Premium Fuel??

[M50 MilkToast]

The previous owner of the '06 M50 beneath me said he always ran Premium through it and that he recommends I continue the luxury treatment. I have heard the opposite as well from friends of mine...what is the truth??

[GregR1]

generally, run the lowest octane you can get away with, which in the case of an M50 is probably water.

normally, you'd do OK with 87, but since the bike was getting 91 all the time, there might be carbon buildup and i'm honestly not sure what running 87 would do to it. you might have to get one of those engine cleaning additives, or go down to 89 for a while, or some other stuff - dunno actually.

[mtalicarox]

rtfm. then do what that tells you.

[jughead4india]

I have always used the highest octane on my bike. A few cents more per gallon don't really matter to me right now.

[mrcandyman]

the manual told me to use premium so I do. I accidentally stuck half a tank of regular unleaded in before realising my mistake once, filled the rest with premium, essentially making it an 89 octane mid-grade. It ran like crap and gave me horrible mileage for that tank. Went back to normal my next fill up. I really don't recommend anything but premium.

[shaun82af]

The manual I have says to use at least 87. I tried 92 for one tank, I think I noticed a slight increase in MPG but nothing huge. So I just 87 use now. I think most of this type of stuff is just in peoples head. Just my opinion.

[draf]

I always use PetroCanada's SuperPremium (94 octane) and the bike runs excellent! I use the best available gas and this one is supposed to clean the injectors too. I have put twice some regular 87 octane, but didn't feel a big difference... The bike just runs very well. But I will always use the best fuel on the market.

[Carlitos]

I always get better MPG with high octane in the tank. In fact, the extra MPG practically off-sets the cost difference.

[GregR1]

Originally Posted by draf

I always use PetroCanada's SuperPremium (94 octane) ... I have put twice some regular 87 octane, but didn't feel a big difference...

so why exactly would you bother with the 94 in that case? it costs more and you've just admitted that the cheap regular 87 isn't noticeably worse (or conversely, the 94 isn't noticeably better)

[hammersfan]

The manual for the M50 that I have says run at least 87 octane. From what I have read (and that is quite a bit) running higher octane than your engine needs is at best just a waste of money and in fact could make the bike run worst than it should do and get poorer mileage. I have tried different levels and find no difference so now its just 87 octane. But do you a good brand I like to user Shell or Petro Canada myself.

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by GregR1

so why exactly would you bother with the 94 in that case? it costs more and you've just admitted that the cheap regular 87 isn't noticeably worse (or conversely, the 94 isn't noticeably better)

[hammersfan]

It is a misconception that higher octane means best. It does not. Only certain engines need it, for them it is best.

[caz]

i filled up with 87 2 times and i could feel the drag on the engine.......the pick up was bad,felt rough.i prefer 91

[mrcandyman]

Originally Posted by Carlitos

I always get better MPG with high octane in the tank. In fact, the extra MPG practically off-sets the cost difference.

it definitely did for me...I only got 150km in city on mine with regular (even though it was only half a tank of regular, half premium), I always get 250-275km with premium. That is a HUGE difference. Not to mention it ran so rough...I felt so sorry for the little thing...

[GregR1]

you might wanna check your numbers - it's incredibly hard to believe that you're getting nearly TWICE the fuel economy from 91 as compared to 87. the engine is gonna pull in roughly the same amount of fuel (12:1 A/F ratio, similar rpm range used, etc). unless you're comparing 87-oct in city / traffic riding to 91-oct on the freeway downhill with a tailwind.

[Low&Slow]

I would recommend doing a search on octane ratings and what they mean. I don't want to insult anybody but if you think high octane fuel is doing you any good in a low compression engine, your smoking something.

[mrcandyman]

Originally Posted by GregR1

you might wanna check your numbers - it's incredibly hard to believe that you're getting nearly TWICE the fuel economy from 91 as compared to 87. the engine is gonna pull in roughly the same amount of fuel (12:1 A/F ratio, similar rpm range used, etc). unless you're comparing 87-oct in city / traffic riding to 91-oct on the freeway downhill with a tailwind.

What's there to check? I reset my trip odometer every time I fill up, so I can easily spot a difference

[ollirrap]

theres no freaking way you get almost double the gas mileage by just going to a higher octane fuel. if that were true everybody would pre riding with premium gas instead of 87 octane. your definatley doing something different. riding harder on the lower octane something. but not a double increase in mileage just from octane change.

[caz]

i think i did notice a differnce in mileage too.........91 gives a slightly better mileage may b not double but better than 87

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by Low&Slow

I would recommend doing a search on octane ratings and what they mean. I don't want to insult anybody but if you think high octane fuel is doing you any good in a low compression engine, your smoking something.

From what I have read from people who should know about such things, if you use high octane where it is not needed you could get worse gas mileage not better
Having said that I guess one should do what works best for them. I have heard people say they get better mileage using high octane. For me my mileage varies depending on how I ride and what sort of roads I am riding on. My low fuel warning light comes on anywhere between 230km & 260 km

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDo...ctaneFacts.pdf