Would 88 or 92 octane make any difference for PWC
Mark Vigors
I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
difference running a stock PWC on 88 or 92 octane unleaded. I live in
Sydney Australia so these are the choices.
I seem to recall from Sea-Doo's page that they maintained that no
advantage was gained but would the lower burn temp of the higher octane
make piston ceasures less likely?
I have a stock 97 GSX.
Thanks very much,
Mark Vigors
Simon Wallace
I thought our Premium Unleaded was about 95-96 octane and normal
unleaded was 92?
Mark Vigors <vigorsm...@fastgate.com.au> wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Wallace, Sydney Australia, site of the 2000 Olympics.
<postm...@127.0.0.1> <ab...@127.0.0.1> <sup...@127.0.0.1> <pres...@198.137.241.30>
My opinions don't represent those of my employer. "They never agree with me!!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phantom
Mark...you will see a definite rpm loss running higher octane on a
stock motor with no modification, probably in the 250-500 rpm range.
Here in the States, basic unleaded is 87 octane which is what most
manufacturers recommend for use in the majority of the PWCs. Then
there is 87 octane (mid-range) and 92 as the premium fuel.
There is no advantage to running 92 octane (premium) in a stock
motor, you're just wasting your money. Try the experiment yourself
with a gallon or two of each octane in a dry tank. Do some w.o.t.
runs and watch your tach and speedo. You'll see the drop off for
yourself.
Unless you raise the compression ratio by changing the "squish" to the
point where detonation begins to occur, there is no need to waste your
money on "premium" fuel.
Send Harry Klemm at GroupK or Bill O'Neal an e-mail and they probably
have tests on this in writing which they can send you.
Phantom
On Mon, 22 Dec 1997 05:25:07 GMT, si...@newcapre.com (Simon Wallace)
wrote:
Phantom
Ooops, that was supposed to say...87 octane is the base fuel
(regular), 89 octane is the mid-grade and 92 is the premium stuff.
Hopes that clarifies my typographical error...sorry Mark.
Phantom
Sean
By using the lower octane like 87, wouldn't the carbs and fuel filter get dirty faster and
require more frequent maintence? I have a 750ZXi and the manual recommends 92, could I go
backward and use the 87 but then wouldn't I be looking at future problems caused by using the
cheeper gas?
Tom.F...@ihs.com
In article <349DC3...@fastgate.com.au>,
vigorsm...@fastgate.com.au wrote:
>
> I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
> difference running a stock PWC on 88 or 92 octane unleaded. I live in
> Sydney Australia so these are the choices.
>
> I seem to recall from Sea-Doo's page that they maintained that no
> advantage was gained but would the lower burn temp of the higher octane
> make piston ceasures less likely?
>
> I have a stock 97 GSX.
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Mark Vigors
Mark, I have a 96GSX and ride at 5300 ft elevation. I run 85 octane
and 135psi with no problems. I have used higher octane (91) and have
not noticed a difference. I doubt one will with a stock motor.
Tom in Denver Colorado
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
John Hill
Octane has nothing to do with clean fuel or additives and other BS that
Exon and gas companies have been advertising for years. Higher Octane does
not equate to greater energy. Higher Octane ignites at a higher temperture.
Thats it! less aromatic, higher carbon weight per molecule and bonding.
More engery required to initiate oxidation, higher flash point and boiling
temperture of the gas.
The higher the compression of the engine, the hotter the engine is and the
more likely the gas is to pre-ignite from the internal heat of the engine
as opposed to the spark from the spark plug as it is supposed too thus
blowing the timing..... Pinging, disieling is hell on the engines timing
and on performance and can injure an engine if it persists. You only need
higher Octane gas to compensate for the higher temperture caused by higher
compression engines!
The compression of stock PWCs is low enough where the best fuel is regular
87 Octane for them.... where the fuel is oxygenated ( has ethanol
additives) then 89 Octane may be the best grade. You wont go faster by
burning premium when your engines temp and other variables does not require
it!
Burning higher Octane gas than you need can result in a slower burn and
more carbon deposits. Not only do you waste money, you get a dirtier
engine that runs slower.
Cylinder size, two vs three, the compression and of course the engine
cylinder temperture all affect the Octane required for a given ski. Running
the lowest Octane gas that does not cause pinging is the rule except that
sometimes you use a slightly higher Octane when you are unsure as to the
quality of the gas (Marinas or Cities with smog - thus Oxygenated fuels)
And yes this is not a technically perfect statement!
John
Sean <se...@megsinet.net> wrote in article
<349EAFFD...@megsinet.net>...
W.S. O'Neal
JS,
We use Union 76 92 octane (for pump gas enduro motors) out here in the west.
I believe it is more important to find the octane that woks best in your
motor, no matter what brand, then tune your boat for that gas and stay with
it as long as it is a quality product. Do not use more octane than you need
or you will see a decrease in your rpm on your tach.
The March issue of PWI came out today, and guess what story was in there.
All about Octane by Herb Kane, former product engineer from Mikuni USA. In
another article, Cameron speaks out about spark plugs and fuel, but I can't
remember which magizine it was in, because my desk got bombarded with 3 new
issues of magizines today, PWI, Watercraft Power and PWC something buyers
guide. Both articles are excellent and very informative. The articles are in
PWI and or Watercraft Power, the PWC Buyers guide is useless for tech info,
unless you want specs on new OEM boats and a bunch of ads.
