Which Gas Goes In Your Repsol

[cb1974]

Hi Guys

I always use Super Unleaded in my bikes. I was curious if you guys do the same or if using the super was overkill. I have always assumed that a high performance engine should use high performance fuel. Am i wrong? If so, please set me straight.

[KSFLYER1]

With the compression of the 07, it would be Premium or greater!! :eek:

[cb1974]

What about an 05 1000rr and an 06 600rr ?

[6speed]

sticker on mine says use premium

[msalser1000]

I run 87 octane, mine runs fine. I have also run vp mr9 which is 87 octane and factory honda runs it in their superbikes.

[Big Kahuna]

I run 87 octane, mine runs fine. I have also run vp mr9 which is 87 octane and factory honda runs it in their superbikes.Ditto, however I do throw a few gallons of the higher octane stuff in there from time to time. Been running the same in my 900 for the past... oh my, nearly nine years. Still going strong with over 65,000 miles on the ticker.

[cb1974]

Thanks for the info. I have always ran 92 octane in mine and i have never tried anything lower, but i might just to see if i can notice any difference, but i am guessing i won't

[Repsol47]

I've always used Premium....not much of a cost difference to warrant using the lower octane gas.
What is it...maybe 1.00-2.00 difference(full tank)?
I spend that on various junk....coffee, gum, etc.

[LosPer]

I've been using Sunoco 94 for the extra octane. Am I wasting money?

[MikeR]

95 only the best for her.:evilgrin:

[Nakkers]

I use Mobil 8000 , its a 98 octane :evilgrin:

[ECMFab]

You guys are nuts! I use 91 only for the street. Thats the highest octane we are allowed here in California. At the track I mix VP110(which is 107 octane I believe) and 91-half and half.

[MeanMachine]

I've always used Premium....not much of a cost difference to warrant using the lower octane gas.
What is it...maybe 1.00-2.00 difference(full tank)?
I spend that on various junk....coffee, gum, etc.

Right on R47. And if you are using a PCIII (which many of us are) you need to use higher octane.

The price difference really is about a buck a tankful. If anyone's budget will be broken by a dollar then they need to sell their bike and buy a scooter! :evilgrin:

[repsol78]

I can't go lower than 95, simply because lower isn't available. 95 or 98, I chose 98, BP Ultimate or Total Excilium.

[1eyebrother]

I have always ran the highest available....93, worth the extra buck or 2....

[HARALD SPLODNIK]

87 are you kidding!!
the so called 91 premium fuel available to us here in the US is freaking garbage bottom of the barrel crap.
I guess it will have to do.
where I come from(germany) the lowest available is 95.
Performance machines like these need the good stuff and I'm sure that's what honda means by premium. 91 hardly qualifies as such and for those of you running the absolute cheapest crap availabe--BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[exit90a]

The USA has a different process used to grade our gasolines octane rating number. Our number, in general, will be 4 to 5 points lower but equal to gas elsewhere in the world. Basically, our 87 octane is = to 91 or 92 octane around the globe. This article offers a better explanation than my non-scientific babble.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

[MeanMachine]

When a manufacturer calls for premium grade gasoline its due to compression and timing requirements. Using lower grade gas can result in detonation (also known as pinging or knocking) which is very harmful to a motor.

And exit90a is correct, the calculation of octane grades is different here. The numbers do not mean the same thing.

[HARALD SPLODNIK]

AGREED-
the numbers don't match one to one, though, fact reamains that Europe sells higher octane gas at stations like--REPSOL, ELF, BP and even shell.
Seeing they've been paying around 8 bucks a gallon since forever, that's the least the oil companies can do.
Things to look forward to--here in COLORADO I pay $4.45 for a gallon of "premium" shell-----------sh..ballz.

[JohnnyComeLately]

I can hear my bike pinging with normal unleaded and "spirited" accelleration, but I can get 40 more miles to a tank in commuting circumstances (with regular).


So, for day to day riding, I run super. If I'm going to jump on the freeway and go on a 240 mile ride (each way) doing a constant 65mph, like I do for military drill every 1st weekend of the month, I put in regular. I've hit 189 miles before reserve with regular, and I'm lucky to hit 140 with Super in identical circumstances (constant 60-65, no WOT or speeds above 70).

