Back to "High test" gas?

[MickeyNew]

What is the real question here? The owner's manual says run 91 octane. It is not worth the risk for me to challenge this. There are storys on other boards of folks that have damaged their valves doing so in Vulcans. Mine will always get premium fuel, synthetic oil and a genuine Kawasaki oil filter.

Like others, I also look for gas with no ethanol. Ethanol in gasoline is a huge joke on the American public, but that is another story.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by MickeyNew

What is the real question here? The owner's manual says run 91 octane. It is not worth the risk for me to challenge this. There are storys on other boards of folks that have damaged their valves doing so in Vulcans. Mine will always get premium fuel, synthetic oil and a genuine Kawasaki oil filter.

Like others, I also look for gas with no ethanol. Ethanol in gasoline is a huge joke on the American public, but that is another story.

I agree on all your points...

[crazygene49]

Originally Posted by MickeyNew

What is the real question here? The owner's manual says run 91 octane. It is not worth the risk for me to challenge this. There are storys on other boards of folks that have damaged their valves doing so in Vulcans. Mine will always get premium fuel, synthetic oil and a genuine Kawasaki oil filter.

Like others, I also look for gas with no ethanol. Ethanol in gasoline is a huge joke on the American public, but that is another story.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by MickeyNew

What is the real question here? The owner's manual says run 91 octane. It is not worth the risk for me to challenge this. There are storys on other boards of folks that have damaged their valves doing so in Vulcans. Mine will always get premium fuel, synthetic oil and a genuine Kawasaki oil filter.

You'd do well with the Harley crowd here!

[Yellow Jacket]

The owner's manual also says:

TAMPERING WITH NOISE CONTROL SYSTEM PROHIBITED:

Federal law prohibits the following acts or the causing thereof: (1) the removal or rendering inopoerative by any person other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use, or (2) the use of the vehicle after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.

Among those acts presumed to constitute tampering are the acts listed below:

- Replacement of the original exhaust system or muffler with a component not in compliance with Federal regulatins.

- Removal of the muffler(s) or any internal portion of the muffler(s).

- Removal of the air box or air box cover.

- Modifications to the muffler(s) or air intake system by cutting, drilling, or other means if such modifications result in increased noise levels.


So, that pretty well eliminates all aftermarket exhaust system, removing the baffles from the stock mufflers, adding any kind of air intake system such as the Big Air Kit, HyperCharges, Chucksters intake kits or the Caddman intake conversion. Heaven Forbid!

[Sin City Stan]

Originally Posted by MickeyNew

Ethanol in gasoline is a huge joke on the American public, but that is another story.

I agree. It just took the place of the Land Bank.

[BobaLloydBiker]

I am an licenced aircraft mechanic and would not recommend running 100LL. Even though it says its low lead "LL" it isn't. You should see the lead deposits I get on my spark plugs in my aircraft with only 25-30 hours a year. Unless you want to change your plugs every 2 month I would not recommend.

I'm running 87 in my 1600 for the first time but I have just finished doing the "big 3" mods and read on a post here that the bike would run better on 87 then 90+ once completed.

[blowndodge]

It should BLB. 9:1 compression ration should NEVER require premium NEVER. Unfortunately Kawasaki took the cheap way out and gave the Nomad a Late 70's modified throttle body injection system. This lousy way about getting "fuel injection" has caused them to make the air/fuel mixture so dangerously lean that premium is a must.

Once air/fuel mixture passes 14.7:1 the thermodynamics diminishes. You get less and less power but the extreme rise in combustion temps makes for cleaner exhaust. The is the route Kawasaki took.

By adding a good processor and getting the mixture back between 13:1 up to 14.7:1 you'll get more power, which could lead to better mileage; a much cooler running motor that no longer needs premium.

Of course you could stick with your owner's manual and proclaim to all, "I only run the best for my baby!"

so next time your fuel pump acts up, don't ask us. the Owner's Manual says, "must be replaced as a unit"

The next time your drive shaft joint goes out, don't ask us how to replace it with a "greasable" U joint. The Manual doesn't say to do that.

The next time you have problems at all. GO TO YOUR MANUAL and don't ask for "other" solutions that are not specifically written in the MANUAL!!!

Drag your Nomad to the dealer and let him/her have at it....

[cnc]

Ouch, that's going to leave a mark Brad.

[blowndodge]

I know it came out kind of harsh didn't it Norm?

It's just that some know no more about cars and bikes than my mother did and she didn't know shit.

I don't know anything about brain surgery. So I keep my mouth shut from commenting about it. Other's should too.

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

It should BLB. 9:1 compression ration should NEVER require premium NEVER.

I agree Brad.

Most people apparently don't understand that the word "premium", when used in conjuction with gasoline, does NOT mean "better" or "the good stuff." If they believe that, then they have bought into the hype of the advertising yokels.

"Premium" fuel has absolutely no more energy in it than the lower octane "regular."

All the "premium" has is additives that make it more difficult to ignite. The sole purpose of the so called "premium" is to allow a higher compression ration without the fuel pre-igniting from the increased heat of the high compression.

Anyone hear of the diesel? In a diesel, the compression ratio is so high that the fuel is not even introduced into the cylinder until it's time for it to ignite. Otherwise, the fuel/air mixture would be igniting way before the piston was close to TDC. That would be some serious pinging, which is properly called pre-ignition.

However, don't take my word.

Do some research on your own. It's really not very hard with the internet available.
Or talk to some petro-chemical engineers.
Just don't pay any attention to advertising people.

[redjay]

I ran 87 in my Nomad and it pinged like crazy before the Caddman mod and TFI.
I run 87 in my Voyager and have never had an issue with pinging, before or after the mods.

[Badger: Black Hills]

My experience with '02 Nomads shows me that I get better mileage with premium than regular (ethanol makes it even worse). After testing several tanks full I found that unless there was more than twenty cents savings by going to regular I should stay with premium.

[ldhthept]

My brain hurts....

[cnc]

Originally Posted by ldhthept

My brain hurts....

Try a little high test.