Octane Rating

[mirider]

The owners manual for my TriGlide says to use 91 Octane fuel or better. I have been religious since I've owned it in using only Premium fuel (usually 93 Octane) but am wondering if the extra cost really buys me anything. What is the prevailing thought on this issue.....anyone using regular

 

[rhino 2]

The owners manual for my TriGlide says to use 91 Octane fuel or better. I have been religious since I've owned it in using only Premium fuel (usually 93 Octane) but am wondering if the extra cost really buys me anything. What is the prevailing thought on this issue.....anyone using regular

I use 93 almost exclusively , I'm not worried about the extra dollar a tank full...

Is 93 better, Don't know? What i do know it makes me feel better, And if it makes me feel better then it makes my Trike fell better...Thats whats called ;Monsters of the ID..

 

[frostbite51]

If me and my CRS have this right, the octane prevents knock. Running higher octane allows Harley to program the engine for more power. There are knock sensors on the engine. Should the engine knock the ECM will detune the engine to stop it. Reg. gas might knock more and leave you with less power, depends on your driving and conditions.

With a 50-60 cent diff in price I pay 2-3 dollars a tank more, but run it all the time. It's a bit more painful in my Charger, but prem. is the only pure gas I can get now so I run it in everything, even the lawnmower. Corn is for eating and cattlefeed, not gasoline...

 

[txlander]

IMO, when you fill up nowadays with multi-grade pumps, everyone uses the same hose. Almost everyone puts regular grade in their cars. That means there is regular grade in the hose and piping of the pump when you pull up to it. When you select premium, you have to pump out the residual of the previous patron. I don't know how much gas is left over in the piping, but I have always had a problem with the idea of mixing regular grade with my premium. That lowers the octane rating. If you fill up often, you may take 2 gallons of premium and 1/2 a gallon or more of low octane. I always wait until I'm nearly empty before re-fueling so that I get as much premium in as possible. It may all be psychological, but like rhino says, it makes me feel better.

 

[graygoat]

IN my area, there are several stations that offer 91 0E and that is what I use. Some still have dedicated hoses, and I will drive a few miles out of my way to fill up there. If I have to use a common hose, I wait until I am down to a quarter tank to fill up. If I have to do that, then I try to get to a dedicated hose for the next fill up. When out of my normal area, I carry a couple little bottles of octane booster, just in case. Don't know if it helps, but makes me feel better and trike seems to run fine.

 

[Fearless]

I use additive every fill up

104+ use it as directed costs a little but... Old shiney purrs on it. Low octane in pump hose has been an issue since the 360 Sunoco days of the super cars ya kno... If you think Harley choke on low octane try to feed low octane to an 375 HP. 396 in a Nova. :Shrug: ride safe Fred

 

[jc1300]

The owners manual for my TriGlide says to use 91 Octane fuel or better. I have been religious since I've owned it in using only Premium fuel (usually 93 Octane) but am wondering if the extra cost really buys me anything. What is the prevailing thought on this issue.....anyone using regular

Just one of those things I don't dwell on. I always put premium in the tank.....been in places where there wasn't any available and put in low test.....the bike ran fine.....I didn't fill it up.....but one time I was so lost I did put 2 gallons of reg. in the tank - 30 miles later filler her up with Premium. Didn't even pop. Never worried about gas in the hose....or water in the underground tanks at real old stations. It is and will be, what it is.....got enough stuff to worry about, so to me, gas isn't one of them. Just me......jc

 

[mirider]

Appreciate the comments. As I stated, I've used premium since I've had the TG. What got me wondering - I was in a small town the other day where the only gas station in town had only regular fuel which I decided to pass on. Was curious what the effect of regular gas might be.......