Does the grade of gas you use in your machine make a difference? I'm using regular unleaded in my new King Quad and I was wondering if there would be any performance increase using a higher grade such as Premium.

 

You have asked a great question. I had this conversation with a buddy over the weekend. He swears by premium. I've always used regular and now am wondering if I should switch. At 5 gallons a tank, it's not that much cost differnece. Also, a related question would be about brand. I've been using Safeway lately as it's 11 to 12 cents a gallon cheaper than competitors. But, a car dealer friend (Toyotas and Fords) said they recommend major brands, expecially Chevron and Texaco. He feels that a similar recommendation in meritorious for quads as well.

Thank you for asking this question. Now, we just need some replys. Any dealers or quad mechanics out there with the inside scoop?

 

You will gain nothing as far as power goes. As a matter of a fact you will loose some if you burn the good stuff without raising the compression. It will also heat up the pipe because it burns too slow.
Just use what your manual recomends.
Now if you pop a 13 to 1 piston in the bore or bolt a turbo on that will be a different story.

 

I run whatever grade my owners manual recommends: 91 octane for the 450R and 400EX, and 87 for everything else. I do however add some Klotz octane booster (http://www.klotzlube.com/storeProdDetails.asp?pi=50), but just enough to bump the octane up one or two points (but no more than that), so that I have a margin for error, to prevent any detonation. There is the added benefit that it contains an ester synthetic lubricant for the upper cylinder, and a fuel preservative in case the bike is in storage for an extended period.

 

The modern 4-stroke motors are built to run on regular un-leaded 91-92 octane. Like the doctor said, you will actually lose power running premieum. You see this question asked a lot in the motorcycle and ATV magazines and they always say the same thing. Make sure you buy your gas from a reputable gas station and don't store gas in a plastic can for more than 30 days.

If you modify your motor, you may have to change fuel to get the best performance, but changing your pipe and filter do not constitute modifying the motor.

 

Straky, aren't you contradicting yourself? You say engines are built to run on "91-92 octane" and you also said you can "lose power running premium". ISN'T 91-92 OCTANE PREMIUM??? Premium pump gas around here is 91 octane, that's all that is available.

Actually my 400EX owners manual calls for 92, so I have to bump 91 pump gas up a bit for that bike. (My theory is that the 400EX is air cooled and runs hot so it is more prone to detonation, and that is why Honda calls for 92 in that machine.) My 450R calls for 91. All my other bikes call for 87. I was quite surprised that the Z400, which is fairly high compression for a stock bike, only requires 87.

In the old days, leaded gas provided some upper cylinder lubrication. Unleaded leaves you with absolutely nothing in this area, thus I like running the Klotz octane booster.

 

I couldn't remember what Reg. unleaded was. I haven't bought gas in 10 months. Sorry if that was confusing. Doesn't it very a little bit? I thought our reg. unleaded was 92 octane in N. Dakota but I could be wrong.

 

Our gas around here is 87,91 and 93 octane. I just use the 87 seems to work ok.

 

we have 87,89,91,94,96,98 and super 108 for race cars.....
anyway, i always run 87 i used 89 once and it ran like ****...... call me crazy but i never ran 89 again and it never ran like that again....

 

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