gam@proper.UUCP (Gordon Moffett) (03/22/84)
* I have a motorcycle. I prefer to use high-octane fuel for it. Unfortunately, most gas stations' high-octane fuel is also unleaded. (Union 76 stations do sell leaded premium, but they are the only dealer I know of that does). Can I use unleaded fuel in my motorcycle, then? Already I have gotten two responses to this: "Sure, it doesn't matter." "Yes, but you should use an oil labeled `SAE-SF'..." So, in confusion, I submit my question to the net. (This question should also be applied to internal-combustion engines generally). (Please do not bother explaining catalytic converters as that is not the question I am asking).
lat@stcvax.UUCP (Larry Tepper) (03/23/84)
I can't answer this question directly but can at least
give a helpful pointer if the answer is "Yes, you can
use leaded gas". A friend of mine has a few `old' (i. e.
1972 or so) bikes from back in the days when high octane
gas was the real thing. He boosts the octane of his gas
by buying 5-gallon quantities from a nearby community
airport. According to him the gasoline used for private
airplanes is somethine like 105 - 110 octane! He then
mixes this with regular leaded gas, or even unleaded.
He says it really gives a lot of zip.
My friend has been an amateur racer for the last 8 years
and does ALL of the maintenance on his bikes except for
the stuff that would require machining of parts. I say
this only to point out that he is more than just a casual
rider.
Any caveats to this technique will be readily accepted.
--
Larry Tepper - Storage Technology (disk division)
uucp: { decvax, hao}!stcvax!lat
{ allegra, amd70, ucbvax }!nbires!stcvax!lat
USnail: Storage Technology Corp - MD 3T / Louisville, CO / 80028
DDD: (303) 673-5435darryl@ism780.UUCP (03/29/84)
#R:proper:-107700:ism780:15800004:000:816 ism780!darryl Mar 28 07:03:00 1984 I have a BMW and my dealer says: "You can use anything but you ought to run leaded gas through it now and then." I run Union 76 all the time. The lead lubricates the valves as they run through their guides. I suspect that the newest models have less need for lead than older ones because, at least here in California, the manufacturers are already starting to put cataclysmic converters on the bikes, and that rules out lead. ______ / \ _______| |_______ / | Darryl | \ ___/|________|Richman |________|\___ / | | | | | | ...!ima | | | | | | \ | | | \`|'/ | !ism780 | \`|'/ | | | | | | -( )- | !darryl | -( )- | | | | | | /| |\ | | /| |\ | | | \_______| |___ ___| |_______/ | | |________| | | `-' `-'