What brand and grade of gasoline

merri1 · 08-25-2009, 07:30 PM

I've owned my '09 Nomad for 6 weeks now and have been using 93 octane at every fill up. I have almost 3500 miles on it.

Yesterday I filled up with Shell mid-grade - 89 octane. The bike runs fine and it actually seems to be getting a bit more gas mileage. I keep the A/B switch to MPG all the time and I reset it and the trip odometer at every fill up. When I got home today, 142 miles, the MPG read 39.9.

Has anyone else used any other grade, besides Premium, in their Nomad?

MarkG · 08-25-2009, 07:51 PM

I run 87 without pinging and get around 42 mpg highway, it depends a lot on the Nomad. Others on the forum have to run higher octane to avoid pinging for one reason or another.

cactusjack · 08-25-2009, 10:16 PM

You can run the lowest octane you can without it pinging.

blowndodge · 08-26-2009, 05:50 PM

Picture whore!...

cantridenuf · 08-26-2009, 09:53 PM

Interesting. I also tried 87 octane last week just as an experiment and it ran fine and also got better fuel economy. Go figure.

gv550 · 08-27-2009, 07:27 AM

If I have a choice I will pick 89, if no 89 I put 91 in and if only 87 is available I put that in. Bike really does not seem to care, runs fine on all grades. It shows 18.3 km/L on the display, which is 43 mpg US.
When I first got the bike it got 33 mpg and gradually increased over the first 10,000 miles to 43, more than 20,000 miles on it now.

Garry

elkhunter · 08-27-2009, 11:46 PM

87 runs fine in mine. Western Pa and Ohio gas is usually considered to be of lower quality so 87 octane should work for most.

Elk Hunter

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-31-2009, 10:48 PM

Why does the sticker by the fuel filler on the gas tank say to run 90 octane? And of course the book says running less than 90 octane can damage the engine. Can anyone explain what type of engine damage could occur by running less than 90 octane?

cantridenuf · 08-31-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

Can anyone explain what type of engine damage could occur by running less than 90 octane?

They're probably referring to pinging, or I should say the potential effects of pinging which can range from inconsequential to complete engine destruction.

Oh I see that you just installed a fuel processor. No pinging worries in 'bama's future. Life is so good now.

**ringadingh** · 09-04-2009, 08:33 PM

If engine pinging or knocking gets severe enough it will break piston skirts and crack rings, neither one is a very good ending.

08-25-2009, 07:30 PM	#1
merri1 Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 46	What brand and grade of gasoline I've owned my '09 Nomad for 6 weeks now and have been using 93 octane at every fill up. I have almost 3500 miles on it. Yesterday I filled up with Shell mid-grade - 89 octane. The bike runs fine and it actually seems to be getting a bit more gas mileage. I keep the A/B switch to MPG all the time and I reset it and the trip odometer at every fill up. When I got home today, 142 miles, the MPG read 39.9. Has anyone else used any other grade, besides Premium, in their Nomad? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-25-2009, 07:51 PM	#2
MarkG Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,255	What brand and grade of gasoline I run 87 without pinging and get around 42 mpg highway, it depends a lot on the Nomad. Others on the forum have to run higher octane to avoid pinging for one reason or another. __________________ Mark Griffin 2021 Manhattan Metallic K1600GTL 2016 Silver K1600GTL - sold 2015 Red/Blk Cross Country Tour - sold 2008 Red/Blk Nomad - sold KE7HG VBA 00176, IBA 65686, MOA 211564 Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Maggie Valley '11\|Kanab '12\|Estes Park '13\|Red Lodge '16\|Custer '18
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08-25-2009, 10:16 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	What brand and grade of gasoline You can run the lowest octane you can without it pinging. __________________ 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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08-26-2009, 05:50 PM	#4
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	What brand and grade of gasoline Picture whore!... __________________ 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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08-26-2009, 09:53 PM	#5
cantridenuf Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 258	What brand and grade of gasoline Interesting. I also tried 87 octane last week just as an experiment and it ran fine and also got better fuel economy. Go figure. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-27-2009, 07:27 AM	#6
gv550 Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Listowel, Ontario Posts: 642	What brand and grade of gasoline If I have a choice I will pick 89, if no 89 I put 91 in and if only 87 is available I put that in. Bike really does not seem to care, runs fine on all grades. It shows 18.3 km/L on the display, which is 43 mpg US. When I first got the bike it got 33 mpg and gradually increased over the first 10,000 miles to 43, more than 20,000 miles on it now. Garry __________________ Garry 2009 1700 Voyager KACT, sold at 679,465 kms 2011 1700 Nomad Improve handling, suspension and tire life with Garry's Fork Brace. PM for details.
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08-27-2009, 11:46 PM	#7
elkhunter Jr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Blairsville, PA. Posts: 32	What brand and grade of gasoline 87 runs fine in mine. Western Pa and Ohio gas is usually considered to be of lower quality so 87 octane should work for most. Elk Hunter
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08-31-2009, 10:48 PM	#8
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	What brand and grade of gasoline Why does the sticker by the fuel filler on the gas tank say to run 90 octane? And of course the book says running less than 90 octane can damage the engine. Can anyone explain what type of engine damage could occur by running less than 90 octane? __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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09-04-2009, 08:33 PM	#10
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	What brand and grade of gasoline If engine pinging or knocking gets severe enough it will break piston skirts and crack rings, neither one is a very good ending. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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