[Salvelinus Fontinalis]

Lets say for the sake of argument that you are out In the middle of nowhere and low on fuel. The only available gas station only sells low octane. Would it hurt the engine to run it on say 87 octane until you could find higher octane fuel? I do a lot of riding around rural backroads so it's feasible it could happen to me one day. . .

 

[Da Nurse]

I read it can be done, without harm, but switch to High Test ASAP. You do what you have to. Performance will suffer, but it is a stop gap measure.

 

[ndncowboy]

Your option is to push the bike. Now, what fuel would you use if that's all that was available? I know what I do in cases like that. And I've yet to push the bike to the next station with the right octane. It just happened in Oklahoma last week. Two pumps. One pump had low octane regular. The other pump was diesel. I made it back to Texas just fine. And not one ping either. But I didn't hammer the throttle either. You do what you have to do.

 

[Some guy named Steve]

Toss some of this in the saddle bag.
http://www.autozone.com/fuel-and-en...acing-octane-booster/84258_0_0/?checkfit=true

 

[Salvelinus Fontinalis]

Your option is to push the bike. Now, what fuel would you use if that's all that was available? I know what I do in cases like that. And I've yet to push the bike to the next station with the right octane. It just happened in Oklahoma last week. Two pumps. One pump had low octane regular. The other pump was diesel. I made it back to Texas just fine. And not one ping either. But I didn't hammer the throttle either. You do what you have to do.

I didn't ask what my options were. I'm no rocket surgeon but I'm not that dense either. The question was "will it hurt the bike?"

Obviously I'm going to do what I have to. I'm just wondering if there will be any long term consequences if I do find myself having to use low octane fuel.

 

[PUG]

Well, ok then. I think he was just giving you an option to keep from having to worry about the question you asked. The question was answered before he tried to help.

 

[Bwana6]

Depends on your altitude. Higher elevation will save you. My suggestion is to stock up on Octane Boosters like Outlaw or really anything else next time you get to the big city or an auto parts store. Then carefully measure it out and that will work. Same thing for overseas riders.
Is it knocking under acceleration? Or pinging? If not you may be OK. I'm used to 93 octance in FL and when I get here to the house in AZ its 91 octane. I researched it all and found out that elevation plays a big deal. I'm at just over 4,000 feet in AZ and at 63 feet in FL.

 

[CraigB1960]

Lets say for the sake of argument that you are out In the middle of nowhere and low on fuel. The only available gas station only sells low octane. Would it hurt the engine to run it on say 87 octane until you could find higher octane fuel? I do a lot of riding around rural backroads so it's feasible it could happen to me one day. . .

It shouldn't since I would expect the anti-knock sensor to take out any detonation that lower octane might cause. If you do have to put lower octane, hopefully it will be diluted by higher octane left in your tank. Just don't push the throttle and don't run in higher gear at low RPM (less than 2500).....keep your RPM's up until you can re-fuel with higher octane.

I've never been a huge fan of octane boast, but if you are really concerned, put a bottle of that in your saddlebag.

 

[Bwana6]

Hey I agree there. Not a huge fan of octane booster all the time but the guy says NO high octane gas anywhere where he is at. Thats why I said carefully measure it out and not like the 'fast and furious' crowd with bumble bee exhausts on Honda Civics that just dump the whole bottle in regardless of gas in tank.

 

[CraigB1960]

Depends on your altitude. Higher elevation will save you.

On a carb engine, yes. But our bikes have a barometric measurement to compensate for higher altitude, meaning the ECU will lean out the fuel at higher altitudes. It also will try to maintain 14.7:1 AFR while lightly loaded and cruising.

 

[NDN]

IMO the higher the octane the better, but if you can only get 87 of lower that is all you can do. I wouldnt run low octane gas any longer that you have to but in general it should not harm the bike or motor, unless your trying to race it with the crap. It may run a little hotter than normal and use more gas but it is temp.

 

[Fidman]

I have been wanting to ask a fuel/ octane related question - but more on the other end of the fueling spectrum - so @Salvelinus Fontinalis - I apologize for partially hijacking your thread:

What is better fuel to use for everyday refuelling:

1. 94 Octane with up to 10% ethanol blend
or
2. 91 Octane with no ethanol.

This is in Canada so using North American octane calculation. I look forward to hearing your feedback.

 

[Boosterp]

I have been wanting to ask a fuel/ octane related question - but more on the other end of the fueling spectrum - so @Salvelinus Fontinalis - I apologize for partially hijacking your thread:

What is better fuel to use for everyday refuelling:

1. 94 Octane with up to 10% ethanol blend
or
2. 91 Octane with no ethanol.

This is in Canada so using North American octane calculation. I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Either will suffice but I'd prefer the 91 without ethanol.

 

[ndncowboy]

I didn't ask what my options were. I'm no rocket surgeon but I'm not that dense either. The question was "will it hurt the bike?"

Obviously I'm going to do what I have to. I'm just wondering if there will be any long term consequences if I do find myself having to use low octane fuel.

Okay, if you want to be that way about it. Then the answer is yes it can if you continue to do it. There.

 

[muddobber]

Here is a quote from the Riders Manual:
"In the event that the recommended premium unleaded
gasoline is not available and low octane fuel must be used,
fill the fuel tank only partially with unleaded regular
gasoline, then fill the tank fully with premium unleaded
gasoline as soon as possible."
After reading this, I think it would not be good for your motor to continue to use low octane for extended periods.

 

[Our Indian And Grandpa]

On a carb engine, yes. But our bikes have a barometric measurement to compensate for higher altitude, meaning the ECU will lean out the fuel at higher altitudes. It also will try to maintain 14.7:1 AFR while lightly loaded and cruising.

Holy sh%t I thought it was just an engine and tires and stuff.....ECU, barometric pressure.........WTF

 

[Joegopher]

Either will suffice but I'd prefer the 91 without ethanol.

I will always go for the sugar-free gas wherever I can get it. The only real difference between the two options listed is how long the gas will sit in the tank? If its the last fill of the year, always sugar-free. If it's going down the road, then you can't go wrong with either.

 

[CraigB1960]

I have been wanting to ask a fuel/ octane related question - but more on the other end of the fueling spectrum - so @Salvelinus Fontinalis - I apologize for partially hijacking your thread:

What is better fuel to use for everyday refuelling:

1. 94 Octane with up to 10% ethanol blend
or
2. 91 Octane with no ethanol.

This is in Canada so using North American octane calculation. I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Number 2...91 pure gas.

 

[StephenRM]

I have used lower octane fuel when I've had to, especially when going north (Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Dawson City). It won't hurt anything. As a buddy of mine says, drop a gear and keep your revs up a bit then fill up with high test when you can.

Up to 10% blends are also OK but have a much short 'shelf life'. I think around 60 days. Not good for storage but OK it you're riding daily.

I've never used a boost but do store my bikes, chainsaws, lawnmowers... with some stabilizer in the system.

Stephen

 

[RBinTEX]

I have a 2015 Scout that is supposed to use a min. of 91 octane fuel.
I have never put anything but 87 octane in it since I bought it.
I haven't had a seconds worth of problems with the bike,