View Poll Results: What fuel do you run?
87 grade
84
45.41%
89 grade
21
11.35%
91 grade
59
31.89%
Race fuel
6
3.24%
I'm from a European country, my ratings are different
15
8.11%
Voters: 185. You may not vote on this poll
Poll: What fuel do you run in your Superhawk?
08-14-2009 | 05:06 PM
#31
Boosted
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 642
From: Sioux Falls, SD
No, it's more expensive to produce everywhere. Around here, government subsidies make ethanol fuel cheaper than non-corn.
08-23-2009 | 07:54 PM
#35
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 162
From: N. Ireland
im from the uk i run my bike on regular unleaded which is 95 RON
we also have super unleaded which is 97 RON and some fuel stations have recently started offering 99 RON
this is only of benefit on tuned cars and bikes that were designed to run on it imo, like mitsubushi evo's that have been mapped for that octane rating etc there is no benefit from running it in your bike.
we also have super unleaded which is 97 RON and some fuel stations have recently started offering 99 RON
this is only of benefit on tuned cars and bikes that were designed to run on it imo, like mitsubushi evo's that have been mapped for that octane rating etc there is no benefit from running it in your bike.
09-10-2009 | 02:19 PM
#38
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
From: Delmar NY
I suspect the fueling system in my car recognizes the good stuff and optimizes the injectors, while the hawks lowly carbs can't do any of that
09-10-2009 | 03:02 PM
#39
Thread Starter
Who are you?
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
In NY 10% Ethanol is the standard. There is a station local to me that advertises no ethanol and I have confirmed I get about a 6%-7% better mileage on my TSX. The Superhawk is another story. I think I run richer with the no ethanol fuel. I do know that my idle goes down with the no ethanol fuel and I have to adjust it up to keep from stalling. I am guessing that with this fuel the low speed jet is to rich thus lowering the idle rpm.
I suspect the fueling system in my car recognizes the good stuff and optimizes the injectors, while the hawks lowly carbs can't do any of that
I suspect the fueling system in my car recognizes the good stuff and optimizes the injectors, while the hawks lowly carbs can't do any of that
09-10-2009 | 07:55 PM
#42
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 987
From: San Diego, CA
Ethanol has about 65% of the energy of gas. 90% gas and 10% ethanol gives you about 96.5% of the energy of pure gas.
Also, in CA at least, the 10% ethanol is a maximum, so they could be putting in some amount less than that. Ethanol has a higher octane rating so I assume that means they're mixing it with lower octane gas to get to 87?
09-10-2009 | 09:13 PM
#43
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,611
From: Belgium, WI
Well, in fact, he is giving it the right amount of credit. It really is a matter of a chemistry problem. FI vehicles use an O2 sensor to monitor the air fuel mixture. The algorithm in the computer is look for "x" AMOUNT O2 in the exhaust. When the vehicle uses an oxygenated fuel like alcohol, the stoichiometric ration is different than pure gasoline, causing it to see this as a "lean" condition, or too much O2, and enriches the short term fuel trim until the correct amount, "x", is reached. If that fuel is used consistently, that enrichment becomes part of the long term fuel trim logic.
Is it recognizing the fuel, no. Is it recognizing the O2 levels, yes.
Is it recognizing the fuel, no. Is it recognizing the O2 levels, yes.
09-10-2009 | 09:24 PM
#44
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,451
From: San Clemente, CA
I've heard this many times, although it doesn't quite add up, so there's got to be something else to it.
Ethanol has about 65% of the energy of gas. 90% gas and 10% ethanol gives you about 96.5% of the energy of pure gas.
Also, in CA at least, the 10% ethanol is a maximum, so they could be putting in some amount less than that. Ethanol has a higher octane rating so I assume that means they're mixing it with lower octane gas to get to 87?
Ethanol has about 65% of the energy of gas. 90% gas and 10% ethanol gives you about 96.5% of the energy of pure gas.
Also, in CA at least, the 10% ethanol is a maximum, so they could be putting in some amount less than that. Ethanol has a higher octane rating so I assume that means they're mixing it with lower octane gas to get to 87?
09-10-2009 | 09:31 PM
#45
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 363
From: Shreveport / Bossier City
Before i worry about what octane, i worry about who the fuel supplier is for each station..
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
09-10-2009 | 10:05 PM
#46
Thread Starter
Who are you?
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
Well, in fact, he is giving it the right amount of credit. It really is a matter of a chemistry problem. FI vehicles use an O2 sensor to monitor the air fuel mixture. The algorithm in the computer is look for "x" AMOUNT O2 in the exhaust. When the vehicle uses an oxygenated fuel like alcohol, the stoichiometric ration is different than pure gasoline, causing it to see this as a "lean" condition, or too much O2, and enriches the short term fuel trim until the correct amount, "x", is reached. If that fuel is used consistently, that enrichment becomes part of the long term fuel trim logic.