[MeanMachine]

I can hear my bike pinging with normal unleaded and "spirited" accelleration, but I can get 40 more miles to a tank in commuting circumstances (with regular).

You get 40 more with regular because you dont drive it as hard (due to pinging) as much as you do with higher octane. Its your driving style that gives you more MPG, NOT the lower octane gas.

Mileage does NOT increase if you use lower octane gas. :weirdface:

[JohnnyComeLately]

Actually, it does increase MPG. This is why I was very careful to say, "under identical circumstances" because it's extremely easy for me to duplictate (e.g. get off highway, fill up, gently accellerate to 65, hold throttle in same spot for two hours....repeat). If I'm jockeying for position and changing speeds a lot, then yes, I lose the efficiency and will get the same MPG from both. However, when I'm disciplined, I consistently get 40 more miles. I did it last weekend. 140 on my super, 178 on regular...with both tanks running a single, constant 65. No acceleration other than the entry onto the 101/405/5 freeway (depending on where I stopped).

Lower Octane burns hotter, hence the lower rating of octane. Super burns slower because it burns cooler, hence it's ability to resist detonation (combusting too soon due, typically, to heat). In some cases, a hotter burn is more efficient. This is why some racers heat wrap their pipes. It's not (always) to protect the surrounding components from heat, rather, the more stable combustion and exhaust temp makes more power. This is why I prefer the LT-1 small block chevy over the LS-1. The LT1 had the coolant flow through the heads first (reverse flow) which benefits from the reduced temp, and then is heated before it hits the block. A higher temperature reduces friction in the block.

I have duplicated this for over a decade on at least 4 bikes.

1995 Honda F3
1995 Honda F3 (after 1st stolen)
2001 F4i
2005 CBR1000RR
2007 CBR1000RR

Sometime when I have more time, I will Google the technical explanation which I read about 10 years ago. Right now I'm just finding blogs of people who can't articulate why they disagree. I've been able to duplicate it for too long on this 500 mile ride I make once a month, for the last 5 years, to not know it's true.

I'm not worried, though...I get plenty of people who argue, and so I just say this, "Ride with me, match my speeds, and we'll see who has to stop first".

[mlcjr]

92, which up here in WA now contains a % of Ethanol.

[MeanMachine]

JCL... 40 miles more per tank on a bike equates to a 20 to 25% increase in MPG using lower octane and that is just not reasonable. MPG would be a more precise comparison since you can't possibly fill your tank at exactly the same level each time. Dividing miles travelled by gallons used is the only true measure, not miles per tankful where there are too many variables (we dont even have a damn fuel guage) and the low fuel light isnt exactly that precise every time. I get variations in mileage of 30+ per tankful and I always run 93 octane. Obviously my variations result purely from my driving.

Also, considering how much you apparently know about motors, octane ratings, detonation, etc., it seems odd that you would knowingly risk internal engine damage running low octane fuel when you admit you experience detonation doing so.

Speaking of LT1s, I built the motor in my 1995 Vette. LT1 with a custom ground camshaft, good set of properly done heads and intake, undercut valves, etc. No power adders whatsoever (and dyno tuned using LT1 Edit). 387 RWHP and 377 TQ (thats over 450 shaft HP). Redline of 7,000. Best 1/4 mile time of 11.91 at 122 mph. There was not a chance in hell I could (or would) have ever risked 87 octane fuel in that car.

Heat is not always a good thing, and too much of it will also shorten the life of any motor. There is an optimum range for everything. Also, you cannot compare a race engine to ours. They are NOT built for longevity, they are built for maximum power output and undergo periodic rebuilds where street motors do not. When racing in any sport you do alot of things that are not recommended for street motors because again, engine life is not a primary concern in professional racing, on the street it is.

Two things that affect heat output of any motor alot more than octane ratings are timing and the air/fuel ratio. Advanced timing produces more heat and, as I am sure you are aware, a lean motor gets MUCH hotter than a motor running too rich.

