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Message started by erodelius on 05/21/07 at 14:38:27

Title: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by erodelius on 05/21/07 at 14:38:27

does anyone regularly use super or special gasoline? what are the effects?

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by vroom1776 on 05/21/07 at 14:39:54

use the cheap stuff. since these are low compression engines, they don't need or want the high octane stuff. all that happens is you build up crud on the piston and waste money.

assuming your bike is stock compression.

avoid ethanol fuel if possible. never run E85.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by erodelius on 05/21/07 at 14:41:01

okay. i just bough an 07 s40 last week and im picking it up tomorrow. just wondering.

thanks!

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by vroom1776 on 05/21/07 at 14:55:52

that's why we're here!

we want pics when you get it! if you can find the time from smiling and riding!

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by erodelius on 05/21/07 at 14:57:51

oh ill post plenty of pictures. im a brand new rider so im a little nervous but im sure ill do okay. ive been practicing on my friends honda 600 so if i can handle that bike im sure i can handle the savage, haha. savage is so much cooler than boulevard s40. oh well. i plan on taking the MSF course near my house in the next month or two.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by georgekathe on 05/21/07 at 15:40:46

advise taking the course as soon as you can - don't wait for the "or two" - book into it @ next available opportunity. wish there had have been similar when I started riding many moons ago - would have saved some near misses & some not so near ones (luyckily young bones don't seem to break but bounce)!

in meantime, welcome to site - great bunch of people on here always free with advice & help.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by Greg_650 on 05/21/07 at 20:40:53

Not this one again...

What type fuel does Suzuki recommend?

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by firsts40 on 05/21/07 at 23:10:46

I have had my 06 S40 since last July, and when I picked it up the dealer had topped the tank of with Supreme. I have been using Supreme since I have had it except for a few times I was on the road and I couldn't get it. These few times I used the mid grade, my milage dropped from around 59 to around 55. It may have just been the brand of gas, I don't know. But one thing I do know is the higher octane seems to make it run a little better. Now, I also have low milage on it, 5300 miles since July, and over half of them are highway speed. I guess I will just wait to see if it keeps running the way it does. The difference in cost between Supreme and regular isn't a problem, since it is only about 2 or 3 dollars a month. Oh.... I have been told by HD riders that they have never seen a single run the highways with them like "The Little Bike that Could" with only half an engine. :o ;D ;D 8)

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by Violent_Rage on 05/22/07 at 00:36:44

We have only unleaded 95 or 99 octane gasoline.

The second one is not specific but recommended for engines not made to run with unleaded gasoline, as ours i suppose.

But this gasoline is very expensive, more than 1,411 €\liter.

:-X

Usually i use the 95 one.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by Greg_650 on 05/22/07 at 03:50:21

This has been discussed so much, it hurts...

The MOM says Regular Unleaded. 87 octane.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by klx650sm2002 on 05/22/07 at 04:06:42

I put cheapest available in KLX.

Clive W :D

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by Greg_650 on 05/22/07 at 04:15:35

klx650sm2002 wrote:

I put cheapest available in KLX.

Clive W :D

That's another good reason to listen to MOM.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by barry68v10 on 05/22/07 at 04:21:27

I use the absolute cheapest gas I can find. I do add Amsoil Performance Improver, a gasoline detergent additive.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by justin_o_guy on 05/22/07 at 15:32:25

If I could remember how ReelThing explains his choice I would try to quote it, But all I can remember is the general point. He uses Supreme when it's hot. He lives on the coast & I guess sits in traffic & for reasons I have seen & thought sounded reasonable, he uses the pricey stuff during summer months. Exactly why that's better, I just cant remember. I am sorry. I always hated the "Essay" questions on the tests. Gimme multiple choice. PLease!

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by LesGolden on 05/22/07 at 22:00:49

I was gonna leave this one alone, but if we're all playing... Hot months means higher cylinder temps, more prone to detonation, at 8.5:1 i don't think you'd ever have a total detonation but partials could happen and higher octane would likely prevent it. I don't think the small amount of pinging you might get would destroy your engine but peace of mind and possible longevity benefits could make it worth it. At 3 and some a gallon though, i dunno.... Octane is just a rating of resistance to, well, burning. sort of.. ok, now i feel smart so i'll finish there. even if i did just restate everything else said here. hmmm wonder if we could make a system to vary compression according to octane.. switch to efi, use a saab octane sensor coupled to a custom ecu that will activate the system we'll fabricate to raise and lower the jug. let's see 2-3mm should be enough play to put us to 10:1 which should match 93 octane just gotta find a flexible enough gasket. man i'm tired, guess i lied 'bout finishin' up there too. =) or a turbo system with variable boost! still need the sensor and efi though...

having said all that i'll answer the topic question. premium. because it seems to backfire less and get better mileage. I'm sure thats all in my head but an old saab i had that recommended 87 consistently got about 5mpg better with premium. think the boost was turned up a bit.. might explain it.. also got it's best mileage around 70-80mph too though.. hmm never really thought about it before. wow, it's been 10 years or so and i'm still wasting money on premium. darn.. course the truck needs it... still.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by erodelius on 05/23/07 at 01:06:20

haha, i picked up my bike today. it backfires like a you wouldnt believe (or i guess you all would belive it). i put in premium when i filled up. lets see if it backfires less, or "afterfires" as the old man at the shop lectured me on because i said the bike backfired when the guy took it on a test ride...

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by Savage_Rob on 05/23/07 at 10:34:47

erodelius wrote:

That isn't the fuel. That's your fuel/air mixture. Read up on the carb, the white spacer, jetting, etc. and tune that baby up. It'll run better and cooler and backfire far less.

To the topic of this thread, I generally just run regular unleaded and every month or so run either some Sea Foam or some Marvel Mystery Oil through the tank. In hot weather (like above about 95° F), I switch to premium to hedge my bet against premature detonation.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by erodelius on 05/23/07 at 15:06:26

my owners manual says to use gasoline with a MINIMUM octane rating of 87. does this imply that using higher octain is allowed and is in no way hazerdous to the health of the bike?

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by vroom1776 on 05/23/07 at 15:46:00

see this thread (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;num=1170612967;start=29#29)

pics by greg 650:

super/premium = high octane:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/Piston-1.jpg

crap/regular = low octane:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/Piston_1693.jpg

saw the same thing on my buddies old pan. he runs regular. the compression on that bike is roughly the same as ours.

I make no comments about running in high heat environments.

Title: Re: what type of fuel do you use?
Post by LesGolden on 05/23/07 at 16:26:24

Hmm.. so if you keep using premium you may raise your compression with the crap buildup and then need the 93? Yeah, when i opened mine up the piston was REALLY gross, probably due to the higher octance stuff. I'm sure with this motor 87 is usually a better choice. I ride in 100+ weather alot, with 87 and with 93, and i've never heard any knock, but with that loud SE on there i hear very little really...