Regular or mid grade gas for 2006 GL1800?

[twv60s]

My owners manual says to use gasoline rated above 86 octane so I use Regular (87 Octane) but the other day while filling up my bike a couple of other Goldwingers said I was making a mistake by not using Mid Grade (89 Octane). I know that in a Automobile using a higher octane fuel than required is a no-no but am now worried I may have messed up.

Please give me your thoughts as to the proper fuel to use in my 2006 GL1800 Goldwing.

Thanks for your help,
tom

[st4r50]

FWIW...
I copied the following from a publication from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Octane Myths
• High octane gasoline improves mileage.
In general, if your car is designed to run on 87 octane gasoline, high octane gasoline will not improve
mileage. If switching to high octane gasoline does improve mileage, you might find that your engine, or its
control systems, need repair.
• High octane gasoline gives quicker starting.
No, it doesn’t.
• High octane gasoline increases power.
If your car is designed to run on 87 octane gasoline, you shouldn’t notice any more power on high octane
gasoline. Again, if it does make a noticeable difference, your engine, or the engine’s electronic control
systems, may need repair.
• High octane gasoline has been refined more – it is just a better product.
Additional refining steps are used to increase the octane; however, these additional steps do not necessarily
make the gasoline a “better” product for all engines. They just yield a different blend of hydrocarbons that
burn more slowly. The additional steps also increase the price.

If you refer to your owners manual, you will find plan old regular gas is recommended. IMO it's not worth the added $ for higher octane gas. I do however like regular gas and not ethanol blends but it's becoming harder to find and usually costs more. Not because it's better but it is more stable for storage. If you drive your bike often you shouldn't have a gas problem with ethanol blends. If you leave it sit for weeks at a time or longer then you should spend the extra money for non ethanol blend gas or use a suitable stabilizer for ethanol blended gasoline.

It's not likely to damage your bike using high octane fuel, however it's a waste of money.

[thrasherg]

My father in law was on the European Gasoline standards board (honestly what he doesn't know about Gas isn't worth knowing), he is now retired, but he always told me to run the lowest octane rating that doesn't cause your engine to knock.. Higher octane ratings can give more power, but only if the engine is modified/tuned to use the higher rating, otherwise you are just wasting money. I run my 2005 GL1800 on regular gas and in 34,000+ miles have never had a problem. If I am going to high altitudes 9,000+ feet then I sometimes use higher octane fuel as it just seems a good idea (No proof that it helps). If your bike runs fine on regular then stick with it..

Gary

[WingAdmin]

My father in law was on the European Gasoline standards board (honestly what he doesn't know about Gas isn't worth knowing), he is now retired, but he always told me to run the lowest octane rating that doesn't cause your engine to knock.. Higher octane ratings can give more power, but only if the engine is modified/tuned to use the higher rating, otherwise you are just wasting money. I run my 2005 GL1800 on regular gas and in 34,000+ miles have never had a problem. If I am going to high altitudes 9,000+ feet then I sometimes use higher octane fuel as it just seems a good idea (No proof that it helps). If your bike runs fine on regular then stick with it..

Gary

Actually at higher altitudes you can get away with running LOWER octane. Higher octane values are used for turbocharged or supercharged engines that have higher intake manifold pressures, to prevent detonation. At high altitudes, the manifold pressure is even lower than normal.

[SteveB123]

My owners manual says to use gasoline rated above 86 octane so I use Regular (87 Octane) but the other day while filling up my bike a couple of other Goldwingers said I was making a mistake by not using Mid Grade (89 Octane).

Unless the random octane observations were made by Honda Engineers, I'd pay no attention. If they WERE made by Honda engineers, I'd ask them to explain the descripency between their advice and the Factory manual.

[Possum51]

I look at it this way, if it has ethanal in it, it ain't going in my bike. I'd rather pay a little extra per gallon that pay a mechanic to clean all that gunk out of my carbs and fuel system. Some say use 87 oct and then add the stable fuel treatment, well doing that is fine but you are still paying extra to do so.

[WingAdmin]

I look at it this way, if it has ethanal in it, it ain't going in my bike. I'd rather pay a little extra per gallon that pay a mechanic to clean all that gunk out of my carbs and fuel system. Some say use 87 oct and then add the stable fuel treatment, well doing that is fine but you are still paying extra to do so.

You're lucky to have that option. Up here, there are only a handful of places that sell ethanol-free gas, and most of those are boat marinas.

[Possum51]

I look at it this way, if it has ethanal in it, it ain't going in my bike. I'd rather pay a little extra per gallon that pay a mechanic to clean all that gunk out of my carbs and fuel system. Some say use 87 oct and then add the stable fuel treatment, well doing that is fine but you are still paying extra to do so.

You're lucky to have that option. Up here, there are only a handful of places that sell ethanol-free gas, and most of those are boat marinas.

