Octane - Yamaha FZ1 Forums - International FZ1 Motorcycle Community Forum

Eric Lawson · 11-08-2009, 08:04 AM

I was just curious as to what octane gasoline most on here use in there FZ1? Although the owner manual says 87 octane is fine, i have always used mid grade 89. A friend of mine that had gen 1 FZ1 always ran 93 Octane premium. I dont know if the extra cost per gallon for premium amounted to any performance gain or would make the bike run better? Also does higher octane become more important after you put aftermarket exhaust on?

**Hail** · 11-08-2009, 08:17 AM

I use only regular unleaded. There is really no benefit of higher octane fuels in this engine.

I do, however, add Stabil and Sea Foam to every tank. Ethanol is a horrible thing for pastic parts in your fuel system. Stabil helps to keep the ethanol suspended and from settling to the bottom of your tank. It also helps to keep the ethanol from absorbing moisture. Did you know ethanol absorbs moisture and that it is heavier than the regular fuel in your tank?

The sea foam helps to keep things from varnishing and keeps things clean.

Eric Lawson · 11-08-2009, 08:28 AM

I know about the ethanol and damage it can do to engine, but i think most manufactures design modern engines to run on 10% ethanol, which is ratio of gasoline i get in my area. I am not familar with Sea Foam?

**Hail** · 11-08-2009, 08:38 AM

Just having your bike sit up for a few weeks you start off with 80% + ethanol because it settles to the bottom. Ever start her up after a few weeks and have it sound a little rough or sputter? It really causes problems when it has had time to settle.

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Boomer · 11-08-2009, 01:15 PM

It's hard to believe the alcohol would settle out of the fuel; what would keep that from happening in the storage tanks in the ground? You'd get all alcohol at first out of the tank.

I haven't researched this at all, just doesn't sound like it would make much sense to sell fuel that would separate.

As for octane, what they said; running octane higher than your engine needs doesn't help, and can actually hurt power.

I ran some 93 octane in mine the other day, as opposed to the 87 I usually run, and it honestly didn't seem to run as well overall. I'm using only 87 from now on.

Broke_Dirty_FZ1 · 11-08-2009, 01:56 PM

There is only one reason to run higher octane gas in any vehicle you own, than what the manual recommends, unless you experience pinging in the engine. Other than that, there is zero benefit.

psittacid · 11-08-2009, 03:05 PM

Higher octane fuel prevents pinging because it has a higher ignition temperature. It resists detonation in a hot engine at times other than when the spark plug fires. The FZ1 (I'm guessing) only needs 87 octane because it has a good cooling system and a reasonable compression ratio.

**NJFZ1** · 11-08-2009, 05:16 PM

Nothing but 87 octane in my FZ1...why spend extra money on gas when it's not needed.

brantdw · 11-08-2009, 05:21 PM

I have run both and its not needed. I have yet to hear a ping or a backfire from regular unleaded. If you have your bike set up for any type of timing advance, then probably. I run methanol injection in my STI with 21psi of turbo boost. It raises the octane to 118 or so. My timing is advanced as far as it can go and the boost is all the way up with no pre det.

The FZ1 motor is set up for regular. Dont waste the money on supreme.

**FZ1inNH** · 11-08-2009, 05:23 PM

Yamaha says 87 so why spend the extra cash? She runs great on the cheap stuff!

I'm with Tony... Save the extra for mods!

11-08-2009, 08:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Eric Lawson Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 74 Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Octane I was just curious as to what octane gasoline most on here use in there FZ1? Although the owner manual says 87 octane is fine, i have always used mid grade 89. A friend of mine that had gen 1 FZ1 always ran 93 Octane premium. I dont know if the extra cost per gallon for premium amounted to any performance gain or would make the bike run better? Also does higher octane become more important after you put aftermarket exhaust on?

11-08-2009, 05:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
FZ1inNH Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 3,417 Thanks: 2,059 Thanked 1,166 Times in 737 Posts Blog Entries: 10 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Yamaha says 87 so why spend the extra cash? She runs great on the cheap stuff! I'm with Tony... Save the extra for mods! __________________ *{FZ1inNH} (Eric)* * Whois~Mug~Photos~Rider Resume~Blogs Pod lights:LARS Airbox:Copperdog Strike seat cowl:Modded sub-throttle plates:AIS Blockoff:Two Brothers Titanium Slip-on:Cut down stock FE:Yamaha OEM lower cowl:Copperdog Speedscreen & 4 blinker pods:SAE plug & Powerlett:JW Radiator Guard:GPR Steering Stabilizer:Tank protector:RAM mount w/Aquabox:16T front sprocket:Faux CF Yamaha decals:Evotech Exhaust Hanger:SpeedoDRD:Outlaw +4 Adv. Timing Rotor

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11-08-2009, 08:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hail Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 1,357 Thanks: 531 Thanked 471 Times in 312 Posts Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I use only regular unleaded. There is really no benefit of higher octane fuels in this engine. I do, however, add Stabil and Sea Foam to every tank. Ethanol is a horrible thing for pastic parts in your fuel system. Stabil helps to keep the ethanol suspended and from settling to the bottom of your tank. It also helps to keep the ethanol from absorbing moisture. Did you know ethanol absorbs moisture and that it is heavier than the regular fuel in your tank? The sea foam helps to keep things from varnishing and keeps things clean.

11-08-2009, 08:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Eric Lawson Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 74 Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know about the ethanol and damage it can do to engine, but i think most manufactures design modern engines to run on 10% ethanol, which is ratio of gasoline i get in my area. I am not familar with Sea Foam?

11-08-2009, 08:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hail Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 1,357 Thanks: 531 Thanked 471 Times in 312 Posts Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Just having your bike sit up for a few weeks you start off with 80% + ethanol because it settles to the bottom. Ever start her up after a few weeks and have it sound a little rough or sputter? It really causes problems when it has had time to settle. Sea Foam Motor Treatment - Sea Foam

11-08-2009, 01:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Boomer Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin, TX, Y'all Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It's hard to believe the alcohol would settle out of the fuel; what would keep that from happening in the storage tanks in the ground? You'd get all alcohol at first out of the tank. I haven't researched this at all, just doesn't sound like it would make much sense to sell fuel that would separate. As for octane, what they said; running octane higher than your engine needs doesn't help, and can actually hurt power. I ran some 93 octane in mine the other day, as opposed to the 87 I usually run, and it honestly didn't seem to run as well overall. I'm using only 87 from now on.

11-08-2009, 01:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Broke_Dirty_FZ1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 63 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	There is only one reason to run higher octane gas in any vehicle you own, than what the manual recommends, unless you experience pinging in the engine. Other than that, there is zero benefit.

11-08-2009, 03:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
psittacid Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 30 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Higher octane fuel prevents pinging because it has a higher ignition temperature. It resists detonation in a hot engine at times other than when the spark plug fires. The FZ1 (I'm guessing) only needs 87 octane because it has a good cooling system and a reasonable compression ratio.

11-08-2009, 05:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
NJFZ1 Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,727 Thanks: 564 Thanked 970 Times in 682 Posts Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Nothing but 87 octane in my FZ1...why spend extra money on gas when it's not needed.

11-08-2009, 05:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
brantdw Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Beaverton Oregon Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have run both and its not needed. I have yet to hear a ping or a backfire from regular unleaded. If you have your bike set up for any type of timing advance, then probably. I run methanol injection in my STI with 21psi of turbo boost. It raises the octane to 118 or so. My timing is advanced as far as it can go and the boost is all the way up with no pre det. The FZ1 motor is set up for regular. Dont waste the money on supreme.