What brand of gasoline?

[DarkCloud]

Do you get your best gas mileage with? Which K bike do you have, and how do you ride? Do you ever run regular?

Thanks, JON

[westmount]

I had a K bike for a few years... I used Shell Vpower. I thought the bike ran really well using the vpower.

My other buddy uses one grade lower on the K and says that its a perfect fit with no running problems....

:bikes

[davidk63]

I don't have a particular brand I prefer, but I will stay away from small, no-name gas stations. I always run mid-grade in my K1200GT and have had no problems. I don't notice any difference if I use the high grade stuff.

[eddie]

I use the higest octane, always have so don't know what mid-range would be like.I use Shell Vpower quite often.If not Shell, BP,Exon,or some major company.I ride an 03 GT.

[PHMarvin]

Hi, Jon,
I have 2 K1100LT's and my wife has a '94 K75. My favorite brand of fuel is El Cheapo. The K75 gets a steady diet of regular. I have run the K1100LT's on regular and never heard any pinging, but in the past I usually filled them with premium. BMW recommends mid-grade (89 pump octane) for the K1100LT's. Since I live in El Paso, TX and the altitude is about 4k ft, regular is usually 86, mid grade is 88 and premium is 90 or, more normally, 91. With gas prices as they are, and being a cheap SOB, the last time I filled the tank on a K1100LT, I put a couple of gallons of premium in it and filled it with regular. I have no brand loyalty to fuel and buy what's cheapest. However, I do carry a replacement fuel filter (Deutsch ff424 from Auto Zone - about $2 each) on each bike, just in case.

[LeeJones]

No particular brand for me, but alway premium. I have both Ks and Rs and it is always premium. I put the least expensive gas in my autos, but the bikes get the best I can find. I guess its because a car is mearly a means of conveyance, but a motorcycle is magic.

As for the brand, I can tell you that it all comes from the same tank. Gasoline is shipped from refineries in product pipelines to terminals near population centers. Yes, they have different tanks for the different grades (regular, mid and premium), but BP's premium goes in the same tank as Shell's premium as does ExxonMobil's as does El Cheapo's, etc.. In fact oil companies regularly buy and sell fuel while it is in the pipeline. A shipment of fuel may start out as a shipment by one company and come out the other end owned by another. Gasoline is the same stuff no matter who makes it. You'd be surprized how much gasoline you burn in your trusty steed was made in Europe or South America. The difference comes when they load it into a truck to take it to the gas station. The different brands inject their blend of additives into the fuel as it is pumped onto the tanker truck for transport to your neighborhood gas station. Thats where "V Power" comes in.

OK, time for an IPA.

Lee...

[GregFeeler]

Do you get your best gas mileage with? Which K bike do you have, and how do you ride? Do you ever run regular?

Thanks, JON

Premium Chevron. I have four K-bikes and some don't require premium stock but I've set the timing ahead so use it for that reason. Chevron seems to burn very cleanly and keepd the innards of the fuel system spic and span. I run 1 tank of gas with concentrated Techron added before each oil change. I've done this on all my vehicles for many years and have had zero fuel system problems. YMMV

[GPRUDD]

Premium Chevron. I have four K-bikes and some don't require premium stock but I've set the timing ahead so use it for that reason. Chevron seems to burn very cleanly and keepd the innards of the fuel system spic and span. I run 1 tank of gas with concentrated Techron added before each oil change. I've done this on all my vehicles for many years and have had zero fuel system problems. YMMV

Greg,

Is there a direct link between the tank of gas treated with Techron and your oil change or is it more to have an interval related to miles?

[GregFeeler]

Greg,

Is there a direct link between the tank of gas treated with Techron and your oil change or is it more to have an interval related to miles?

A little of both. Although Chevron makes says nothing about effects on the oil from using a concentrated Techron treatment, and I have no specific reason to suspect a tank or two "contaminates" the oil, I've seen a thread or two where some claimed their oil darkened after such a teatment. If so, then it was likely caused by very, very fine particles of carbon loosened by the Techron and held in suspension by the oil, and I think that should only be a cosmetic issue.

Still, just in case, and because I like clean looking oil as much as the next person, I do it before an oil change. Plus, that schedule works as an excellent reminder for me. OTOH, I would have no hesitation about using a Techron treatment at any time and running the oil to the next regular change. The only exception being if I ran more than three tankfulls - then my anal side would kick in. :hide

[godzilla]

...Just because that is the closest station and they have the cheapest price. I used to run the highest octane available, but my mechanic said there was no need. I get 40-43MPG. I am not picky. If the no-name place nearby was cheaper than the Shell Fast Max place, I'd buy it there. I like the places that take my card at the pump so I don't have to get off the bike and go in and pay. That's another reason I buy my gas where I do.

If I am travelling away from my usual haunts, I'll always go with Brand-Name stations, even if I pay extra. BP, Chevron, Shell, Speedway... If I have a choice of Brand-Name places, I'll pick the easiest to get in and out of, then the cheapest. I still will pump Regular in her.

I avoid the scary-looking no-name places if I can. But once in a while my Orange warning light comes on in the middle of nowhere at about 140 miles and I have to get what I can get. Beggars can't be choosers at that point.

but I have never run into any problems with gas. Maybe someday I'll do a Science Experiment and see if using a higher octane grade will give me better gas mileage.

I can go about 150 miles max on a tank on my 85 K. What range do you guys/gals get on yours?

[RustyJC]

My preference is Chevron premium because (1.) it's a Top Tier gasoline with (2.) the Techron additive package.

Rusty

[Stuff2C]

As for the brand, I can tell you that it all comes from the same tank.
Lee...

Just look for a station that pumps a lot of fuel. It's usually fresher(?), espeshally the high octane stuff.

[lkchris]

Always use top tier fuel if possible.

http://toptiergas.com/

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Midgrade, any brand, worked for my 05 LT without any issues. Once in a while a bottle of fuelsystem cleaner (use correct ratio!)in the tank helps in keeping things running well. YMMV

[Motorman]

I buy regular grade gas for my K75. I don't and never have had any "pinging" with it. If I think the injectors are starting to get a bit fouled I'll run a couple tanks of Chevron through it, still regular. If I can only buy gasahol (like AZ in the winter time) I try to buy as little as possible and burn it as fast as I can. That stuff goes sour almost while you pump it. I then try to run plain gasoline as soon as I can get it to get rid of the alcohol mix.

[fmthib]

I run whatever 89+ octane that is available. I've stuck to high test except in emergencies as I enjoy getting 52 mpg average. I suspect that when I run a lesser octane the cpu may retard the timing slightly to avoid spark knock and result in lower eficiency but i havn't got around to doing a realistic check. Aloha, Fred