what octane do you use
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
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what octane do you use
I have a 06 1200c, ive been using 89 octane with 10 percent ethanol for the last year, cant tell any difference than 91 octane, my question is is it the 10 percent ethanol that is making the difference. I get no ping and its running fine.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 952
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From: Great State of NC
RE: what octane do you use
My owners manual says to use a minimum of 91 octane and when I purchased the bike I was tiold to make sure to use a minimum of 91. Not sure why but the manual says a minimum of 91.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Laredo, TEXAS
RE: what octane do you use
ORIGINAL: sledgeb1
You may want to check your owners manual. My owners manual says to use a minimum of 91 octane and that using any less would void the warranty.
You may want to check your owners manual. My owners manual says to use a minimum of 91 octane and that using any less would void the warranty.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 952
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From: Great State of NC
RE: what octane do you use
ORIGINAL: titus3:5
my owners manual says 91 also, but why use it and pay opec the extra 15 cents if it runs fine on 89 with 10 percent ethanol
my owners manual says 91 also, but why use it and pay opec the extra 15 cents if it runs fine on 89 with 10 percent ethanol
Your choice but I think you will find most people baby their bikes and go above, not below the minimums the owners manual calls for. That's just me though.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: what octane do you use
The only performance difference 10% ethanol will make, is to slightly reduce your mpg. Idoubt I'll ever understand why anyone would run lower than recommended octane fuel to save 40 cents on aMC fill-up. [:-]
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 30,634
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From: Laredo, TEXAS
RE: what octane do you use
ORIGINAL: titus3:5
my owners manual says 91 also, but why use it and pay opec the extra 15 cents if it runs fine on 89 with 10 percent ethanol
my owners manual says 91 also, but why use it and pay opec the extra 15 cents if it runs fine on 89 with 10 percent ethanol
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
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From: Leesburg, Florida
RE: what octane do you use
Interesting question. I've always run the 91-93 Octane. Since that higher "octane", to my unlearned understanding, is nothing more than an addedflash-point retardent, maybe since they started adding the ethanol that it's serving the same purpose. It's tempting to say that if it's running good and not pinging, use it. At $3.25 a gallon, I may switch myself! Nah, not really... I'm cheap but not that cheap. 
Just saw your post after I posted mine, Randy. We both came to the same conclusion; your's based on uneducated thoughts and mine on unlearned understandings. Great minds think alike!
Just saw your post after I posted mine, Randy. We both came to the same conclusion; your's based on uneducated thoughts and mine on unlearned understandings. Great minds think alike!
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 952
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From: Great State of NC
RE: what octane do you use
I found these reasons on another thread. I agree with you cHarley, if you do not want to spend the extra few cents for what the bike calls for, why buy it in the first place? There are alot of places to skimp, IMO gas and oil are not two of them.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1636258/tm.htm
You need high octane in a newer bike to keep the heat down. higher octane burns
slower than low octane so it burns cooler in the engine. I thinkSHELL is the only gasoline. weather or not you use shell Just makesure it does not have methanol or ethanol in the gas this stuff eats up the rubber seals in your engine.
All Twin Cams, EFI Evo's, and the latest Sportsters require higher octane. You can use lower grade as long as you keep the RPM's up....this will prevent pinging.
When they get hot, they tend to ping just a little upon takeoff. However, it only lasts a second or two. If you hear the pinging...simply raise the RPM a little.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1636258/tm.htm
You need high octane in a newer bike to keep the heat down. higher octane burns
slower than low octane so it burns cooler in the engine. I thinkSHELL is the only gasoline. weather or not you use shell Just makesure it does not have methanol or ethanol in the gas this stuff eats up the rubber seals in your engine.
All Twin Cams, EFI Evo's, and the latest Sportsters require higher octane. You can use lower grade as long as you keep the RPM's up....this will prevent pinging.
When they get hot, they tend to ping just a little upon takeoff. However, it only lasts a second or two. If you hear the pinging...simply raise the RPM a little.