Everywhere I've been for gas around home and traveling inside the state of Georgia its the same, low and mid grade have ethanal, but the high grade (premium 93) does not. Can't say about other states (yet )

[warfelr]

I always used 93 on my 1800. I just did a test and used 86/87 on a 3 day trip around Florida. The results were 5 or more MPG high. I rode a mix of in town and highway. Cruised at 75 on highway and usually 45 in town / along the coast. I'm now using on 86/87

ron

[MiWinger51]

I use 87 octane in my 2006 and it runs just fine. Why waste money on higher octane than the engine needs.

[Rednaxs60]

Use regular gas in my 1800 and it works well.

Higher octane fuels are used in higher compression engines to prevent pre-ignition. Using high octane fuel in an engine designed to run on regular gas does not improve efficiency, you may lose efficiency/economy because the engine cannot/may not burn all the fuel. If you are travelling in areas that have predominantly high temperatures such as Death Valley, it may be prudent to use a higher octane to prevent pre-ignition.

The 1800 owner's manual recommends regular gas.

Cheers

[Viking]

Gasoline is not the only product where myth sometimes trumps knowledge. I have always known not to bother to waste money on higher octane fuels, and so I burn 87 in my 2009 GL1800. Today, I stopped for fuel at a station that I normally fuel up at, in the middle of my days ride, in the middle of nowhere, and I was down to about a bit less than a gallon of gas, so could not go elsewhere. I had to fuel up. This station is undergoing a change of ownership and the only fuel they had today was 92 octane, and they were selling it for the same price as 87 would normally have cost me, so I filled with it. I put in about four gallons, so now I have 80% of the higher octane. I finished my trip, and my bike did not get the fuel economy I am used to. It did not knock and it did not ping, however, it ate more fuel. This has been my first actual experience in using a higher octane fuel in any vehicle. I shall continue in future to use the manufacturer recommended fuels, as they do better in this engine at least.

[Old Wing Man]

The only time I use high octane fuel is when I top up my tank in preparation for winter storage. I get the non-ethanol high octane Shell gas and then put in a double dose of Stabil for storage. So far I have not had any problems with it and I get about 40 mpg with 87. I have not checked the mileage on the winter fuel so I don't know if it gets less with high octane or not. I don't like paying the $.85 premium above 87 for normal driving and I don't think it would be a fair test for fuel stored for 5 months.

I have never seen an OEM that didn't tell you that it was a waste to put in high octane when engine is designed for 87 octane and even a few will say only run high octane when you cant get regular gas just like themainviking did

[WingAdmin]

Gasoline is not the only product where myth sometimes trumps knowledge. I have always known not to bother to waste money on higher octane fuels, and so I burn 87 in my 2009 GL1800. Today, I stopped for fuel at a station that I normally fuel up at, in the middle of my days ride, in the middle of nowhere, and I was down to about a bit less than a gallon of gas, so could not go elsewhere. I had to fuel up. This station is undergoing a change of ownership and the only fuel they had today was 92 octane, and they were selling it for the same price as 87 would normally have cost me, so I filled with it. I put in about four gallons, so now I have 80% of the higher octane. I finished my trip, and my bike did not get the fuel economy I am used to. It did not knock and it did not ping, however, it ate more fuel. This has been my first actual experience in using a higher octane fuel in any vehicle. I shall continue in future to use the manufacturer recommended fuels, as they do better in this engine at least.

Higher octane fuel contains less energy than lower octane fuel, so it's not surprising that you saw lower mileage. And unlike what the gasoline company marketing departments would like you to believe - higher octane fuel produces less power than lower octane fuel in an engine designed for lower octane fuel!

[raven41951]

My 2 cents worth... I have been a gas retailer for the last 11 years. I can say everything said previous is true. Higher octane fuel costs more and burns less. Why? Higher octane fuel (as mentioned above) actually delays combustion to prevent pre-igition (knock) as high compression engines continue their compression stroke. This retarted ingnition, when run in a lower compression engine does not burn completey, leaving deposits from unburned fuel which also explains reduced fuel mileage. Run the octane rating your maual calls for and buy a good quality fuel (cheap gas has fewer additives which actually improves performance). I will not tell you what brand I carry, but I will say I have no worries putting it in my tank. Pay a few extra cents for good gas, but don't waste 30-40 cents for higher octane. Remember, 87 octane is actually somewhere between 85 and 89. Better quality reduces that range from 86.5-87.5.

Here in the northeast we cannot get gasoline without at least 10% ethanol in it. The only non-alcohol gas is avaiation fuel. At 100+ octane (and $7-8 per gallon), bye bye engine. Great for storage as it does not degrade, but lousy for engine performance (and life).

I run 87 octane in my 'wing and use startron starbrite additive in every other tank, as I have in my Shadow ACE, GL1500 and now my GL1800. If I could get it by the drum I would add it to my tanks for the bikers, landscapers and boaters that frequent my place, its that good. Great for longterm storage too.