The RON test results in a higher-octane value than the MON test.”, “Essentially, these numbers provide a scale to measure how much heat and pressure can be put on the fuel before it spontaneously combusts. The lack of lead is a problem though. This ensures a much longer usable life for the sensor. Handlebars look super tough, and the oversize fuel tank is good for a bit over 400 miles. Real Gaskets that is… Real Gaskets Tennessee is a manufacturer of silicone Rubber valve cover gaskets for Continental, Franklin & Lycoming aircraft engines in addition to Continental, Jacobs, Lycoming, Pratt & Whitney and Wright radial piston aircraft engines. 157 Posts . And, all other things being equal, keeping up maintenance on that machine of yours is vital to the performance of all systems. Whether your application is Aviation, racing/high performance or transportation, we offer a variety/grades or reticulated polyureathane fuel tank foam. Despite its maker’s somewhat dubious claim that the 2019 Kawasaki W800 Cafe is “all-new” for this year, and despite its underwhelming 53 MPG average fuel economy in the real-world, I’ve still picked it as the best fuel efficient cruiser/retro bike you can buy in 2020. After a few passes, regular grade might not be enough to prevent detonation so it is a smart choice to use premium at the track even if your car [or bike] is tuned on regular. While it is rare to see a race car equipped with a catalytic converter, the use of oxygen sensors on race engines is becoming more common. Pump Fuel Generally speaking, fuel must be purchased from retail petrol pumps of commercial fuel suppliers. “Another scenario where ethanol blends fail is when the fuel is stored in an open vent system. Octane ratings are important because different engines expose fuel to different amounts of pressure and heat. AvGas, also known as Aviation Gasoline, is appealing to riders because of the high octane rating, low price (when compared to race gas), and its relative availability. You can run 100 octane and not hurt engine? While I’m sure the legend (and misunderstanding) of “high octane gas makes more power” will live on, the bottom line is, unless other things are done such as timing adjustment and possibly fuel system adjustments (whether normally aspirated, fuel-injected, turbocharged or supercharged), simply pouring high-test gas in your tank won’t result in any noticeable outpouring of additional power at your crankshaft. Regular gas is designed to be used up quickly and shouldn’t be left in a vehicle that is being stored for more than a couple of months.”. The other differences between GA and airline are obvious - differences in aircraft type, equipment, and pilot training. Fortunately, we offer unleaded racing fuels to satisfy most of these race cars. TEL is a liquid which makes it easier to store and mix into racing fuel. USE CORK? Should it Be High or Low Octane for My... Top six strange motorcycle noises and what they may mean, Spring Break—the case against preventive motorcycle maintenance, Motorcycle Maintenance—it’s more When than Zen, The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance—Honda VF700C Clutch Rebuild, Top Ten Things to know about Motorcycle Batteries, Top Five Things to know about Motorcycle Spark Plugs, www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/octane-stability-high-octane-vs-low-octane-fuels, www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/beyond-octane, Spidi Bolide Motorcycle Jacket Review: Italian Style Meets Versatility, ScorpionExo Abrams Riding Shirt and Gloves Review: Comfort and Safety, Tourmaster Transition Jacket Review: Back to the Start, 2021 MV Agusta Dragster Rosso First Look (9 Fast Facts), 2021 Orlando 2 Fantasy Supercross Tips (11 Fast Facts). Scorpion Exo-R1 Air Helmet Review: Quiet Sophistication, Adventure / Dual Sport Motorcycle Reviews, 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Review: Style, Sophistication, Performance. The useful life of an oxygen sensor used with a leaded fuel is hard to predict, but one thing is certain: it will eventually fail. As the months pass during storage these unstable components react to form gums, varnishes and lower octane hydrocarbons. What does it mean for your ride? [And there are other things like the Nitrous Oxide (NOS) to increase the engine power for limited time]. When the military still had piston engined aircraft they put dye in the Avgas to identify it. Rec gas is a great choice for a wide variety of applications that struggle with ethanol. Proper operation of the piston or reciprocating aircraft engine requires considerably more attention and technical skill than does its automotive cousin. This is why the myth about high octane fuels burning slower is exactly that – a myth. This number is known as the Anti-Knock Index (AKI). GET REAL! I think it is far more informative to break down aviation statistics in ways that inform me as to my own level of risk. Moreover, there doesn’t appear to be a downside to filling the tank with higher octane fuels, other than the added cost. That’s the short version of why lead is used in some racing fuels. The only steel parts are pretty much the same parts as any other motorcycle engine – except there’s no primary or transmission to worry about. This includes some views that say running high-octane gas is virtually the same as adding horsepower to your bike right at the gas pump. 85 Years Ago Harley Davidson’s New Models Would Knock Your Eyes Out! Another advantage:  lead doesn’t have a significant effect on combustion properties like flame speed. In the majority of circumstances and bikes, using whatever grade of fuel the manufacturer recommends is probably the easiest way to get the level of engine performance you expect, without the added costs you don’t. Using a stock Kawasaki KLR650 motorcycle, the USMC created a monster that runs on, wait for it—JP8 jet fuel and diesel. As a matter of fact, leaded fuels are often credited for allowing higher compression, higher efficiency engines in World War II era aircraft. Most racers today don’t know what it was like to “fill ‘er up” with leaded pump gas.  Understandably, we get a fair amount of questions about lead and why it’s used in some racing fuels. Ethanol blended fuels can have compatibility issues with small engines or older fuels systems designed before ethanol was commonly used. This would explain why some bike and car collectors “pickle” their fuel tanks and fuel systems by keeping them full of 110 octane gas for long-term stability in storage. Boats, lawn equipment, and other rarely used equipment fall victim to water in fuel issues and can be fixed by using 100% gasoline. That is, it resists so-called engine knock caused by detonation (the air/fuel mixture igniting spontaneously due to high pressure and heat in the combustion chamber as in a high-compression racing engine) or pre-ignition where the air/fuel mixture ignites prematurely due to superheated engine components or glowing-hot carbon build-up before the spark plug fires. Usually 2-3 octane numbers lower than the E10 counterpart. “Octane numbers are measured using single-cylinder engines that look more like something out of a Model T than any modern engine. Engines must use the proper octane fuel to avoid knock and provide reliable operation.”. This may be true, but if you want the most out of your engine and want to avoid problems, AvGas may not be your first choice. Ethanol is able to absorb humidity from air and draw water right into the gas tank. These stable hydrocarbons can last two, three times longer than 87 octane fuel. Lead is used in racing fuels because it’s a very effective octane booster. Has anyone tried 100ll avgas in their TS111 after removing catalyst? I’ve even heard of riders who go out to a local airport to buy 110 octane aviation fuel in the belief that they are getting extra horsepower by doing so. After getting up to a fifth edition, Tourmaster has started over with the new Transition jacket. Increased power made some WWII airplanes like the P-51 Mustang legendary performers! Spontaneous combustion is a source of engine knock which can quickly damage an engine. The fuel still seems to go bad faster than pure gasoline, and will still draw moisture out of the air. And – being honest – I feel good about that. Two other hurdles to improving fuel economy from a motorcycle are aerodynamics and weight. We learned our lesson filling up with dirty fuel. I’ve even heard of riders who go out to a local airport to buy 110 octane aviation fuel in the belief that they are getting extra horsepower by doing so. So in earlier years, it frequently used to boost fuel capability. Even in proper storage, 87 octane gas can start to degrade in three months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to nine months before degradation is noticeable. But, by itself, just pouring some high-test in your tank won’t add horsepower. We also get questions about lead being used to keep old engines running longer.