Re: grade of gas for R1100R

["Robert B. Hadden" <bashadden@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK. I can tell you about this one.  First off, your right that many  
stations use blending pumps now.  Some even with a single hose.  Just  
recently, I pulled into a station with new pumps, just a couple days  
old.  Scan the credit card, and start to pump mid grade.  I got 16  
cents and then the pump quit !!  So I go to the next pump and start  
again.  Same result.  I'm about pissed at this point.  The owner comes  
out and advises that they just ran out of high test, and the pump  
won't allow purchase of mid or high test until he fills the tank. So,  
at least in the case of new or recent pump design, you won't get a  
tank of regular if the pump is set for mid grade.

I always ran mid grade in my oil head.  Ran fine.  I didn't try  
regular except for one time when I had no option.  This because I knew  
I wouldn't be able to hear it ping with the ear plugs in.  The correct  
answer to fuel grade is that you should run the lowest octane the  
motor can tolerate as long as there is no pre ignition.  If you don't  
trust yourself to make that determination, then run what the  
manufacturer says to.

BMW had a lot of trouble with engines carboning up in the late 80's  
early 90's when run on lower than hi test.  This was because of poor  
additive packages in the lower grades at that time (USA only as I  
understand it).  Since then, gas now has the same detergents etc in  
all the grades.  But BMW hasn't backed off on their premium policy.   
I'm using mid grade in mu 325 cage, Guzzi bike and wifey's F650.  They  
all do fine on it.

Bob Hadden


On Jun 2, 2008, at 9:28 AM, plpklt@xxxxxxx wrote:
> I've wondered if they are out of regular and you by middle grade are  
> you getting hightest for the price of mid-test?? Or are you getting  
> the real crap out of the bottom of the regular tank?
> Paige