[Guest]

Seeing as how it only cost a few bucks to fill my 500, I figure I should splurge on the best gas I can. So what companies make high quality fuel? 76, Shell, chevron, who? Also, what octane are you guys running? I've been using 87 (I think I saw that in the manual somewhere).

 

[knightslugger]

87 PON / 93 RON is the correct octane for low altitude EXs. I've seen high altitudes pump 85, though i gather that's due to the low O2 levels. i could be wrong.

as far as who makes the best gas? i'd say it varies greatly from one station to the next, like companies or otherwise. For instance, a shell fuel station that has lots of customer volume will have better quality gasoline than the Shell station down to road that barely sees 50 cars a day.

 

[longhaul747]

I stick with 87 octane!!

I have had the best luck with Chevron gas. Shell is also pretty good. 76 around here is not so good. Its not bad but the bike seems to not run as strong on 76 as it does with the others. I stay away from Arco gas like its the plague.

They say it comes out of the same hole in the ground and from the same refinery. But the additives likely make a difference and different companies might bid higher for the first run.

 

[AntiAndy]

mix of rocket fuel and nitrous oxide into the tank, i have my brother start my bike for me a mile away from the house.

 

[knightslugger]

I did run 93.5 from Entec , but I get better gas milage with lower octane . I'll run high octane about every 5th or so fill up .

may i enquire as to why you'll put a high octane fuel in every once and a while?

 

[Guest]

high octane would (does) burn slower, and the unburned fuel helps in cooling the engine, similar to running a rich mixture.

I'm considered a mix of Arco/nitromethane...

 

[MrSciTrek]

I've heard that a lot of cut rate gas stations get the leftovers at the bottom of the tankers that just refueled the major brands. That gives a greater risk of water/condensation in the gas as well as more sediments... not good.

My car (03 Ford zx2) gets the best mileage with Chevron. I have all but 2 or 3 of the fill-up records over the 37k miles I've had it. I do have the knock sensor unplugged, so w/ the stock programming I run 10% ethanol & have no pinging problems.

 

[OreoGaborio]

I don't use any kind of gas that comes out of my ass.... I use the kind of gas that comes out of a pump.

 

[blent87]

Actually, there is NO difference between the fuel that you get from different brands (Shell, Speedway, Chevron, etc.). How oil distribution works is that a company puts a certain number of "barrels" into the pipeline. As many "barrels" of gasoline that they put in, the company can take out. More often than not they are not taking out their own oil from the pipeline.

The only difference between the fuels that you get at the different stations are the "additives" that they put in. Some of these claim for more performance, others for a cleaner burn. I myself find most of it a hoax and burn whatever is the cheapest (usually speedway near me). In the little engines that our 500's have, you probably won't be able to tell any difference b/w the different octanes and brands.

 

[knightslugger]

^ well, except maybe on paper...

 

[blent87]

^ well, except maybe on paper...

The part about the pipeline is what Modern Marvels said. The additive stuff is all a matter of opinion, and that's just what I think.

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

Actually, there is NO difference between the fuel that you get from different brands (Shell, Speedway, Chevron, etc.). How oil distribution works is that a company puts a certain number of "barrels" into the pipeline. As many "barrels" of gasoline that they put in, the company can take out. More often than not they are not taking out their own oil from the pipeline.

The only difference between the fuels that you get at the different stations are the "additives" that they put in. Some of these claim for more performance, others for a cleaner burn. I myself find most of it a hoax and burn whatever is the cheapest (usually speedway near me). In the little engines that our 500's have, you probably won't be able to tell any difference b/w the different octanes and brands.

This is my understanding exactly.

I used to put premium in my bike all the time till I tried 87 one time because the cost of gas shot up unexpectedly. I found that my bike was actually noticeably faster with the cheaper gas. This is because it burns faster and more complete.

 

[Guest]

I've used nothing by 87, as the manual requests, from various gas stations. Never noticed any difference in performance, sound, mileage or anything. Shell, Esso, Petro-Canada, Pioneer, everybody.

I can't imagine why anyone station would be better than the next - unless it's got crummy lines with water in hte tank or something...

 

[MrSciTrek]

My CAR mileage with Chevron gas is consistent. When I use Kum&Go (honest!) some tanks are normal, others get considerable lower mpg. On Chevron, driving conservatively, I get 200 miles to the 1/2 mark on the guage. I was in a rush last fill & used Kum&Go and hit 200 miles but at the 1/4 tank mark. That stinks!

As for dirt: It seems to me that older gas stations have older tanks in the ground which would be more likely to corrode & have had more chances for gunk to get in the tanks during refills. But I don't know what the cleaning schedule is, or if the tanks are corrosion proof. Good reason for filters, eh?

 

[Nick D]

Thorton's is okay, any grocery store gas is crap, and BP runs the best in my Ranger and the wife's Sable. As for the bike, I really haven't noticed a great difference in brands, and I always use 87. With the bike, I usually just end up getting gas wherever I am when I get low.

Oh, and on an added note, Indiana gas seems to work better in just about everything I drive (I've got several work trucks I drive from time to time) than Kentucky gas. I'm not sure if it's ethanol (they're allowed to use it) or just the additives the state allows, but KY gas is cheaper and there seems to be an obvious reason.

 

[Smoky]

I've been using Marathon gas lately mostly because theres one right across the street and they have the STP additives not to sure if it makes a difference other than there always the most expensive.

 

[wolf66]

best gas i ever used is the 116 octane available track side at Daytona Speedway....(my Superbike motor was very high compression)

worst gas ever was a special secret blend of ELF gas in a 55g drum the next garge/pit over had also at Daytona, every time they opened it up we would get headaches and watering eyes and dizzy and nauseous.......

 

[damarble]

I've learned to only use Chevron in my cage. I used to get gas at Costco since it was far cheaper but for the heck of it I compared a few tanks and Chevron would get me 5mpg or more over the Costco crap, and I always see 1-3mpg improvement over any other stations. It may cost a little more at fill up but once it's averaged out cost per mile is actually lower so it's a no brainer for me.

 

[Twangintheblues]

I've read reports on this I just wish I could remember a link to one of them. Chevron is rated the #1 gas.

I've run Chevron in all my vehicles since 1999 and never had a fuel problem. BUT, there is always an exception. It's up to the owners of the gas stations to maintain there tanks. If I'm away from my local Chevron station, I'll always look for a newer station to refuel at. I'm guessing that if it is a newer station then there is less of a chance that the underground tanks have crumbled apart just yet.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[blent87]

I don't even know of a chevron station around me. All we have are speedways, shells, some marathon stations. I always use speedway around here 'cuz they're the cheapest and I've never had any problems in the 3 years that I've been driving around.