Bill O'Neal
WCM
Bill O'Neal
WCM
--
Bill @ E-MAIL: Water...@worldnet.att.net
JSSLCD wrote in message <19971223044...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
>>>I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
>>>>difference running a stock PWC on 88 or 92 octane unleaded.
>
>which is the best pump gas anyways?
> Just want to hear what the racers use =)
>
> --------JS---------
>SEA-DOOING
>OFF-ROADING
>SAND-DUNE'NG
Mark Vigors
Simon Wallace wrote:
>
> I thought our Premium Unleaded was about 95-96 octane and normal
> unleaded was 92?
>
> Mark Vigors <vigorsm...@fastgate.com.au> wrote:
>
> >Sydney Australia so these are the choices.
> >
> >I seem to recall from Sea-Doo's page that they maintained that no
> >advantage was gained but would the lower burn temp of the higher octane
> >make piston ceasures less likely?
> >
> >I have a stock 97 GSX.
> >
> >Thanks very much,
> >
> >
> >Mark Vigors
>
> Simon Wallace, Sydney Australia, site of the 2000 Olympics.
> <postm...@127.0.0.1> <ab...@127.0.0.1> <sup...@127.0.0.1> <pres...@198.137.241.30>
> My opinions don't represent those of my employer. "They never agree with me!!"
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I could have the numbers wrong but those were the figures I was quoted
some years ago. I was finding out for a car that required high octane
to run at all.
Regards,
Ramiro Fernandez
>
>Mark Vigors <vigorsm...@fastgate.com.au> wrote:
>
>>I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
>>difference running a stock PWC on 88 or 92 octane unleaded. I live in
>>Sydney Australia so these are the choices.
>>
>>I seem to recall from Sea-Doo's page that they maintained that no
>>advantage was gained but would the lower burn temp of the higher octane
>>make piston ceasures less likely?
>>
>>I have a stock 97 GSX.
>>
>>Thanks very much,
>>
>>
>>Mark Vigors
>
Mark -
In my stock '95 GTX I have used the three grades of fuel and found that I get
from 250-500 higher rpm's with the medium grade (89 octane) compared to the
regular grade (87 octane). Using the premium grade (92 octane) I did not get
any increase in rpm's compared to the medium grade. I also noticed that with
the medium grade fuel the plugs do not get dirty as much (cleaner burn).
BTW, another factor that could influence the performance would be the brand
of gas used - even though the octane is the same , additives could impact the
overall performance (too many variables - CHAOS).
So I would agree with Phantom, try the different grades in you ski and determine
for yourself which one works better on your machine.
Happy Testing...
Ramiro Fernandez
"If you keep trying, you will occasionally
do something worthwhile" --- Seymour Cray
Simon Wallace
Mark Vigors <vigorsm...@fastgate.com.au> wrote:
>I could have the numbers wrong but those were the figures I was quoted
>some years ago. I was finding out for a car that required high octane
>to run at all.
>
>Regards,
Mark,
I use Premium Unleaded or Super (leaded) but my ski isn't stock. I
still think I'd be safe with normal Unleaded but you never know... On
a stock ski I'd only use normal Unleaded... but I've been told to
avoid Shell and stick to major brands - no cheapo crap stuff. I'd
suggest using either Mobil, BP, Ampol or Caltex.
JSSLCD
>>I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
>>>difference running a stock PWC on 88 or 92 octane unleaded.
which is the best pump gas anyways?
Mr. HPT
Mark Vigors wrote:
>
> I was wondering if anyone would have information on whether it made any
> Sydney Australia so these are the choices.
>
> I seem to recall from Sea-Doo's page that they maintained that no
> advantage was gained but would the lower burn temp of the higher octane
> make piston ceasures less likely?
>
> I have a stock 97 GSX.
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Mark Vigors
Mark Due to many veriations in production engines
it is best to use 93 oct petro.
Many OEM engines will be happy to rune on 87 oct.
But it is posible to end up with unit that has
high piston domes and lower then usual head volume.
Also ignition timing may be advanced to far.
This will cost lot more to remedy than savings
on gasoline.
Regards George HPT-Sport USA Tel: 502-898-2617
Phantom
Sean, use specifically what your particular manufacturer recommends
for "your" PWC. Some recommend 87 (majority) and some recommend
higher based on the engine design. Please read W.S. O'Neal's post to
this thread. The octane of the fuel has nothing to due with the
cleanliness of the fuel. As also noted in this thread, stay with the
major gasoline producers and a way from the fly-by-nights. It makes
no sense to drop down to a lower octane level if your PWC manufacturer
recommends a higher octane..that will cause loss of performance and
other problems. Keep your fuel filter changed and check for moisture
in the fuel (water/condensation) which will corrode the carbs and give
you poor performance. Read over those articles that Bill O'Neal
recommend and there are others on the same matter, but he spelled
it out pretty much to the point. Good luck and enjoy your ZXi. - Be
Safe, that's #1.
Phantom
Todd
> Mark, I have a 96GSX and ride at 5300 ft elevation. I run 85 octane
> and 135psi with no problems. I have used higher octane (91) and have
> not noticed a difference. I doubt one will with a stock motor.
>
> Tom in Denver Colorado
Tom,
Where do you find 85 octane? The lowest I've ever seen is 87 osctane.
Todd
Mike Steinmetz
AM / PM, 7-11, the guy on the corner selling anything from the back
of his van.... You should be suspicious when the fuel pump says the
product is safe for human consumption and has a "proof rating" rather
than R+M/2.
Mike Steinmetz