Petrol Puzzled

[DarrenMember]

I was reading the manual for my bike last night (yes, I’m one of those people that actually read the whole manual) and noticed in the fuel section it said “Safe to use E10”.

Surely there would be a performance loss doing this? Lower octane = lower power, correct?

I’m from the days when it was all about “Super” (not unleaded). And we used to go buy 20litre drums of 105 Octane, 110, 120 and even Alcohol racing fuel (I still remember the smell of it).

[ChrisMember]

I for one wouldn’t let e10 anywhere near any of my bikes it’s premium or nothing, for that matter I don’t put it in any of the cars either.. There’s still a fair bit of debate re long term effects on engines with e10 and for some reason I like the Caltex Vortex stuff..

Quote from an NRMA Blog.

most small engines such as chainsaws and whipper-snippers and most Japanese motorcycles are recommended NOT to use ethanol. These vehicles and power tools will have to use premium petrol when ULP becomes unavailable.

Cheers

[ianMember]

plus 1 on the caltex vortex 98 thats all i use even on the kids bikes

[scott bockingMember]

Warning not use United 100 octane. It used 10% ethanol to get the octane up. It states this clearly on their website but I found out the hard way. It fouled my carb and I had to remove it and clean it there times in one month. I finally got it all cleaned up but it runs through your bike like paint stripper!

STM

[DarrenMember]

singletrackmind wrote:

Warning not use United 100 octane. It used 10% ethanol to get the octane up. It states this clearly on their website but I found out the hard way. It fouled my carb and I had to remove it and clean it there times in one month. I finally got it all cleaned up but it runs through your bike like paint stripper!

STM

Good advice, thanks

[ChrisMember]

Didn’t really copy and past right but you get the idea.

Petrol grades currently available in NSW*

Company

Fuel Name

Research Octane Number – RON

Description

7 Eleven

Unleaded 91

91

ULP – Unleaded Petrol

Premium unleaded 95

95

Premium

Premium unleaded 98

98

Ultra Premium

Unleaded E10

93-94

ULP +10% ethanol

Diesel

N/A

Diesel

BP

Unleaded 91

91

ULP

Unleaded 95

95

Premium

BP Ultimate

98

Ultra Premium

e10 Unleaded

93-94

ULP +10% ethanol

Diesel

N/A

Diesel

Shell/Coles

Unleaded

91

ULP

Premium

95

Premium

V-Power

98

Ultra Premium

Unleaded E10

93-94

ULP+10% ethanol

Diesel 10

N/A

Diesel

Caltex/Woolworths

Unleaded

91

ULP

Vortex 95

95

Premium

Vortex 98

98

Ultra Premium

E10 unleaded

93-94

ULP+10% ethanol

New Generation Diesel

N/A

Diesel + 2% biodiesel

Bio B5

N/A

Diesel + 5% biodiesel

Bio B20

N/A

Diesel + 20% biodiesel

E85

100+

ULP + up to 85% ethanol

United Petroleum

Plus ULP

95

ULP+10% ethanol

Boost 98

98

Premium +10% ethanol

Premium 98

98

Ultra Premium

E85 (only available in Rozelle)

100+

ULP+ up to 85% ethanol

Diesel

N/A

Diesel

Liberty

Unleaded

91

ULP

e10 Unleaded

93-94

ULP+10% ethanol

Premium unleaded

95

Premium

*not all available at all sites

[Nathan HeatherMember]

In my 300 i only run premium with no ethanol but if i have to standard unleaded seems to make very minor differences. Id never put e10 in it.

[Steve WyethMember]

I put E10 in my 300 a few times. Mainly when I was out bush somewhere, on one occassion it was the only one available. It’s alright to use from an engine perspective, though everyone with their wives tales and lack of any real knowledge will tell you otherwise.

The bigger issue with the E10 is water ingress in the fuel, this is much less prevalent in normal fuels and is the main reason why I chuck 95 in there normally, standard unleaded is fine also if you can still find it.

Running higher than 95 octane in your bike may actually make it perform slightly worse. There certainly won’t be any benefit. It’ll cost you extra money for nothing.

Steer clear of fuel from Shell, it has additives that are designed for injected engines and has been known to cause monor fowling and carbon buildup issues when used in a dirtbike. BP and Caltex are the best bets.

[DarrenMember]

moto wrote:

Steer clear of fuel from Shell, it has additives that are designed for injected engines and has been known to cause monor fowling and carbon buildup issues when used in a dirtbike. BP and Caltex are the best bets.

BP and Caltex it is then! Thanks for the good advice

[GregMember]

moto wrote:

I put E10 in my 300 a few times. Mainly when I was out bush somewhere, on one occassion it was the only one available. It’s alright to use from an engine perspective, though everyone with their wives tales and lack of any real knowledge will tell you otherwise.

The bigger issue with the E10 is water ingress in the fuel, this is much less prevalent in normal fuels and is the main reason why I chuck 95 in there normally, standard unleaded is fine also if you can still find it.

Running higher than 95 octane in your bike may actually make it perform slightly worse. There certainly won’t be any benefit. It’ll cost you extra money for nothing.

Steer clear of fuel from Shell, it has additives that are designed for injected engines and has been known to cause monor fowling and carbon buildup issues when used in a dirtbike. BP and Caltex are the best bets.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TB

[Steve WyethMember]

It’s true though, how many people that actually posted and said ‘I would never put me E10 in my bike’ actually know why they are saying that? It’s because their mate down the road with the fully sik commodore on 19’s with a phat stereo told them it was shit. Sure they’ll all come back with a cut and paste from Google now and tell us all otherwise.

Do these people even realise what the Octane rating of fuel means? I think we’ve been down this road before TiBerius

[Matt BakerMember]

E10 is shit, I got a mate with a Nissan Skyline and he told me so :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I have used E10 in my car (AU Falcon) since it first became available, 7 or 8 years? (I think, I don’t know) Never had a problem, did heaps of kms (360,000) towing bikes and gear around everywhere.

Haven’t used it in the Berg yet, the reason I use it in the car is because its cheap and the bike doesn’t use enough to worry about the saving so I just get premium.

[Nathan HeatherMember]

moto wrote:

It’s true though, how many people that actually posted and said ‘I would never put me E10 in my bike’ actually know why they are saying that? It’s because their mate down the road with the fully sik commodore on 19’s with a phat stereo told them it was shit. Sure they’ll all come back with a cut and paste from Google now and tell us all otherwise.

Do these people even realise what the Octane rating of fuel means? I think we’ve been down this road before TiBerius

Main reason i dont is cause when i run it in my car i get pretty ordinary fuel economy. The price of premium does not bother as much as the “wives tales” scare me away from it. In saying that if its the only thing there then i guess id have to.

[Dwayne OMember]

Shell V POWER or BP Premium mostly for me
I have used standard unleaded quite a bit though in out of the way places (no other choice at the time) and have had no probs at all,, Even with the tales of KTM 690 injector filter & pump woes from others :whistle:

18,000 klms on the standard pump & injector so far

[Robert JillettMember]

Great topic could go on about it for hours but wont.

Everyone to there own on this one,

It is no different to anything else you can buy for your machine there is cheap on there is good.

Low octane crap is not for me 👿 👿 It will detonate earlyer and under less compression in your cylinder. No good for your engine componates or your economy.

Just my 5 cents worth Premium all the way for me. :woohoo: :woohoo:

Cheers
Robert

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