Regular vs Premium gas?

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Sloopy

Sloopy

Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
371
Location
Sonora
There is a ride I like to do that requires two fill ups. First one I can get Premium, however the second stop I have to back track on a different rd 10 miles to get premium. If I don't do this I can get gas after about 60 miles total but only regular is available.

In this scenario I would add about 2 gals of regular to my mix until my next fillip at about 70 miles. Most of this tank would be burned about 5K ft to 9.5K ft.

Question is; back track, add regular and keep RPM below 8K with no more that 3/4 throttle, or fill with regular and not worry about it?
 
I personally would never put less than premium in a sportbike. California's 91 is already pisstane, I wouldn't dare put 87 in it. Go out of your way n put premium in it.
 
At that elevation I doubt you'll have any trouble. If you hear it knock at WOT you'll know better next time, and you can just back off until you can top it up with premium.
 
Does Ducati specify 89 Octane minimum? Because my 2010 R1 requires 91 Octane, and it doesn't make nearly as much power as the Panigale. Just boggles my mind if its true.
 
Simply a matter if compression ratio and burn rate. The Japanese are in love with compression, as they should be, so their bikes generally require high octane fuels.

Higher elevation yields lower cylinder fill so less cylinder pressure is realized. That means less power, but less propensity to knock.
 
I love hearing these Regular vs Premium arguements... It's been quite a while since I've heard one for motorcycles.

That being said, I think the better question is why aren't you running race fuel? :)
 
Just don't stay in too high of a gear either. Bogging, lugging the engine up hill on cheap gas can knock as well.
 
I realize the lower power output due to air density. Just can't help but be concerned.
 
i have a pump near my house that has 100 octane...can i use that every now and then? or is it bad???
 
JArnold said:
I love hearing these Regular vs Premium arguements... It's been quite a while since I've heard one for motorcycles.

That being said, I think the better question is why aren't you running race fuel? :)
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Three times the cost, equal or less power (generally), and ruins catalytic converters if they're installed (again, unless you get unleaded race fuel). Good enough for ya? :rolleyes:

Yes....I know you're kidding. ;)
 
azimmerlyjr said:
i have a pump near my house that has 100 octane...can i use that every now and then? or is it bad???
Click to expand...

No need. Higher octane does NOT mean more power. Generally the additives used to inhibit combustion (octane is a measure of resistance to combusting) are less calorific than plain old gasoline, so you actually lose power unless your engine actually needs the higher octane because of increased compression.
 
Cloner said:
No need. Higher octane does NOT mean more power. Generally the additives used to inhibit combustion (octane is a measure of resistance to combusting) are less calorific than plain old gasoline, so you actually lose power unless your engine actually needs the higher octane because of increased compression.
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I appreciate the info! that's what I was thinking, just needed to hear it lol. thanks!
 
Cloner said:
No need. Higher octane does NOT mean more power. Generally the additives used to inhibit combustion (octane is a measure of resistance to combusting) are less calorific than plain old gasoline, so you actually lose power unless your engine actually needs the higher octane because of increased compression.
Click to expand...

And here I thought the Panigale could actually make proper use of and more power with 100 octane due to its 12.5 to 1 compression ratio? :eek:
 
The higher the octane the less prone to detonation or pre-ignition caused by pressure. If tuned for the higher octane fuels you can make more power with more timing.

It doesn't hurt to run higher octane fuels but the benefits can not be realized unless it is tuned for it.
 
leftcoast32 said:
The higher the octane the less prone to detonation or pre-ignition caused by pressure. If tuned for the higher octane fuels you can make more power with more timing.

It doesn't hurt to run higher octane fuels but the benefits can not be realized unless it is tuned for it.
Click to expand...

One would expect a high compression, high performance engine like the Panigale's to be tuned for it.
Once the PCV ignition module for the Panigale is released I will add it to my PCV with autotune and explore those avenues. :cool::D
 
funny. lowest octane is 95 in Switzerland. I always fuel 98, but no tuning on the bike. so it's more a psychological thing: giving my baby the "best" available :)
 
Gecko said:
funny. lowest octane is 95 in Switzerland. I always fuel 98, but no tuning on the bike. so it's more a psychological thing: giving my baby the "best" available :)
Click to expand...

I am sure her ecu would allow the timing to advance to a certain extent when using a higher octane fuel. :cool:
 
Gecko said:
funny. lowest octane is 95 in Switzerland. I always fuel 98, but no tuning on the bike. so it's more a psychological thing: giving my baby the "best" available :)
Click to expand...

Remember you are looking at RON numbers in EU. Those posted here (NA) are based on the (R+M)/2 formula. The octane rating shown in Canada and the United States is 4 to 5 points lower than the rating shown elsewhere in the world for the same fuel.
 

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