Octane additives

[rbryson]

What are the most common brands? My bike pings under load. All the gas in my area is mixed with 10% ethanol.I ride a '76 R90/6.

[Boxerkuh]

I commute daily and every two weeks when I get gas I add 3oz of Chevron Tech Carburator and Fuel injection cleaner. My Airhead guru suggested that I do that. No pinging so far.

[20774]

What are the most common brands? My bike pings under load. All the gas in my area is mixed with 10% ethanol.I ride a '76 R90/6.

What's the compression? How's your timing? These are probably the things that are making your bike ping. Have you got the right plugs? Are you running the highest octane? You can try most any octane booster sold OTC, but suggest you make sure the bike is in top shape. Maybe you have so much carbon build up inside the combustion chamber that there is an increase in compression ratio and/or there are glowing embers that have a tendency to ignite the fuel charge prematurely. Could be time for a top end.

[72598]

I have had this problem with several bikes running the Ethanol. They do not sell it most places in Colorado. (however it is the norm ONLY on Front Range from Springs to Wyoming) I called the Denver Chamber and was given the location of the ONLY metro station that sell REAL gas (however open only 8-5:30 and gouge on prices, where I live Ethanol and Real gas the same price in Denver real gas is 22 cents more)

About 18 years ago in California I bought a product called "Oxygenated Fuel DE-Oxygenizer" but haven't seen it since.

On way to National this year bike was running great until I had to fill up in Greeley,CO then it ran like ****. (Same problem on way to Sturgis and this was with a Gold Wing) Upon filling with REAL gas in Cheyenne it ran normal again, same problem on way back. (I didn't know about one non-Ethanol station in Denver at that time)

[lkchris]

You are using premium fuel, correct? That's the requirement.

BTW, the ethanol folks will tell you their product increases octane. It's NOT the problem here.