grade of gas?

ccmjr77 · 12-10-2008, 05:49 PM

I filled up my last tank with regular 87 octane.
I have always used at a minimum midgrade 89 or higher.
Even with 91 octane, my bike would sometimes ping in the low end 5th gear during acceleration.
This tank the bike seems to actually be running better with no pinging. Is it the cooler weather or what?

cactusjack · 12-10-2008, 06:05 PM

Knowing where you live, the cool weather has something to do with it. I had been running 91 octane in mine until I added a fuel processor and opened up the intake. Since then, I had been running 89, even in 100+ degrees and had little to no pinging. I ran a tank of 87 through it recently with no pinging at all, but I would bet that 87 octane above 90 degrees and it would ping. Before I modified it, it would ping with 91 octane on a hot day.

dhomoney · 12-10-2008, 08:26 PM

So far I have run 91 only in my bike with no ethanol gas. I have just finished doing the TFI, Caddman, and V&H pipes, so I may try 87 on my next tank. I will let you'll know the outcome when I do it.

dogdoc · 12-10-2008, 10:03 PM

cooler weather will allow you to run 87, but when its hot you cant get high enough octane to not ping, thats when you order up the TFI.

Todd · 12-11-2008, 12:14 AM

I swear boys and girls....I have never been able to get mine to ping....even trying as hard as I can.

blowndodge · 12-11-2008, 12:37 AM

The bike has to be running Todd!! ::) ::) ::)

dank · 12-11-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd (Nomadis Custodis)

I swear boys and girls....I have never been able to get mine to ping....even trying as hard as I can.

It has not been an issue on mine either. I ridden from Michigan to Seattle and back, out through Arizona, to the Badlands in summer,etc. Keep expecting it based on this forum, but so far (39,000 miles) no pinging. Not implying that the others don't ping, simply feel lucky about my bike.

Always use 91 or higher, except in the rockies where some of the stations didn't have anything above 89.

cactusjack · 12-11-2008, 09:45 AM

Hmmm, I wonder if the difference is having a CA emissions model vs a 49-state model? That might explain Todd's and Dank's claims of no pinging.

ccmjr77, is yours a CA emissions bike?

nomad561 · 12-11-2008, 10:47 AM

I always use 89 or better. With the price of gas coming down I'll probably start using 91 again.

oldbikers · 12-11-2008, 12:46 PM

I have always used 87 octane with no ping with and with out the TFI maybe it is the difference in humidity

ccmjr77 · 12-11-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Hmmm, I wonder if the difference is having a CA emissions model vs a 49-state model? That might explain Todd's and Dank's claims of no pinging.

ccmjr77, is yours a CA emissions bike?

I don't think so, I bought here in AZ. I think I used the same dealer that you did? Does Kawasaki Superstore get CA bikes?

rickyboy · 12-11-2008, 02:23 PM

I've never had a pinging problem,...ever. Even on the ride last summer to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Vegas....and I've used 89 oct. a few times but almost always used 90+. I wonder if it is the CA emission thing. ??? We don't have the emission issue like CA ......yet.

spirello · 12-11-2008, 02:58 PM

I always run 92 octain. For the difference in price is only about $0.75 a fillup more i figure its worth it. I have run 112 octaine and what a difference that made. It was only because the fuel light was on at my house and i only had my dirtbike race gas in the garage

claybuster · 12-15-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccmjr77

I filled up my last tank with regular 87 octane.
I have always used at a minimum midgrade 89 or higher.
Even with 91 octane, my bike would sometimes ping in the low end 5th gear during acceleration.
This tank the bike seems to actually be running better with no pinging. Is it the cooler weather or what?

Yesterday I rode my 07 Nomad with the outside temperature at 42 degrees. I am running 93 octane and my bike was still pinging in 5th gear when I rolled on the throttle. I didn't check to see if it would ping in the lower gears yesterday but a month or so ago when the temperature was 65 degrees occasionally I could make it ping in every gear except 1st. I did buy the TFI but haven't installed it yet. Both my intake and exhaust are totally stock at this time.

