My new v9

[Tkelly]

Had its first ride today with rebuilt Ikon shocks,big improvement.A real pleasure to cruise along in 6 gear on country roads getting 50 plus mph with torque on demand.It feels like an 1100 performance wise,much lighter,a perfect geezer tourer.My question is can I run regular gas?My Stelvio is fine with it,kind of a big issue these days.

[inditx]

The goldi-blocks of MG motors imho
Run regular non-ethanol
inditx

[Dirk_S]

I trust the engineers’ recommendation of 95 RON (around 90-91 AKI here in N. America), aka Premium. These motors have compression ratios between 10:1 to 11:1, and considering they come out of the factory lean anyway, why risk pinging?

[guzzisteve]

Look at what owners manual say's for octane, 89, less if lucky. It is in the EURO octane, not what we figure on ours.

[Dirk_S]

AKI (“Anti-Knock Index, N. America’s unit of measurement at the pump) = (RON + MON) / 2. In this case, (95 + 85) / 2 =90, aka Premium.

[Tkelly]

I’m interested in real world experience,anyone?

[Bulldog9]

I get pinging in all my bikes if I don't use 91 or 93. Norge, Griso, 1200 Sport, V7. Not enough experience with the V85 yet, but I assume it will be the same. The only one that doesn't is the Convert, but I use 91+ anyway. Same with my lawnmowers and gas yard tools. For me it is a protective measure when running an air cooled motor.  Not as big of an issue in cooler temps or easy riding, but in the heat, or in aggressive riding, 91+ is a given for me.

My 912E is an aircooled 4 and tolerates 87 without issue except on some hot days and strong pulls, I have had some pinging, so it gets the 91+

All that said, when I used the Stornello to commute to the Pentagon in 2018-2021, I usually used regular as it was mostly a put put back and forth, but in the summer heat, I used 91+. Thankfully, my DD takes 87 without issue.

[Tkelly]

Thanks Bulldog,makes sense ,my Stelvio is 3 years older and does fine on regular,a more modern bike should do likewise,I will see how it goes and report back.

[bad Chad]

I ran it with regular 89 oct a few times and didn't notice much difference.  As noted it calls for 90 USA octain.   I wouldn't push your luck using 87, but if you're not riding it hard in very hot weather, you shouldn't have any issues with 89.  That is a great bike Tom, I hope it does you well.

[faffi]

We cannot get anything less than 95 (Euro-numbers), with the other option being 98. I run mine on 95, which can contain up to 10% ethanol but rarely does, but fill 98 before parking at the end of season.

[TN Mark]

My bikes run better on 87 Non Ethanol than with 91 with 10% Ethanol.

[inditx]

The 2 V9’s I had ran well on regular non-ethanol
ymmv
inditx

[drdwb]

I must not travel enough, around here ( west centralMn) regular non ethanol is only available in 91 octane and they call it premium, everything else has ethanol.

Tom congrats on the new bike. Will you be riding it to the Arkansas rally? I bet it has those fancy hand warmers (not original equipment on early 2000 Californias)and a plug in for your heated gear. Ride safe.

[Tkelly]

If they run well on non ethanol87 wouldn’t they run the same on ethanol 87 ,seems logical?Any scientists on here?

[Kev m]

Couple of thoughts:

* Ethanol is a bogeyman. I don't like it for containing fewer HCs but it has never caused me a problem in the decades I've had to run it.

* Yes, in hot weather or really getting in it, I will occasionally get pinging on my smallblocks if I run less than 91 AKI. BUT, if being gentle or at lower temps or higher altitude, it's generally fine.

* "Premium" is a poor label since it's meaning varies. One station's or location's premium is not the same as another. And, in naturally aspirated motors octane requirements will vary with altitude.

[davethewelder]

I'm no engineer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night and I heard run the lowest octane with out pinging or as some call it "pinking".   LOL

[ridingron]

I've only run "regular" 87 with 10% ethanol in my V85 since new. I did put about 10 miles on what ever the dealer had in it. I've never noticed pinging or pinking with the V85. I have 5 bikes that I ride. They all get the same gas, usually Costco 87 regular (10% ethanol) because it's the cheapest gas near my house. I've never had a problem. None of the bikes are high performance but I do ride them kinda hard. I like acceleration!   

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. I have 5 bikes that I ride. They all get the same gas, usually Costco 87 regular (10% ethanol) ..

I'd be more concerned at what the ethanol is doing to any rubber that is in contact with it (and/or plastic fuel tank). Particularly on older pre-ethanol bikes, I only run E5 ('cos that's our only alternative to E10, other than Avgas). I periodically put Mannol Benzin Additive (or Stabil, if feeling rich/generous) in the tank - whether it does any good or not, is another question.
(Of course, the newer bikes are designed to handle/be resilient to E10.)

