what octane fuel do you run?

I have been running 87 octane here in the united states the book says i can run 87 octane.. im thinking the bike runs better on 93..just wondering what you guys use.. not sure what you guys call gas ... fuel or petrol..

I stick in normal unleaded, which is 95 RON I think. The SV probably does run better in warmer climates when using a petrol with a higher RON, since there is less auto-ignition.

I was thinking, would a lower RON fuel be better for colder conditions?

Hmm

Matt

[DarrenSV650S]

I always use 98 when available. Don't know how much better it is for the engine though....

[DarrenSV650S]

Do we even get 87 here?

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Do we even get 87 here?

This one comes up every so often on the board. They in the US have a different system to we in URP for classifying petrol octane rating.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

Someone in this weeks MCN asked the same question, as it happens.

To quote from the owners manual: 91 RON is the minimum you should run.
The Canada section (which is probably relevant here, because they have a much wider range of fuel choices in the states - 3 unleadeds and a diesel at most pumps) says that it must be over 87 (R+M/2).

Oxygenated fuels are allowed, as long as they meet that octane level and contain less than 15% MBTE and less than 10% ethanol and less than 5% methanol

Personally, I'd probably go with the mid-grade stuff - IIRC, thats 89 on the R+M/2 measure

Darren: UK Unleaded is 95 RON and 98 RON for Super

[embee]

Yep, before going any further...............

European practice is to display RON (Research Octane Number)
There is another number used which is Motor Octane No. = MON
USA practice is to use the average of these (R+M)/2

MON is typically 8 numbers less than RON (varies with fuel type)
so (R+M)/2 is typically 4 numbers less than RON

Jap bikes usually calibrated for 91RON = 87 (R+M)/2 typical

Euro normal unleaded is 95RON = 91 (R+M)/2

Optimax/V-power is 98 or 99RON, so around 93 (R+M)/2

Different engines have different fuel sensitivities. I've not really noticed much effect in my SV, so use 95RON.
I have a turbo car which is calibrated for 91RON so doesn't need more octane value than normal Euro unleaded, but the response and feel is much better with V-power than with normal 95RON, so I use it in that.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.p...64#post1291864

What do we think?

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by embee

Different engines have different fuel sensitivities. I've not really noticed much effect in my SV, so use 95RON.
I have a turbo car which is calibrated for 91RON so doesn't need more octane value than normal Euro unleaded, but the response and feel is much better with V-power than with normal 95RON, so I use it in that.

Isn't that due to knock sensor reducing boost?

[johnnyrod]

Ralph, the higher the octane number the better, but beyond a certain point (probably about 95 RON with the SV) you'll get almost no advantage. Definitely higher octane number is good for warmer climes, but I would not say the reverse is true, you don't want any knocking unless you have a diesel engine. Also hate to say it but perhaps the US system of averaging RON and MON is better than just quoting the RON. MON is more of a real-world figure which is harder to boost, RON boosters are ten a penny.