Glenn (Claybuster)

dkdixie · 12-15-2008, 02:48 PM

With TFI, mine runs better on 89 octane than 93.
Since I opened up the right side air box, I'll get back to playing with TFI settings when it warms up and we get non-winter blend gas.

12-10-2008, 05:49 PM	#1
ccmjr77 Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anthem, AZ Posts: 642	grade of gas? I filled up my last tank with regular 87 octane. I have always used at a minimum midgrade 89 or higher. Even with 91 octane, my bike would sometimes ping in the low end 5th gear during acceleration. This tank the bike seems to actually be running better with no pinging. Is it the cooler weather or what? __________________ ccmjr77 2007 Kawasaki Nomad 1600 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-10-2008, 06:05 PM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	grade of gas? Knowing where you live, the cool weather has something to do with it. I had been running 91 octane in mine until I added a fuel processor and opened up the intake. Since then, I had been running 89, even in 100+ degrees and had little to no pinging. I ran a tank of 87 through it recently with no pinging at all, but I would bet that 87 octane above 90 degrees and it would ping. Before I modified it, it would ping with 91 octane on a hot day. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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12-10-2008, 08:26 PM	#3
dhomoney Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lake Tenkiller, OK Posts: 737	grade of gas? So far I have run 91 only in my bike with no ethanol gas. I have just finished doing the TFI, Caddman, and V&H pipes, so I may try 87 on my next tank. I will let you'll know the outcome when I do it.
	0

12-10-2008, 10:03 PM	#4
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	grade of gas? cooler weather will allow you to run 87, but when its hot you cant get high enough octane to not ping, thats when you order up the TFI.
	0

12-11-2008, 12:14 AM	#5
Todd Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 5,915	grade of gas? I swear boys and girls....I have never been able to get mine to ping....even trying as hard as I can. __________________ Todd Frazier VBA #0003 VBA National Leader-USA Operations/Garage Moderator - RETIRED 2006 Black Nomad since she was born Greensboro, NC Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-11-2008, 12:37 AM	#6
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	grade of gas? The bike has to be running Todd!! ::) ::) ::) __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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12-11-2008, 09:45 AM	#8
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	grade of gas? Hmmm, I wonder if the difference is having a CA emissions model vs a 49-state model? That might explain Todd's and Dank's claims of no pinging. ccmjr77, is yours a CA emissions bike? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

12-11-2008, 10:47 AM	#9
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	grade of gas? I always use 89 or better. With the price of gas coming down I'll probably start using 91 again.
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12-11-2008, 12:46 PM	#10
oldbikers Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sardis Mississippi Posts: 3,513	grade of gas? I have always used 87 octane with no ping with and with out the TFI maybe it is the difference in humidity __________________ Jim Hardin Sardis MS Kawanow # 453 Proud PGR member
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12-11-2008, 02:23 PM	#12
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	grade of gas? I've never had a pinging problem,...ever. Even on the ride last summer to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Vegas....and I've used 89 oct. a few times but almost always used 90+. I wonder if it is the CA emission thing. ??? We don't have the emission issue like CA ......yet. __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
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12-11-2008, 02:58 PM	#13
spirello Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VANCOUVER WA Posts: 576	grade of gas? I always run 92 octain. For the difference in price is only about $0.75 a fillup more i figure its worth it. I have run 112 octaine and what a difference that made. It was only because the fuel light was on at my house and i only had my dirtbike race gas in the garage
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12-15-2008, 02:48 PM	#15
dkdixie Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Blairsville in N. GA mountains Posts: 1,625	grade of gas? With TFI, mine runs better on 89 octane than 93. Since I opened up the right side air box, I'll get back to playing with TFI settings when it warms up and we get non-winter blend gas. __________________ Dick Campbell Blairsville, GA 2008 Red & Black Nomad 1600 (retired) 2009 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner (retired) 2013 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner 2018 CanAm RT Limited Spyder (Sold) 2014 Goldwing Roadsmith Red Trike (Sold) 2019 Goldwing DCT Roadsmith Copper & Black Trike VBA #243 Darkside #115 Patriot Guard Rider American Legion Rider
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