side of caution.

mine's an '01 bonneville and i feed her nothing but the best gasoline. how much extra can premium vs low grade cost per year of use? $100? i think that's worth the peace of mind. that's just my two cents.

geolpilot · 03-22-2008, 08:56 PM

You might not get any warning, but detonation can blow a hole in a piston in nothing flat. I use to top grade because, even though it calls for mid grade, I assume that the pump and hose are full of regular. That could be a significant percentage of a tank full, so by getting premium, I figure that I actually end up with mid grade in the tank.

wildchild · 03-22-2008, 09:05 PM

Midgrade gas is about .01 cent more per gallon around here lets see 3.5 gallons = savings of .035 cents not worth it in my book.

357Bob · 03-22-2008, 09:15 PM

I guess everyone dumped on you didn't they? Well let's dump on them. 93 octane gas is a waste of money. I have never used anything but 87 octane & I just now turned over 14,700 miles in less than 2 years. No knocks. No pings. No nothing. I will admit the money isn't that much but these are the same guys that buy cheap oil filters & go around turning off unused lights. The wrong jets, if too small, will be more likely to cause a ping (and a burned piston) than the cheap gas.
But one word of caution. Don't put in 1 1/2 gals. of diesel. Then it will ping. I barely made it home. But drained it out & put it in the Caprice. She loved it.
If it ain't pinging, don't fix it. Bob.

Hedge · 03-22-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 357Bob

I guess everyone dumped on you didn't they? Well let's dump on them. 93 octane gas is a waste of money. I have never used anything but 87 octane & I just now turned over 14,700 miles in less than 2 years. No knocks. No pings. No nothing. I will admit the money isn't that much but these are the same guys that buy cheap oil filters & go around turning off unused lights. The wrong jets, if too small, will be more likely to cause a ping (and a burned piston) than the cheap gas.
But one word of caution. Don't put in 1 1/2 gals. of diesel. Then it will ping. I barely made it home. But drained it out & put it in the Caprice. She loved it.
If it ain't pinging, don't fix it. Bob.

I'm down with Bob! I use 87 octane because I think that all the gas station are full of BS and that they run the same gas out of every nozzle! My bike runs no different with 87 than with 93. I run 87 in my SL500 and my wife's X3 and never have any issues whatsoever. The computers sense the change in octane, if there is any, and self-adjusts. My pop ran 87 in his 740i and it never complained. He just bought a brand new 2008 E350 and runs 87 in that and it runs fine. He runs 87 in my mom's 530i and that runs fine as well. Personally, I think it is all BS until you are running highly modified, high compression engines. Yes - all you 904's Boy's and up should definitely be using high octane, but I think it is a waste for stock low compression motorcycles and stock low compression cars. Just my silly opinion.

357Bob · 03-22-2008, 10:38 PM

Now in my 57 Chevy setting in the garage with a 74 -350 LT1 small block running 11 1/2 TRW pistons with a Lunati cam, holly spreadbore 650, 69-Z manifold, 202-160 valves I must have 93 octane. At 11 MPG (highway) & $3.50 a gallon that is a lot of money. Plus there is antifreeze getting in the oil. So it is parked until better weather to pull it apart.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t=DSCN3153.jpg

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Loxpump · 03-22-2008, 10:46 PM

I always heard that you need higher octane gas for higher compression engines, but if you don't need it it's a waste of money. You aren't getting anymore HP by just running higher octane fuel. I still run 93 octane, but maybe I should stop. Around here it is about 20 cents a gallon more.

357Bob · 03-22-2008, 10:53 PM

A person probably should be running 89 octane but I just never have. I started out with 87 & have never changed. But 89 would be a good compromise. I guess. Bob.

Dale_K · 03-22-2008, 10:55 PM

Of course cars have knock sensors, so they can adjust when fed low octane gas, but afaik the twins don't have these sensors. The car suffers lower performance when the knock sensors detect a problem but the bike won't - it'll just knock and hurt stuff. A rider ought to be able to hear it though and so far I don't. It might show up in hotter weather. If it does, I'll go back to 89. I know my previous bike, a Suzuki, had a higher compression ratio and called for only 87. It was water cooled, though.