I have bad gas all the time. Beer and seafood will do it to you.
Oh, you meant the bike!

 

I run an 07 FXTC, 10 Superglide, 10 Ultra and a 12 Road Glide on 87 octane (85 in the mountains) from the beginning and have never encountered any pinging.

The EPA mandates that all vehicles sold in the US must be able to run on 87 octane. They are also working on changing aviation motors to 87 to end the supply of aviation gas.

I do have all with oil coolers and run a better AFR than stock.

Unless the engine has high lift cams and higher compression then higher octane would be needed but not a stock TC.

Lugging will result in pinging, carbon build up will result in pinging.

Note: HD says do not use octane boosters in the owners manual.

 

"Note: HD says do not use octane boosters in the owners manual."

My Harley dealer sells octane booster- $4.95 for 2 oz. If they don't recommend. why do they sell it?? Just sayin'

In these "times of struggle economically" even the gas dealers will water the tanks a little I would suspect. I've heard of gasoline drivers saying they routinely put the low grade in the high grade tanks. Sometimes the seller pays for a certain amount for the load, say $1500.00 for x amount of gallons-- and if their low grade tank fills before they've used it all..guess where it goes..anywhere..like the high grade tank..etc..I have no proof.. this old fart just been around for a long time..Ain't the first time we've had gasoline "issues".
Just my .02 cents..

Postman
Leesburg, FL

 

This is why I use Shell gasoline whenever I can find it. Shell gasoline is recommended by Harley because they are one of the few stations that have a separate pump and hose for their Premium gasoline. I stay away from stations that use the same hose for regular, mid-grade and premium if at all possible. Also stay away from Arco gasoline.

 

I use 87 all time on my bikes, never had a problem, maybe were something else like water!

 

A bottle of additive might be a good idea for the long hauls. You never know what you might run into fuel-wise!

 

Just looked it up.....

"According to the American Petroleum Institute the gas-pump hose typically retains about one third of a gallon of fuel."

 

The Shell just down the road from me sells all three grades through a single hose, so the idea of getting pure Premium from them is out the window. Town I live in(over 50K population), there is not a single station that I have found has a pump with separate hoses.

 

I don't know what to tell you Scoobs, but even the Chevron stations around the Seattle area all have separate hoses for each grade gasoline. Maybe it's up to each individual state. All I can say is I have never had a problem except with Arco gas.
Ride safe

 

FLPostman:

He wants $ from you. Just like he well sell you not legal for street use racing components for you to use on the street.