[moto]

My Alfa Romeo manual recommends premium for higher performance but notes that lesser grades are safe to use. The reason is that there is a knock sensor that the electronics uses to retard the ignition timing to prevent pinging; this retarded timing also reduces power. I think most every modern car has this feature. A question is whether Guzzis have knock sensors. If so, low octane won't hurt your engine, but only reduce power. Does anyone know the answer to this question about modern Guzzis?

[red stripeguz]

I run ethanol free 90 octane in both my Guzzis unless not available in which case I usually put just enough ethanol gas to get me to next opportunity for ethanol free. I put in regular octane once and had bad pinging anytime I'd really get on the throttle

[Kev m]

My Alfa Romeo manual recommends premium for higher performance but notes that lesser grades are safe to use. The reason is that there is a knock sensor that the electronics uses to retard the ignition timing to prevent pinging; this retarded timing also reduces power. I think most every modern car has this feature. A question is whether Guzzis have knock sensors. If so, low octane won't hurt your engine, but only reduce power. Does anyone know the answer to this question about modern Guzzis?

Knock sensors or equivalent (used in the automotive industry since at least the 90's) were mostly absent from the motorcycle world until about the last decade where they made their way to BMWs, Harley M8 engines, and I THINK maybe the V85 in the last couple of years.

I don't recall ever coming across one on older EFI big blocks/CARCs, or other smallblocks.

[Dirk_S]

My bikes run better on 87 Non Ethanol than with 91 with 10% Ethanol.

How is that possible?

[drdwb]

I'd be more concerned at what the ethanol is doing to any rubber that is in contact with it (and/or plastic fuel tank). Particularly on older pre-ethanol bikes, I only run E5 ('cos that's our only alternative to E10, other than Avgas). I periodically put Mannol Benzin Additive (or Stabil, if feeling rich/generous) in the tank - whether it does any good or not, is another question.
(Of course, the newer bikes are designed to handle/be resilient to E10.)

I will not use and highly caution against usin STABIL in any vehicle that has rubber or plastic parts in the fuel system. Several years ago I used it extensively in snowmobiles and boats, the 1987 Johnson 115 oil injected developed serious damage to internal floats and injector,first thing mechanic asked was if I used Stable and proceeded to tell me how it disintegrated internal parts.
Also using it in Artic Cat snowmobiles from the late 80’s early90’s resulted in weakening the seams on the plastic gas tanks and  leaking on 2 of my than 3 sleds requiring replacement of gas tanks.

I switched to using Sea Foam and none of my toys or vehicles have ever had problems. But I also don’t run ethanol if I can help it except in cars RV and pickup, but always the 10%.

Just my experience.

[DoubleGuzzi]

I will not use and highly caution against usin STABIL in any vehicle ..

Always interesting to get other viewpoints & experiences - warning taken onboard.
There's a real price hike here for 5% compared to 10% ethanol but I'd rather pay it for older machines.

[SIR REAL ED]

I get pinging in all my bikes if I don't use 91 or 93. Norge, Griso, 1200 Sport, V7. Not enough experience with the V85 yet, but I assume it will be the same. The only one that doesn't is the Convert, but I use 91+ anyway. Same with my lawnmowers and gas yard tools. For me it is a protective measure when running an air cooled motor.  Not as big of an issue in cooler temps or easy riding, but in the heat, or in aggressive riding, 91+ is a given for me.

My 912E is an aircooled 4 and tolerates 87 without issue except on some hot days and strong pulls, I have had some pinging, so it gets the 91+

All that said, when I used the Stornello to commute to the Pentagon in 2018-2021, I usually used regular as it was mostly a put put back and forth, but in the summer heat, I used 91+. Thankfully, my DD takes 87 without issue.

Interesting.  I never really thought about it.  I just make it a habit to run 93 octane, non-ethanol in everything other than my cars and truck simply for better fuel life.

Makes sense that air cooled motors (especially two valve) will be more sensitive to pinging due to greater temperature variation.

[SIR REAL ED]

If they run well on non ethanol87 wouldn’t they run the same on ethanol 87 ,seems logical?Any scientists on here?

Pretty much everyone on Wild Guzzi is a rocket scientist!!  But rocket fuel is non-ethanol.....

[SIR REAL ED]

My bikes run better on 87 Non Ethanol than with 91 with 10% Ethanol.

How is that possible?

The extra change in his pockets dampens engine vibration!

I thought all MG riders were aware of this phenomena.....

