Leaded gas, lead additive, octaine boosters

[charleygofast]

How important is lead to these motors, and are any of you using lead additive or octaine boosters in yours? Theres a BP near me that sells "race gas" leaded 110 octaine but pretty pricey at eight bucks a gallon.                                                                                                                                                      Thanks! Charley.

[the fan]

No need for either additive. The FJ will survive just fine in stock form on unleaded pump gas. Now the ethanol content... That may be another story...

[FJ1100mjk]

When I'm in town, I usually fill up with and run non-oxygenated fuel. Pricier than the regular unleaded, but less than your stated "race" gas.

Here's a neat site for finding non-ethanol fueling stations...

http://pure-gas.org

When out on a trip out of town, I run 87 regular unleaded, and it usually has ethanol in it . Never have had issues in doing so. If you're burning through it fast enough, I don't see problems using it.  If your bike is going to sit with it in the tank and carbs, you may entertain using Stabil Marine formula while the bike sits.

[yamaha fj rider]

I normally buy premium pump gas, then add Lucas Ethanol fuel additive. This will not boost octane or add any other type of valve lubrication. What it does is help with is the ethanol. Since I started using this, I have had no problems with the carbs being clogged. This spring the bike started right up, no problem after sitting for over four months. Well worth the ten cents per gallon to add it. I don't add it when I am out for a ride. Just when I fill before going home or the gas I keep in the garage. One ounce to five gallons, the eight dollar bottle goes a long way. There are other great products out there but this is what I use.

Kurt 

[RD56]

You should try LL (low lead) AvGas. Available at most small airports. 2 year shelf life and no alcohol. I use it in everything that gets stored for any length of time. The alcohol is killing your fuel system. Write you elected official ( if you have one) and bitch like hell!

[charleygofast]

I allways run the premium unleaded 91 octane recreational gas that doesn't have any ethanol in it. no problems, it goes in all the bikes, mowers, saws,ect we have. I was just wondering if lead was important for valve guide lubrication as in many older bikes/motors.                                                                         Charley.

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, me too....we don't have any ethanol free stations here in the SoKalif. desert, but I do have a local bike shop that sells VP racing fuel...charges me $8 a gallon....I put a couple of gallons in each bike.

As I post this, the elected weenies in Sacramento are discussing increasing the minimum ethanol content from 10% to 15%.....the goal is to have everyone on 20% (E20) by 2020.

So, if you think you have problems now.....

(Note to self: buy stock in VP Racing Fuels)

[Fj.itis]

Wow, you dont have any non ethanol fuel available! Maybe this is our future as well, although we have mostly non ethanol fuels from 91 to 95 to 98 octane rating. Even the ethanol fuel that is available is mostly 94 octane rating.

[Bones]

They were designed to run on unleaded fuel so they don't need any lead additives. Not sure about other country's, but in Australia anything manufactured after 1986 had to be unleaded compatible.

                                                         Tony.

[charleygofast]

Couldn't find any info on B.Ps race gas. Googled BP to no avail. they used to have pamphlets at the pump, but not anymore. I'm wondering what additives and how much alcohol is in it. I did look up Sunocos racefuel and it looks safe to use, I think the BP race gas is similar.                                                                     Charley

[FeralRdr]

This is really all you need.



Now having said that; I did tend to run Premium in my '87 for many years, but that was more out of ignorance than requirement.  Since Ethanol started showing up in the fuel supply, I started going out of my way for E-Free fuel.  As almost all Ethanol Free fuel in the Pacific Northwest is Premium grade, that is what I tended to run anyway.  However, if E-Free wasn't available, I would just grab Regular with no discernible difference in performance. 

[mr blackstock]

G'day,

Although the manual may state "regular gasoline" this would mean different things in different countries.  For instance in Australia we have 91, 95, 98 octane non lead petrol, E10 with ethanol, and apparently we have different octane ratings too...

When I first got my FJ11 it had a "fuel shark" octane booster installed, I took it out and I use 95 octane now.

Cheers, Gareth

[FJ Flyer]

You should try LL (low lead) AvGas. Available at most small airports. 2 year shelf life and no alcohol. I use it in everything that gets stored for any length of time. The alcohol is killing your fuel system. Write you elected official ( if you have one) and bitch like hell!

Technically, this illegal.  So be prepared to get pushback at most airports.  Related mostly to taxes, but also lead.

I use startron for the ethanol issues.  Non-ethanol (pure) gas isnt available in MD.  Can find it in VA, but not close by.

[charleygofast]

I love the responses to these posts, I 'd  like to put on the table that I just ran 3 gallons of that BP 110 octane leaded "race gas" through mine. The reason I even posted the lead/octane question was I noticed a bit of detonation (rattly sound) in mine when I'd really get on it using U/L premium, so I was concerned. She is still running slightly lean, the timing is right on but I need to do some more carb tweeking to get it right (now-115 main-40 pilot). Any-hoo with the 110 gas in there the can of marbles sound is gone! I am going to continue to run this pricey juice but at a 50/50 to 75/25 mix with unleaded non ethanol premium when available.  No worries, for now! Charley.

[JoBrCo]

When I'm in town, I usually fill up with and run non-oxygenated fuel. Pricier than the regular unleaded, but less than your stated "race" gas.

Here's a neat site for finding non-ethanol fueling stations...

http://pure-gas.org

When out on a trip out of town, I run 87 regular unleaded, and it usually has ethanol in it . Never have had issues in doing so. If you're burning through it fast enough, I don't see problems using it.  If your bike is going to sit with it in the tank and carbs, you may entertain using Stabil Marine formula while the bike sits.

Many thanks for that link, and the cherry on top, is that the only one in my city, is right down the road, about 3 miles.  

Also thanks to you guys that mentioned additives to counteract the ethanol. I think I'll carry a bottle on board for those unintended fuel stops.

Great thread!

FJ Forever!

JoBrCo