While we can debate this subject in perpetuity, one thing I will say that you can't argue with is this. Detonation is NEVER a good thing and is risky at best to allow it in any motor, especially in high revving high compression engines such as a bike or high performance car.

[TX Repsol]

I run 93 in the bike, 93 in the Mustang, 91 in the wife's Acura TL.

And I must say - I agree with Mean Machine on this one... completely.

[JohnnyComeLately]

I will say this and just leave it. With over 40k miles on 2 1000RRs since 2006:

I absolutely NEVER hit 150 on a tank of super. Never. No matter how slow, fast, outside temp, or technique for putting every possible last drop of gas in the tank. Same bikes EASILY hit 170 with Regular on multiple occasions (using the same fill technique), and a best of 179 when I had a back tire on cords (and in rain) and I kept it 55-65 the entire ride. I then backed that up with a near identical 172 @ 65 mph constant (no 55, unless posted 55).

Yes, detonation is bad. That's the main reason we have different octanes. The LT-1 had a low octane mode that would pull timing out in case anyone filled their tank with low octane, since it was a pretty high compression ratio for a stock-gas engine. The LS1 dropped it a bit and the pistons were less susceptible to breaking ring lands.

11.9's sounds a bit low for a independant rear suspension car with 380hp. I was running a 2-core intercooled, 9# boosted ATI procharger with all stock internals and dyno'd at 418 rwhp (running way rich due to an FMU that was maxed out on the low end). I bought LT-1 Edit but ended up selling the car because the only track (Pomona) that could handle the car dropped their street legal series. Carlsbad was only 5 miles away, but the access roads were dirt and the launch pad was garbage. Running E/T Streets dropped to about 19psi, I barely beat the 60' times I had on Potenza's at Pomona. WHen I got the car as dialed in as possible with an FMU, I would just spin all the way to third, or run a terrible mid-12 time.

I had a MSD 6 BTM so I could put all the timing in for race gas, and then dial in about 1.5 degrees per pound of boost on pump 91. I ended up selling it also because the wife did nothing but complain about the time and money I spent on the 1/4 track. I ended up selling my parts and takng a 50% loss on all the blower rebuild stuff I had ready (blower pistons, 32# SVO injectors so I could ditch the FMU, etc).

[SIXDOG]

91 always.

[TX Repsol]

I absolutely NEVER hit 150 on a tank of super. Never.

I can't really debate the topic, as I've never once run a tank through my bike that was less than 93 octane.

For me, it's like a few others said - the price difference is too minimal for me to worry about it. Even if the tank costs me one less dollar and I could actually travel 30-40 miles further on the tank, I would still run 93 octane and pay the extra cost for peace of mind.

Hell, I'm getting roughly 33-35 mpg, which is considerably better than the 14-16 mpg (combined hwy + city) I get in the Mustang (on premium fuel, no less), so I'm quite ok with the premium prices in the bike.

[exit90a]

I went for a ride through some pretty remote parts of the Appalachia mountains last Thursday and ended up having to gas up at a place that only had 89 octane. I continued to ride as I normally would and noticed no knock/ping or rough running. I didn't pay attention to mpg when I refueled with 89 but I did reset my trip meter. I'm heading back for another round with that old mountains curviest this weekend. I'll check mpg this time out. By the way, my low fuel light consistently lights at 115-120 miles and needs 3.6 - 3.8 gallons. I guess thats 31.5 mpg on average.

[jquick]

i use 91 octane natural gas :D . here in sacramento the highest you can find at most gas stations is 91.

[Repsoul]

I honestly could care less about MPG on my bike. If i'm riding 2 miles or 200 miles I always use premium. As stated earlier, the 07's tank is 4.7 gallons which equates to roughly less then $20 to fill the tank. Compared to $75-$100 to fill up my wife's BMW or my truck?? $20 bucks is a drop in the bucket if it means my bike will run smoother and last longer.
My wife and I have had this discussion about her BMW. It clearly states in the owners manual to use premium. She insists it doesn't make a difference because that's what her dad told her. However, she can't understand why the car doesn't seem to drive as well when she puts the cheap crap in it. :rolleyes:
If you have a performance vehicle of any kind, expect to use and pay for more to get more. If not, like MM said, buy a freakin' scooter or a Yugo. :p

