Octane booster

[hARLEY jOE]

Just wondering what brand everybody is using, those of you who do use it? I'm wondering if any particular kind is better or more economical to use.
thanks

[Rod69]

Last year at Maggie Valley OL Bandit told me he used StarTron Enzyme fuel treatment. It Disapates the water in gas, and prevents ethanol fuel problems. He gave me a bottle so I could find it. It treats 1oz to 6 gals of gas or desiel. Ol Bandit said he got better fuel milage. I tried it and I do get better fuel milage and the trike seems to run better. Around here it costs $7.99 for an 8 oz. bottle.

[ben721364]

If the engine is pinging on the fuel grade recommended by the engine manufacturer, I would suggest finding and fixing the problem rather than relying on an octane boosting additive except in an emergency.

[rmrc51]

Here's another vote for StarTron Enzyme fuel treatment.

My service manager recommended it along with the Power equipment repair facility in town who service tractors, mowers and other gasoline engine power equipment.

[msocko3]

To answer the OP's question, back in 2010 when I was running the SE255 cams in the 2010 Triglide I owned I carried 108+ octane booster and had to use it on several occasions because I could not get the correct fuel and my choice was 87 octane or nothing.

On a day to day basis I would not run octane booster just for the heck of it, I do however run Startron in both my 06 Ultra Classic with a 120" engine and my 2012 GL1800. As Rod69 says its a fuel treatment, its not an octane booster. I use it for its fuel stabilizing properties because there are times where one bike or the other may set for a few weeks while I'm riding the other.

[GARYD]

Never used any kind of fuel additive except StalBil when I use to store the bike over the winter years ago.
I've never used anything other than 87 octane fuel and during the winter I may go 2,3 or 4 weeks before being able to go for a ride. I have never had a problem. Gas is already too expensive so I'm not going to add any more cost to it.......IF I don't have to.

Many times I've used gas (lawn mower-snowblower and even my TG) stored in a 2 gal. or 5 gal. container that was at least a year old and never had any problems.

I guess I'm just lucky when it comes to fuel.

I can't remember ever having fuel problems of any kind.......other then running out of it a couple times.

[Bill Reber]

I have found stations that sell E 0 fuel and I use that when I find it . as luck would have it the "ENERGY" station just across the street from my development sells Ethonol free fuel as High test The mid grade is 5% Ethonol I use that in my cars and Bikes and yes I get better fuel milage then if I us E10. It cost about two bucks more per fill up but the exter milage I get is worth it.

[Thomkm]

Never used any kind of fuel additive except StalBil when I use to store the bike over the winter years ago.
I've never used anything other than 87 octane fuel and during the winter I may go 2,3 or 4 weeks before being able to go for a ride. I have never had a problem. Gas is already too expensive so I'm not going to add any more cost to it.......IF I don't have to.

Many times I've used gas (lawn mower-snowblower and even my TG) stored in a 2 gal. or 5 gal. container that was at least a year old and never had any problems.

I guess I'm just lucky when it comes to fuel.

I can't remember ever having fuel problems of any kind.......other then running out of it a couple times.

I agree, I have always used 87 octane fuel and have not had a problem...

[msocko3]

I agree, I have always used 87 octane fuel and have not had a problem...

Only time I was ever able to run 87 octane was in my 05 Electraglide which at the time was still 88", I could run it in the cooler weather. Once the ambient temps got into the mid 70's the bike would kick back on the starter and start hard. If running 87 just be aware you can have some pinging going on and never hear it until the damage is done. The shock waves from the pinging weaken the casting of the piston which can lead to it cracking.

This piston was damaged from inaudible pinging.

[GARYD]

msocko3, how long will it take to do that kind of damage?

Like I've said, I've been using 87 since forever and not had one engine problem.

Never used premium, never will.

Maybe some day I'll have a problem, but that's something I'll have to live with IF it happens. I have a stock engine with no mods - if I did I'd probably have to use a more expensive fuel. That's why I stay stock.

[msocko3]

msocko3, how long will it take to do that kind of damage?

Like I've said, I've been using 87 since forever and not had one engine problem.

Never used premium, never will.

Maybe some day I'll have a problem, but that's something I'll have to live with IF it happens. I have a stock engine with no mods - if I did I'd probably have to use a more expensive fuel. That's why I stay stock.

There is no telling when it will happen, it may happen within miles or it may never happen, its just the luck of the draw. That is one reason some builders use forged pistons in higher compression builds, there is a chance of pinging which may not be heard. A few years ago I saw a picture of a cast piston which had the ring lands broke from pinging, the owner said he never heard it ping.

I've used either TTS or the old SERT data logging to chase down any stray pings in a build before, found hits where the ion sensing caught it and pulled some timing and I didn't even hear it happen. The down side is by the time ion sensing catches it the pinging has already taken place. You could look at your spark plugs periodically for freckles like the one pictured below, you'll normally catch them on the porcelain.

[sportytrike]

I'm not trying to be smart or anything but the little bit extra it costs to put premium in a motorcycle tank seems small to me when compared to the chance you take with additives. If you factor in the cost of the additive itself it's even smaller.

[mopar]

If you have pinging and must run booster, I try to find a product which uses a metal additive such as TEL (tetraethyl lead). Boosters which use petroleum distilates only, usually only boost a minute amount. One common misunderstanding when choosing boosters is what a "point" is. If it raises your octane six "points" that is actually .6 octane. So 87 would go to 87.6. Also be aware running some high performance boosters can upset O2 sensors.

[Sloufoot]

If you have pinging and must run booster, I try to find a product which uses a metal additive such as TEL (tetraethyl lead). Boosters which use petroleum distilates only, usually only boost a minute amount. One common misunderstanding when choosing boosters is what a "point" is. If it raises your octane six "points" that is actually .6 octane. So 87 would go to 87.6. Also be aware running some high performance boosters can upset O2 sensors.

I wouldn't put anything like tetraethyl lead in with O2 sensors or a cat ! It will mess up both in a heart beat !
I run Lucas booster, or 104 booster. Both are compatible with the O2"s.pepper

[msocko3]

I wouldn't put anything like tetraethyl lead in with O2 sensors or a cat ! It will mess up both in a heart beat !
I run Lucas booster, or 104 booster. Both are compatible with the O2"s.pepper

Lead will give a cat lead poisoning and kill the O2 sensors pretty quick. Folks want to always read the lable on octane boosters to make sure they are O2 sensor safe.

[hARLEY jOE]

thanks for all the good info. I appreciate it.

[GARYD]

sportytrike, you make a good point. That's why I don't use anything other then straight 87 gas - no additives.

msocko3, The computor will adjust any pinging problems so I'm not worried about unheard pinging.

[GARYD]

I will try to attach the article in MCN on octane boosters and other additives.

[GARYD]

Here is the article - hope this works


Guess not - I'll try again

[GARYD]

Tried again nothing. It says the file is too big at 817k and all we have a paltry 19k limit - ridiculous.

No problem on other forums.
It's just a single page - how can it be so big - or why is this forum so small?

Oh well, I guess you'll just have to buy the mag or go on line to Motorcycle Consumer News.