[SIR REAL ED]

I will not use and highly caution against usin STABIL in any vehicle that has rubber or plastic parts in the fuel system. Several years ago I used it extensively in snowmobiles and boats, the 1987 Johnson 115 oil injected developed serious damage to internal floats and injector,first thing mechanic asked was if I used Stable and proceeded to tell me how it disintegrated internal parts.
Also using it in Artic Cat snowmobiles from the late 80’s early90’s resulted in weakening the seams on the plastic gas tanks and  leaking on 2 of my than 3 sleds requiring replacement of gas tanks.

I switched to using Sea Foam and none of my toys or vehicles have ever had problems. But I also don’t run ethanol if I can help it except in cars RV and pickup, but always the 10%.

Just my experience.

That is very interesting.  I have never heard that before.  I've used Sta-Bil and never had a problem.  Including using it in Stihl equipment for 25+ years. 

Stihl mechanics have told me that chemicals in US gasoline causes fuel line deterioration.  But I have never had a problem.

No doubt plastics/rubbers vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, and I would be very surprised in their formulations are not constantly changing, year to year, and perhaps even month to month, due to improvements(?), cost savings, and availability/quality of chemical components and petroleum components at any given time.

The mysteries of chemistry and plastics rubbers continue.....  Like ethanol and plastic gas tank expansion....

YMMV is is true when is comes to gasoline, additives, plastics, and rubber!

[TN Mark]

How is that possible?

In no way, shape or form does ethanol help or promote a good running internal combustion engine. Many owners manuals suggest high octane gas. Why, it encourages a slightly slower and a ‘fuller’ burn in the combustion chamber. Non ethanol gas is just a fast ‘bang’ in the combustion chamber. Sort of like shooting a .45acp and a .40s&w if you ever done that.

Many engines don’t need the higher octane gas. That suggestion is typically in the owners manual at the request of the manufacturers legal team.

Many combustion chambers running high octane ethanol gas have a build up of carbon. Remove a spark plug, run a bore scope in the combustion chamber and take a look. Then, if non ethanol 87, 91 or 93 gas is available in your area. Try it. Run the bike as you normally do with a full tank of non ethanol. Then remove the spark plug again and take another look inside the combustion chamber. Much of the carbon buildup will now be gone.

Your favorite engine builder can tell what fuel you’ve been running either by using a bore scope or anytime they remove the head.

Again, in no circumstance is ethanol in the gas used as a performance enhancement.

The best advice is to run the lowest octane you can without pinging. A rider should also know what riding conditions may encourage pinging.

There’s a beautiful mountain I have to climb north of Chattanooga on the way to Nashville. In 6th gear at 80mph with 87 octane ethanol gas I ‘could’ get pinging. With higher octane non ethanol, no pinging.

Or, just downshift to 5th gear which also prevents the pinging.

Non ethanol isn’t available nationwide. Fortunately where I live and in much of the Southeast, it is. Typically, in 87, 91 and/or 93 octane. I have never noticed a benefit of using 93 non ethanol over 87 non ethanol.

YMMV

[Bulldog9]

In no way, shape or form does ethanol help or promote a good running internal combustion engine. Many owners manuals suggest high octane gas. Why, it encourages a slightly slower and a ‘fuller’ burn in the combustion chamber. Non ethanol gas is just a fast ‘bang’ in the combustion chamber. Sort of like shooting a .45acp and a .40s&w if you ever done that.

Many engines don’t need the higher octane gas. That suggestion is typically in the owners manual at the request of the manufacturers legal team.

Many combustion chambers running high octane ethanol gas have a build up of carbon. Remove a spark plug, run a bore scope in the combustion chamber and take a look. Then, if non ethanol 87, 91 or 93 gas is available in your area. Try it. Run the bike as you normally do with a full tank of non ethanol. Then remove the spark plug again and take another look inside the combustion chamber. Much of the carbon buildup will now be gone.

Your favorite engine builder can tell what fuel you’ve been running either by using a bore scope or anytime they remove the head.

Again, in no circumstance is ethanol in the gas used as a performance enhancement.

The best advice is to run the lowest octane you can without pinging. A rider should also know what riding conditions may encourage pinging.

There’s a beautiful mountain I have to climb north of Chattanooga on the way to Nashville. In 6th gear at 80mph with 87 octane ethanol gas I ‘could’ get pinging. With higher octane non ethanol, no pinging.

Or, just downshift to 5th gear which also prevents the pinging.

Non ethanol isn’t available nationwide. Fortunately where I live and in much of the Southeast, it is. Typically, in 87, 91 and/or 93 octane. I have never noticed a benefit of using 93 non ethanol over 87 non ethanol.

YMMV

Ohhhhh............. . A gas thread