[JohnnyComeLately]

It's not so much getting the extra MPG, because to be honest I couldn't give a rats ass going from 40 to 45 MPG. It's the fact I can skip one stop. If I get another 40 miles from 3 tanks of gas on a 500 mile trip, that is one less stop I have to make. This trip is entirely a commute (meaning straight line, and pure hell) with 100% of my focus is getting it over, and there are certain neighborhoods I do NOT want to be hitting reserve (e.g. inglewood, or generally anywhere near LAX). If I can push through to Orange County, I'm very happy.

You will hear the pinging most when pulling from a stop. While riding, you won't hear it, but when leaving a light you will. If you have a loud pipe and have taken the flapper out of your intake, you might have the sound being masked.

If cost is a factor (e.g. broke), sometimes I'll go mid grade and just not ride aggressive until that tank is gone.

TX, that sounds like what I got on my 05. I can't explain why, but my 07 gets a lot better gas mileage than my 05 did. I want to say a few friends of mine who went 04/05 to 06/07 noticed the same.

If we had 93 on pump around here, I'd buy it. The nearest above 91, is a little gas station I used to hit in Newport Beach when I raced my Trans Am. I'd hate to see what 93 is at the pump in Cali.

[SIXDOG]

It's not so much getting the extra MPG, because to be honest I couldn't give a rats ass going from 40 to 45 MPG. It's the fact I can skip one stop. If I get another 40 miles from 3 tanks of gas on a 500 mile trip, that is one less stop I have to make. This trip is entirely a commute (meaning straight line, and pure hell) with 100% of my focus is getting it over, and there are certain neighborhoods I do NOT want to be hitting reserve (e.g. inglewood, or generally anywhere near LAX). If I can push through to Orange County, I'm very happy.

You will hear the pinging most when pulling from a stop. While riding, you won't hear it, but when leaving a light you will. If you have a loud pipe and have taken the flapper out of your intake, you might have the sound being masked.

If cost is a factor (e.g. broke), sometimes I'll go mid grade and just not ride aggressive until that tank is gone.

TX, that sounds like what I got on my 05. I can't explain why, but my 07 gets a lot better gas mileage than my 05 did. I want to say a few friends of mine who went 04/05 to 06/07 noticed the same.

If we had 93 on pump around here, I'd buy it. The nearest above 91, is a little gas station I used to hit in Newport Beach when I raced my Trans Am. I'd hate to see what 93 is at the pump in Cali.

Well IF you ever do break down by LAX give me a call...I live right by it...

[Diamond Charlie]

In California we are only allowed 91 octane so I use that...my bike appreciates it.

[JohnnyComeLately]

Has that changed in the last 7 or 8 years? I used to get 93 all the time in Orange County, but there was only one station that carried it. There were a couple in LA. All were Sunoco stations.

I used to maintain a race gas station list on my personal website with a blending chart (resulting octane from mixing diff quantities of 93, 91, etc) that got thousands of hits a week back when most people didn't have a clue about the internet. I'll have to see if I can dig it up from my ancient archives (1998'ish).

[USA Saffa]

Only ever used 91. I have the option to use 100 octane, but it runs at about $9/gal. Is it worth it? Can you really feel a difference?

[MeanMachine]

Only ever used 91. I have the option to use 100 octane, but it runs at about $9/gal. Is it worth it? Can you really feel a difference?

No.

91 is adequate. There are some circumstances where higher octane will be a benefit, but for the most part nothing you will "feel".

[Spavin Stardust]

Bloody expensive gas, £1.20 (roughly $2.30) a litre:jaw::jaw::jaw:

[anthonyl]

Is there any need to put petrol additives in (05 Repsol) you know..stuff like STP...

