Pinging??

[Cajunrider]

Has anyone noticed more pinging lately with 93 octane fuel? I filled up this morning with Chevron 93 octane and my bike started pinging when twisting the throttle moderately. My son told me that the ethanol they are blending into the gasoline is causing the abnormal pinging. He said he is having the same problem with the Chevron gas in his Vulcan 900 Classic LT. He said he switched to the Exxon 93 and all is well. I have the stock air intake with de-baffled stock pipes. I think a good cure may be a TFI. Do you guys agree?

[cactusjack]

I've never used 93 octane. 91 is as high as it gets here. I had a horrible pinging problem, I was running 91 octane exclusively because although it still pinged, it wasn't as bad as it was running 87 or 89. I'm sure the heat here has something to do with it, because the pinging vanished when I'd get out of the heat, but then I'd be at higher elevations, 4000'. I can't say if it was the altitude or the lower temperatures that helped.

The pinging was my main reason for adding the Cobra FI2000R and doing the Caddmann on the right side. That took care of my pinging and I now run 87 or 89 with no problems, any time of year.

[phenrichs]

I have noticed a problem with my nomad using ethanol blends. Here in the upper midwest ethanol is everywhere and you can get it from 10% to 85%. I was able to run it in my vmax no prob but the nomad can only use it if it is very hot outside. I am talking a steady 90+. I will use regular 87 octane before I will use ethanol in it. I recommend using a non ethanol fuel whenever possible and most run the lowest octane they can get without pinging.

[VulcanE]

Here in Georgia, any gas you find will have a minimum of 10% ethanol. That's 87, 89, 91, or 93 octane. The last 2 or 3 times I have used Chevron, my bike ran like CRAP. I used to like Chevron, but now I stay away from it. It even made my Jeep run rough.

[blowndodge]

TFI no ping on regular

[macmac]

85% ??? uh oh.... Pushing the bike would be better than using 85% IMO 15% is pushing the limits these engines can do.

I sure hope the injectors can deal with this junk ethanol.

Once there was a injection system having parts that would disolve in ethanol, I hope nothing is made like that on these bikes.

Originally Posted by OP

I have noticed a problem with my nomad using ethanol blends. Here in the upper midwest ethanol is everywhere and you can get it from 10% to 85%. I was able to run it in my vmax no prob but the nomad can only use it if it is very hot outside. I am talking a steady 90+. I will use regular 87 octane before I will use ethanol in it. I recommend using a non ethanol fuel whenever possible and most run the lowest octane they can get without pinging.

[brendan]

Here in N.E. Indiana the quality of "Premium" gas varies a lot. The Speedway{marathon spin off} premium will not run good in the Nomad ,pings hesitates and runs rough when cold. I fill up with Sam's club Premium or the B.P. lines here and it runs great. Funny with all the "big brother" looking out the gas czars can fill the premium tanks with mid or regular and sell for the .20 cent more price. The "Gasohol" we had it here in the 80s then fazed out. I liked it,10% as no worrys about dirty injectors or ice in tank. It disapeared and they brought the E-85 crap in. Can't run it without problems and loss of 30% mileage for the same price of regular.

[skimo]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Has anyone noticed more pinging lately with 93 octane fuel? I filled up this morning with Chevron 93 octane and my bike started pinging when twisting the throttle moderately. My son told me that the ethanol they are blending into the gasoline is causing the abnormal pinging. He said he is having the same problem with the Chevron gas in his Vulcan 900 Classic LT. He said he switched to the Exxon 93 and all is well. I have the stock air intake with de-baffled stock pipes. I think a good cure may be a TFI. Do you guys agree?

Yeap noticed it too and about a 10 percent drop in mpg also. I'm lucky a citgo station close by has car pumps and the tanks also service a local marina next to the station. They still sale the non-ethanol gas for a few pennies more.

[macmac]

I really don't know, but I suspect any ethenol over 10% is illegal, not that anything like laws stops more ethenol.

This story is relevant I guess, but I put it here for in general news and am not getting into a squabble (poly tics debate) over it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...M_Exclude=Juno

Nomads are not designed for ethenol, and in over 10% can do damage, not covered by warrenty. Kawi has a disclaimer in the owners manual.

[dogdoc]

yes terrebone: I have used Chevron since the bike was new. It pinged from day one on any of the 3 grades. Now with ethanol it could get worse. So I bought a TFI a while back and solved it. I run 87 now and it runs great.

[radco]

1 thing to watch out for is a 1 hose pump...and Multi grade gas... If the guy before you put in Regular, and you put in Prem. the first Gal or so is regular or what ever grade they were using,, your paying top price for lower grade.. pays to look at past sale if pinging is a issue... Just my 2 cents.......Rich

[rhunt4]

what is a person supposed to do. Here in this area all you will find is 10% ethenol. If makaw has a disclaimer for ethenol and all the station offer is ethenol. Looks like we have an legal problem with someone. I don't know.

[ccmjr77]

CJ:
After adding the Cobra FI2000R, how did it effect your gas mileage?

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by rhunt4

what is a person supposed to do. Here in this area all you will find is 10% ethanol. If makaw has a disclaimer for ethanol and all the station offer is ethanol. Looks like we have an legal problem with someone. I don't know.

The disclaimer reads as follows:

CAUTION

Never use gasoline with an octane rating lower than the minimum specified by Kawasaki.
Never use "gasohol" with more than 10% ethanol, or more than 5% methane. Gasoline containing methanol must also be blended with cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.

So, we're OK with the 10% ethanol, which seems to be the only thing available anymore, at least here in Georgia.

If the government allows the gasoline companies to jack up the percentage of ethanol past the 10% we may have problems.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by ccmjr77

CJ:
After adding the Cobra FI2000R, how did it effect your gas mileage?

I lost maybe a mile or two per gallon. It's hard to say if the Cobra is the culprit or my right wrist cranking on the throttle. That bad boy really jumps now! Of course, a black Nomad is 15% faster to begin with, your mileage may vary.