premuim unleaded/unleaded

[Ubertours]

I had an american market Hayabusa at one time, which according to the book ran on 2 star.

[virginiajim]

And higher compression ratios....which ours does get to when it's being thrashed.  However, your low grade fuel is higher than our premium here...I think...so buying what you call premium in the UK would seem a bit of a waste to me unless I've totally got this wrong.

[Rusty]

Hmmmm .. interesting especially from Charlie and Viper .. I shall try every 4th and see if there is a difference, or perhaps for my upcoming trip to The Highlands I shall put in premium for a few days and see if there is any difference ... thank you chaps for your info . 

[Andy]

http://www.pencilgeek.org/2009/05/octane-rating-conversions.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating#Difference_between_RON_and_AKI

http://youtu.be/TxKokBIOCv4

[keith]

There was a program on this a few months ago where they tested equal amounts of standard and premium unleaded from various suppliers and they concluded the power gains and extra mileage obtained by the premium fuels were barely noticeable and certainly not worth the extra cash. I think they are a rip off too.

fifth gear did an article on the benefits of the premium and ordinary fuels,no difference ,infact if i remember corrctley in some cases the premium fuel did less mpg and was down on power output to the ordinary fuel. i also think it is a rip off!!!

[Andy]

fifth gear did an article on the benefits of the premium and ordinary fuels,no difference ,infact if i remember corrctley in some cases the premium fuel did less mpg and was down on power output to the ordinary fuel. i also think it is a rip off!!!

YouTube video posted earlier in thread

http://youtu.be/gQghB4asSnI

Turbo charged car produced more BHP on higher octane fuel. Car compression ratio probably less than 'GTR's 10:1 (some bikes are more than 13:1) but lower compression ratio is normal on vehicles with forced induction. USA racers suggest 100 octane (104.8 Euro) in 10:1 engines.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14919

[aljaxon]

I have a two stroke and have holed pistons twice thanks to crappy fuel
the best petrol is ethanol free
take your carbs to bits on an old bike and see the staining and corrosion especially of some rubber going on with ethanol

I buy premium every time. im not gonna spend 8 grand on a bike and then scrimp over a few pennies on something that can be almost as good for mpg performance but doesn't  always  have detergents
same with my oil and in fact everything, chains tyres pads etc, I buy the best I can afford
two stroke oil takes penny pinching over quality to even higher levels
you can buy two stroke oil for 3 quid a litre and a lot do yet I buy 10 quid a litre stuff

our bikes run lean and in eco mode run even leaner and the last thing I want is a lower octane rating
the higher the better surely?
doesn't it say on the tank minimum 95 ron? implying higher is better?

[O.C.]

I have a two stroke and have holed pistons twice thanks to crappy fuel
the best petrol is ethanol free
take your carbs to bits on an old bike and see the staining and corrosion especially of some rubber going on with ethanol

I buy premium every time. im not gonna spend 8 grand on a bike and then scrimp over a few pennies on something that can be almost as good for mpg performance but doesn't  always  have detergents
same with my oil and in fact everything, chains tyres pads etc, I buy the best I can afford
two stroke oil takes penny pinching over quality to even higher levels
you can buy two stroke oil for 3 quid a litre and a lot do yet I buy 10 quid a litre stuff

our bikes run lean and in eco mode run even leaner and the last thing I want is a lower octane rating
the higher the better surely?
doesn't it say on the tank minimum 95 ron? implying higher is better?

If your stroker is an 'older'machine I would recommend that you use Frost Ethomix.  I have used it in 2 srtroke bikes successfully for quite some time  it counteracts the E5 additive and will also help protect your carbs and tank lining (if yoyr tank has been lined)

Just a thought   

[aljaxon]

If your stroker is an 'older'machine I would recommend that you use Frost Ethomix.  I have used it in 2 srtroke bikes successfully for quite some time  it counteracts the E5 additive and will also help protect your carbs and tank lining (if yoyr tank has been lined)

Just a thought   

I read about that frost stuff a couple of years ago luckily the tank has never been rusty enough to be lined, heard of horror stories of ethanol bringing the liner off!! ive had two rubber pipes leak and the orange dust everywhere in the float bowls makes you think twice
a very rough rule of thumb ive been told is cheaper fuel = more ethanol
although isn't ethanol used to give the fuel its octane rating? so more ethanol = higher octane?
ethanol is good at preventing knocking but rubbish against detonation but once you get deto its anti knocking properties disappear hnence so many two strokes holing pistons
might be other way round good at deto crap at anti knocking or pre ignition
ether way its miles worse than lead ive been told.
even if im being conned into buying premium as its no better in real terms performance wise,   if on the whole its better as it has detergents and higher octane then that's good enough for me
I open my throttle fully quite a lot  on all my bikes and last thing I want is deto or preignition

[davetherave]

    thats what i do, always run 98 ron in france, not bothered about MPG as the premium costs more anyway but it does seem to increase.

Correct, DON'T USE E10 fuel in France, the E10 stands for 10% Ethanol which isn't healthy for bike engines.

I work for Castrol and years ago one of our developement chemists told me in most cases the premium fuels weren't worth the extra but for peace of mind maybe use a fuel additive once in a while.

[doebag]

The handbook states for UK models equal to or higher than RON 95, and specifically NOT to use 10% Ethanol fuel.

[virginiajim]

Are your fuel systems different from ours?  All we have over here in the US is E10.  You can find pure gas in some of the smaller fuel station but they are few and far between.  They want to stuff E15 down our throats but they (guvmint) are getting a bit of pushback on that as none very darn few vehicles can run that crap.  The ethanol lobby is pushing that but we've been running E10 for years.  It's crap gas but what can you do?  Basically the carb equipped vehicles are paying the price for E10, not so much with FI.

[O.C.]

E5 = 5% additive E10= 10% additive. 

Additive is cheaper than fuel and more harmful to older engines than none additive fuel.  Ergo respective governments make more profit from fuel sales.

Fuel with E5 additive plays havoc with older bikes especially those which may have their tank lined with some non rethanol resistant material, it can also make a right old mess of carburettors and, if left, is a nightmare to clean/remove.....believe me I know from bitter experience.   

[aljaxon]

is it true (to those petrol experts out there) that as a general rule of thumb,  cheaper (supermarket) petrol has more ethanol?
ive been trying to stick to shell v power or bp ultimate to stay away from ethanol

but then my pal told me tescos petrol stations use esso which is still ethanol free....

my rd 350 holed the left piston and the left crank seal  shows signs of weeping
that could either be ethanol damage or damage AFTER the hole with all the debris flying around

us 2 stroke heads are conditioned/brainwashed into using as high an octane rating as possible and so to us, people using cheaper lower octane fuel just to scrimp and save a few pennies are thinking more about their bank balance then the health of their engines

its all about being kinder to your engine, not necessarily performance /mpg for less money
obviously it isn't as critical to our modern injected engines as it is on older stuff but there must come a point where its worth a few pennies just to be nicer to your engine?
I always go for the most expensive motor oil too, as that is bathing your motor 24/7 and its all about treating your motor kindly
I know that lots(most) don't bother and put cheapest oil/grease/filters/fuel/pads or indeed any consumable and don't experience any problems
they wont obviously but isn't it nice to know you are at least doing your bit to give the motor am easier life?