What fuel?

[northern]

So, EU madness is coming to my home... 

Since 1st of May, all our petrol stations are obligated to stop selling of 95 petrol, and start selling 95E5 (5% of ethanol) and since 1st of April 2019 95E10 (10% of ethanol).
98 will remain ethanol free, so far.

Ethanol is bad for aluminium, what our bike engine have a lot, so I think I do not have any other option beside to start using 98 petrol. But isn't 98 to much for our bikes? 
What do you think?

[gsxbarmy]

Nope 98 RON is not, ran my 1400 on it in the UK in preference to using 95RON and it ran a whole lot better. Whether it was down to the additives that are in the 98RON fuel in the UK (over and above those in 95RON) I don't know, but mine did run better and ran a lot cleaner. (By 98 I was using either BP Ultimate or Shell Optimax)

When I was doing the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland last year, most fule had between 5-10% Ethanol in it, 5% was OK-ish, slightly flat performance, 10% definitely ran a bit hotter and flatter. Was so glad to get back to using 98 again.

So Northern, this could be a good thing using 98!!!!

[KiwiCol]

But the bike only needs 91

[Kiwifruit]

91 for me most of the time. Put a tankful of 98 in now and again. Think its got injector cleaner in it.

[Sweaty]

95 for me. If not available then 98.
Mines an ethanol free bike 

[grog]

91 as long as ethanol free, getting harder to find. 95 or 98 otherwise. Runs exact same on all of them. Over 20 cents / litre dearer for 95.

[owen426]

In simple terms (please note I said simple): The octane rating is a measurement of the fuel's resistance to detonation. So when comparing like for like fuels the higher the octane rating, the higher it can be compressed (bigger bang) before you experience engine knock / pinging / whatever you call it in your part of the world (uncontrolled bang). This is why high performance engines, with high compression ratios, require high octane fuel.

Higher Performance = Higher Octane

Higher Octane ≠ Higher Performance

Unless your compression ratio requires it you won't make any more power by using a higher octane fuel than required.

The fuel additives are where the argument really begins. Engine cleaners, friction reducers, corrosion inhibitors, improved fuel economy and on it goes. As to whether it they are genuinely useful or it's just magical fairy dust sprinkled in, who knows? Well the fuel companies do but we hear from the marketing department not the scientists. Most of our evidence is anecdotal - a mate said it went good, the internet said it was better, you accidentally put a tank full in once a while back. Conditions are so varied it's hard to tell anything other than a major change anyway. I'm not saying they don't work, but it's certainly something you need to research / experiment with yourself.

For the ethanol mixes I'd be worried about my fuel lines, a quick google search will yield countless stories of fuel systems not designed for it being eaten away.

With the GSX1400 it's not a high compression engine and if keeping your fuel filters clean (as per other threads on the forum) I don't see the need for regular "cleaning" of the engine / fuel system,
so I run the standard 91 petrol we get down here.

As always happy to be proven wrong.

[T 24]

I use 98E5, pure 98 or 99 is not sold here. And my 14 needs those ocktanes

[Andre]

Ethanol-free 98 RON, as the only ethanol-free petrol here comes in 98 (Total's Excellium) or 102 RON (Aral's Ultimate). Lowest RON available here is 95, exclusively E5 or E10.

Somewhat objectively I can say that the 14 burns the 98 (Total Excellium) cleanly. Emission test showed 0.37 (whatever) carbon monoxide. Compared to 1.2 (lowest) on previous tests (PO). The fail limit is 4.5. Low values may also be due to: New spark plugs, air filter, throttle sync, TPS/STPS adjustments. Fuel consumption is 5.1 to 5.4 liter/100km in season.

Shell's V-Power with 100+ RON is an interesting one. Surprises people when they find out it contains ethanol. There is even more to it - V-Power is the secret alcoholic in the family. And it's the most expensive of the lot.

Found this here http://kaeferteam-nuernberg.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Shell-V-Power-RacingTDS.pdf. It is from 2009 though (definitely still up to 5% ethanol today). These are max values.

Methanol %(V/V) 3,0
Ethanol %(V/V) 5,0
Iso-propyl-alcohol (IPA) %(V/V) 10,0
Iso-butyl-alcohol (IBA) %(V/V) 10,0
Tert-butyl-alcohol (TBA) %(V/V) 7,0
Ether (5 or more C-Atome) %(V/V) 15,0
Other oxygen containing chemicals %(V/V) 10,0

Funny: They don't list the amount of petrol

[Andre]

But isn't 98 to much for our bikes? 
What do you think?

98 is not to much, but it is not needed for the standard 14 engine. Gives you some good leeway for advancing the ignition and increasing the compression though.

[T 24]

I have also tried our RE 85, what contents 85% of ethanol and 15% of petrol. It has higher octanes, 120-130 I think, and its good with higher boosts, but it needs totally different adjustments, much richer, but I'm not satisfied with it and I don't use it any more. Funny thing with RE 85 is that even it is mostly ethanol , it collects free water to the bottom of the tank ( and carbs, if you have them).
Also I use Russian Lukoil's Ekto Sport gasoline, every time I can get it, which is pure 99 octane petrol without ethanol. It gives smoother AFR curves than our 98E5.
Problem with Ekto Sport is that it's not sold here.

[Andre]

Funny thing with RE 85 is that even it is mostly ethanol , it collects free water to the bottom of the tank ( and carbs, if you have them).

The water problem is one of the reasons why I don't like any ethanol in the petrol.

Ethanol in water, also known as beer, I do like

[KiwiCol]

Well well, you guys on the top half really have some mixes of fuel don't ya!   Our 91 (for the time being anyway) is unmolested pure petrol.  We don't have E5 or E10 (5% & 10% blends) in NZ, that I'm aware of & certainly not as an option at the pump.

I've done the comparisons with 91, 95 & 98.  There is (from my perception) no noticeable increase in power or economy using the higher octanes.  Best fuel economy modifier is your right hand on the throttle.

If or when we end up with Ethanol in our gas, I'll look to change up to one without it.   Now having said that, how hard would it be (what's involved) in adapting our fuel system to cope with it?   

Just a bit more info,  from the handbook, 3-2,  Says gasoline & ethanol (also known as Gasohol) may be used in the vehicle if the ethanol content is not greater than 10%   and Methanol blends containing 5% or less may be suitable if they contain co-solvents & corrosion inhibitors.  (whatever they are?)

[T 24]

@KiwiCol , No modifications is needed if you have to use 5% or 10% ethanol blends.
And there is no water problem with mild blends.

[northern]

But the bike only needs 91

91 is not avalible here. 95 is minimum.