Is it recognizing the fuel, no. Is it recognizing the O2 levels, yes.
Is it recognizing the fuel, no. Is it recognizing the O2 levels, yes.
09-10-2009 | 10:45 PM
#48
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,451
From: San Clemente, CA
09-12-2009 | 01:19 PM
#49
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
From: Delmar NY
I've heard this many times, although it doesn't quite add up, so there's got to be something else to it.
Ethanol has about 65% of the energy of gas. 90% gas and 10% ethanol gives you about 96.5% of the energy of pure gas.
Also, in CA at least, the 10% ethanol is a maximum, so they could be putting in some amount less than that. Ethanol has a higher octane rating so I assume that means they're mixing it with lower octane gas to get to 87?
Ethanol has about 65% of the energy of gas. 90% gas and 10% ethanol gives you about 96.5% of the energy of pure gas.
Also, in CA at least, the 10% ethanol is a maximum, so they could be putting in some amount less than that. Ethanol has a higher octane rating so I assume that means they're mixing it with lower octane gas to get to 87?
I have nothing remotely repeatable about my Superhawk rides so I cant conclude anything about the non ethanol gas in my bike other that I have to turn up the idle slightly as compared to the ethanol spiked gas.
09-16-2009 | 07:56 AM
#50
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 277
From: south nj (philly area)
Before i worry about what octane, i worry about who the fuel supplier is for each station..
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
"
09-16-2009 | 09:51 AM
#51
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 427
From: Honolulu, Hawaii USA
I use 87 octane. We use "corn gas" (ethanol) here in Hawaii by State decree. Once every couple of months I will run a couple gallons of 100+ octane through it even though doing this probably has minimal effect on engine health. The exhaust smell from the high octane gas is very different from the 87 stuff.
09-16-2009 | 10:18 AM
#52
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
From: Delmar NY
I use 87 octane. We use "corn gas" (ethanol) here in Hawaii by State decree. Once every couple of months I will run a couple gallons of 100+ octane through it even though doing this probably has minimal effect on engine health. The exhaust smell from the high octane gas is very different from the 87 stuff.
12-05-2009 | 10:33 AM
#54
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 19
Last Summer I repeatedly took the carbs off my sooz 750 to fix problems. I noticed after a 2-3 week period the ethanol seperated from the Gasoline. Small light brown blobs were floating on the bottom of the carb float bowls. It also froze all the jets on a friends bike because he let it sit too long. I now use a stabilizer or fuel treatment on any fillup. Especially on lawn mowers or snowblowers. Machines that may sit for a while without usage are at the highest risk. Car is unnecessary because its driven daily.
12-06-2009 | 02:12 PM
#56
Wrench Bender
Squid
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 96
From: Auburn, CA
If you only ride occasionally, go to your local small airport a befriend a pilot. Airplanes run on 100 low lead. My SH loves this stuff. 100 octaine, NO ethonal (proven to be so bad for engines that is is banned from use in aircraft), and has addatives to prevent varnishing. This fuel stays good for years in the tank.
12-06-2009 | 03:03 PM
#58
OCMD honorary member
Superstock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
From: Olympia, WA
Before i worry about what octane, i worry about who the fuel supplier is for each station..
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
I have a serious issue with ethanol. I work in the fuel industry and i have pulled out the sludge that water + ethanol + fuel create. normally fuel and water seperate, (and they set the tanks at an angle to try to keep the water out of your fuel) but we have noticed that with the addidtion of ethanol, they are starting to gel and bond together. Since working here, there are only a few gas stations that i will use (Valero being the main one) because of the quality of fuel and the lack of ethanol they use.
If you guys saw the amount of sludge i have pulled out of shell station tanks, you would probably **** yourselves.
Valero stations (at least around me) have the highest standards for tank testing and cleanout.
The same goes for ultra low sulphur diesel. That **** is causing more problems than freightliner and international know how to deal with.
I guess on the bright side someone is going to have to fix all these engines/problems, thus more jobs will be created. I'm seeing fuel go "stale" or "gum/jell" in as little as three weeks just sittng in small engines. Carb clean. Bummer.
12-07-2009 | 02:53 PM
#60
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 987
From: San Diego, CA
I've heard it's due to the ethanol reacting with the water in the gas.
Kinda reminds me of the problems with Dexcool. Works perfect in a laboratory, but in the real world, in a cooling system with air in it, it turns to jell-o.
