Fuel choices?

[rokraider]

I have been running my 1150GSA on different fuels over the past few weeks. I am interested to hear whether anyone else has noticed any differences between fuels. To date Total Excellium seems to give an improvement in power as does BP Ultimate Super Unleaded. The bike is noticably snappier and smoother when running on these against the cheaper regular unleaded from the same companies.

 

[motobiker]

yes.. I've tried the higher priced - higher octanes...

but to be honest.. I'm not sure if the difference was really there... or me trying to convince myself that there was a difference to justify the higher price I'd paid.

does that make sense?

Could just as easily be that the wizz-bang additives cleaned out the injectors... who knows.

I didn't bother again

 

[meintjiesj]

Only thing I've learnt from putting in higher price fuel is, DON'T DO IT ON THE ISLANDS AND SMALL TOWNS. Two years ago on Isle of Skey two bikes put in high octane (Mille and SP1) the rest of us about 12 bikes put in normal. The SP1 didn't make it out the forecourt and the Mille couldn't get off the ferry at Malaig. Both water in the tank. The bikes were empty when we put fuel in. Famers and Island people don't waste money on "fancy" fuels so the fuel probably stay longer in the tanks.

 

[ahutcheon]

Here in NZ our "super" is 95 octane and a few places sell 98. When I run on 95, I notice a bit of pinking at low revs/big throttle openings (e.g. give it a handful at <3000rpm uphill). Doesn't do this on 98. Since 95/98 is an either/or (stations don't sell both), I just live with it/try to remember what I filled up with last time and choose gears appropriately.

 

[RickG]

The vehicles that are most likely to see any improvements from adding the higher octane expensive stuff are ones with high performance engines and sophisticated engine management systems that can also detect pinking. Their adaptability means they can do stuff like run more advanced timing to maximise the performance but retard it the moment the engine starts to pink due to the limitations of the fuel.

Less sophisticated vehicles, like 1150's and the vast majority of cars on the road are unlikley to see any noticable improvement as they are designed to cope with 'ordinary' petrol, or worse.

 

[Stewart H]

I try not to put diesel in my GS, or kerosene, but it just seems to run on anything else, these machines are not to fussy, mind you it does not seem to get hot here very often.
Stewart

 

[davegs]

Fuel

BMW recommend "super" this in europe is 95 octain, I think all this fuel business is all in the mind same as putting a loud exhaust and think you going quicker. I have run my 1150 on everything from 82 octain to 97 and
the only difference is a slight lack of power on low octain. Most of low octain stuff also involved riding at high alititudes ( 16300 ft) but the good old motronic system still gave a reliable tick over the same as at sea level.. Any problems with pinking I would think is using a too higher gear or engine probs.
Deiesl dosent work put petrol in my deisel van, thought thats cheaper and oops!, still went ok had to bleed the lift pump each morning (vapour lock)
but kept filling it up with diesel as often as poss and all was well.
Stick to 95 don't waste your cash.
dave gs.

 

[Carl]

Stick to 95 don't waste your cash.
dave gs.

+1

Have you noticed how some petrol stations are putting in more pumps dispensing the expensive stuff.... sometimes its a job to find the ordinary stuff.

 

[davegs]

Petrol pumps

Good commercial reasons for this I would assume! I've noticed this as well
as I say it never seemed to make any difference to me. Most expensive fill up
I ever had was on the M4 near the wales end, worked out at £56.00 for diesel!!. All got sorted out (credit card job) how can a bike take that much fuel of any type?.
Dave gs.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Might the ethanol in some petrol agitate a bit of rust in tanks that are just holding together? Its called e 95 over here.