[Roadrunner]

Only use 95

[REPSOL499]

octane is only a small part of the equation when it comes to good fuel, the best racing fuels are not necessarily higher octane. go to the vp fuels webpage and read down the formulation list of their fuels. the fuels that produce the best power are in the low 90's but the key is that they are oxygenated, all high octane does is slow down the burn and speed of the flamefront in the combustion chamber. for a bike like ours without higher compression and more advance your wasting your money using anything over 94-95 octane and probably loosing a small margin of hp

[Repsol Robert]

octane is only a small part of the equation when it comes to good fuel, the best racing fuels are not necessarily higher octane. go to the vp fuels webpage and read down the formulation list of their fuels. the fuels that produce the best power are in the low 90's but the key is that they are oxygenated, all high octane does is slow down the burn and speed of the flamefront in the combustion chamber. for a bike like ours without higher compression and more advance your wasting your money using anything over 94-95 octane and probably loosing a small margin of hp

Tell that to the Dyno... you might be surprised at the results with some 100 or 110...

I always pump 91 into the bike...RR

[REPSOL499]

Tell that to the Dyno... you might be surprised at the results with some 100 or 110...

I always pump 91 into the bike...RR

thats what the statement was based on. look at the data on vp fuels such as mr9 that has oxygen and a octane of 87, dyno'd against u4.2 at 102 octane. more hp produced with mr9. statement maybe not in all cases but that was our result done by a ama caliber technician on a dyno jet dyno with a stock compression cbr1k

[TX Repsol]

octane is only a small part of the equation when it comes to good fuel, the best racing fuels are not necessarily higher octane. go to the vp fuels webpage and read down the formulation list of their fuels. the fuels that produce the best power are in the low 90's but the key is that they are oxygenated, all high octane does is slow down the burn and speed of the flamefront in the combustion chamber. for a bike like ours without higher compression and more advance your wasting your money using anything over 94-95 octane and probably loosing a small margin of hp

Tell that to the Dyno... you might be surprised at the results with some 100 or 110...

I always pump 91 into the bike...RR

There's definitely something to the oxygenated fuel. I don't have all the nitty-gritty details, but I've heard good things about it in the past...

And from personal experience, when I run 105+ octane in my dirt bike, it really, really wakes that thing up! I'm always amazed how much difference it makes... and it smells great!

[Repsol Robert]

thats what the statement was based on. look at the data on vp fuels such as mr9 that has oxygen and a octane of 87, dyno'd against u4.2 at 102 octane. more hp produced with mr9. statement maybe not in all cases but that was our result done by a ama caliber technician on a dyno jet dyno with a stock compression cbr1k

Good point...the oxygenated thing is valid...but mere mortals like me still only pump 91...the bike is scary fast enough as it is.

[ECMFab]

and it smells great!
If nothing else...:D

[TX Repsol]

and it smells great!

If nothing else...:D

I usually ride towards the front of the pack, but when we're running high octane fuel, I ride in the back so I can smell the exhaust - it's like following a bunch of airplanes through the woods...

[Radicalr6]

You guys are nuts! I use 91 only for the street. Thats the highest octane we are allowed here in California. At the track I mix VP110(which is 107 octane I believe) and 91-half and half.

thats not true, there are couple gas stations here in so cal that offer 93 and 95 octane... but prices are rediculous... anyway why would you put anything higher than 91... unless you are racing....it is not like you will feel the difference? I mean unless your going motogp on the 405 in this traffic with 19 other riders...lol... waste of money to put anything higher... if used for street use...it burns quicker and u waste more money.. and with gas being 5+...eh that is alot of money.. I have never put 87...have you actually seen the color....its piss yellow... I USE CHEVRON 91--OR SHELL 91... NOTHING ELSE...EVERY OTHER GAS HERE IS TOTAL SHYTE!!!!!

[REPSOL499]

with a better quality fuel the benefits are not necessarily in the increase in power aspect, thats a key point as far as maximum output, but with the better fuel you get sharper throttle response and a crisper delivery of the power down low and in the on off throttle application, to say that it burns quicker is not really true, its how it burns and reacts in the combustion chamber that brings the benefits to the table. for the average guy that wants the benefits but not up to the expense, using vp c12 leaded mixed at 1 gallon to 4 gallons of pump gas will wake things up to around 95-96 octane and make a 5 gallon pale go a long ways for the weekend canyon type rider and a little bit of lead never hurts the valves and guides