Higher Octane Gasoline

[Az Wingrider]

Back in the '50s major oil companies ran ad campaigns promoting the amazing benefits of high octane gasoline. I doubt they ever dreamed those ads would create myths that would last for generations. Even the story about the 100 MPG carburetor oil companies paid to keep a secret eventually faded away.

Pure gasoline has roughly 114,000 BTUs per gallon. E10 has a few thousand less. If an engine is running properly on fuel with enough octane to prevent detonation, it is physically impossible for a higher octane fuel with the same energy content to somehow 'find' additional horsepower.

Maybe we need to think about it this way. A modern engine is designed to generate a certain amount of horsepower. If you feed it crappy gas, the engine management computer will detune the engine to prevent damage, resulting in less horsepower. When you switch back to fuel the engine was designed for, the engine will run optimally, and you'll 'get back' the power you lost with the crappy gas.

This post from F6Dave is correct. Our bikes are designed to run on 86 octane gas and higher octane does nothing to improve power or mileage. If running higher octane gas makes you feel better that's fine but the F6B doesn't require it. I will continue riding with regular unleaded of at least 86 octane as I have with this bike and five previous Honda GLs.

Az Wingrider

[bob109]

This post from F6Dave is correct. Our bikes are designed to run on 86 octane gas and higher octane does nothing to improve power or mileage. If running higher octane gas makes you feel better that's fine but the F6B doesn't require it. I will continue riding with regular unleaded of at least 86 octane as I have with this bike and five previous Honda GLs.

Az Wingrider

Mother Honda designed and built a marvelous machine in the F6B! They continuously apply the KISS Method to their Engine Technology (except for changing the air filter)! They provide the initial 36k warranty and recommend 86/87 Octane fuel! Why folks insist they know more than the manufacturer has always puzzled me! If you feel higher octane is necessary for "your machine" then go for it! I personally prefer to stop at just about any "high volume gas station" fill my tank and ride on! Life is too short to split hairs on octane