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What is the best gas for a Harley-Davidson?

Writer Mia Horton
Harley-Davidson advises owners of all fuel-injected models to use premium unleaded gasoline.

What is the best gas to put in your motorcycle?

Most motorcycle manufacturers recommend owners to use pure gasoline in their motorcycles. Unleaded fuel provides the best performance and efficiency in all motorcycle ratings. You will definitely be able to tell the difference when you are riding with this type of fuel.

Should I use high octane gas in my motorcycle?

Engines must use the proper octane fuel to avoid knock and provide reliable operation.” So higher octane ratings are important for engine preservation and operation in bikes that have high compression ratios and, depending on boost pressures anticipated, turbocharging.

Can I put 93 in my motorcycle?

Even then, unless your engine is knocking on 87 octane, it's not going to make more power or run any better on 89 or 93. On the flip side, if you're thinking of going cheap and putting regular in a bike designed to burn premium, you're at risk of engine damage.

Does it matter what gas I put in my motorcycle?

If you have a high compression ratio, manufacturers generally specify that you should use a premium, non-ethanol gasoline. So no matter what type of motorcycle you have whether it be carbureted or fuel injected, it's better to use a higher octane (91 or higher) fuel that is ethanol-free for all motorcycles.

The Best Fuel For Your Harley Davidson

Is ethanol free gas better for motorcycles?

Pure Unleaded Gasoline Without Ethanol is Best for Motorcycles. Most motorcycle manufacturers urge owners to use pure gasoline in their motorcycles. At least one motorcycle maker, Ducati, considers ethanol to be a gas additive and its use voids the cycle's warranty.

Does using higher octane gas improve performance?

The higher octane of premium gas won't make your car faster; in fact, the opposite is possible because higher-octane fuel technically has less energy than lower-octane fuel. It's the fuel's ability to be compressed more without pre-igniting that results in more power when used in the appropriate engine.

Does 93 octane make a difference?

Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. Fuel with a higher octane rating can stand up to higher compression before it detonates. Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time.

What kind of gas does a Harley Road King take?

Use a good quality unleaded gasoline. Use at least 91 (95 RON) pump octane (R + M)/2. Octane rating is usually found on the pump. Remove fuel filler cap slowly and fill fuel tank slowly to prevent spillage.

What happens if you put regular gas in a motorcycle?

Detonation from time to time will probably not affect your engine. However, if this is frequently occurring, you could end up with some engine damage. Higher octane in fuel means that it will only ignite with very high temperatures and pressures.

Can I use octane booster in my Harley?

One four-ounce bottle of Octane Boost treats one motorcycle tank of fuel. Safe for use with catalyst and oxygen sensor equipped bikes, Screamin' Eagle® Super Octane Boost is the only octane additive tested and approved by Harley-Davidson Motor Co., for use in Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

What happens if you put 93 instead of 87?

Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.

Who has the best premium gas?

Gas Stations With The Best Quality Gas

  • #1. Editor's Pick: Chevron. By far, Chevron has the best quality gas in the United States. ...
  • #2. Costco. While you might think of Costco as a bargain brand store, they have some of the best quality gas in America. ...
  • #3. Shell. ...
  • #4. Exxon. ...
  • #5. Mobil. ...
  • #6. Texaco. ...
  • #7. BP. ...
  • #8. Marathon.

How much horsepower does 93 octane add?

When switching from a 91 octane tune to a 93 octane tune you can expect to see an increase of 5 to 6 more horsepower on top of the gains you are already getting from an 87 octane Bama tune.

Does premium fuel clean your engine?

Nope. Regular, plus, and premium gas all come with detergents to mitigate against carbon deposits in your engine. Plus and premium don't come with special powers for cleaning out the engine. If you're interested in cleaning out your engine, you're better off taking it in for service.

Does higher octane clean your engine?

Will higher octane gasoline clean your engine better? No. High octane gasoline doesn't outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car's engine. This is a myth.

Which octane is best?

What is octane?

  • Regular (the lowest octane fuel–generally 87)
  • Midgrade (the middle range octane fuel–generally 89–90)
  • Premium (the highest octane fuel–generally 91–94)

Can I run ethanol-free gas in my Harley?

Dirty Member. If you can get non ethanol fuel, run it all the time. 100 percent straight gas without the ethanol is the way to go. You will have less potential problems and get better mileage.

Can I run ethanol in my Harley-Davidson?

Moreover, Harley-Davidson and other motorcycle companies now use ethanol-resistant fuel system components on their bikes. Therefore, using ethanol gas will not harm your Harley's parts. The only way your Harley may have problems with ethanol gas is if it is an older model.

Is ethanol gas bad for your motorcycle?

The motorcycle community has long understood that ethanol isn't good for motorcycles. Ethanol can cause several problems: Reduced performance and mileage, since ethanol has one-third less energy than pure gasoline. Absorption of water, further reducing fuel efficiency and potentially resulting in phase separation.

Does higher octane gas last longer?

Sadly, there's nothing in premium gasoline that would make it last longer than other fuels from the pump. Since the distinguishing feature is the higher-octane levels, the only real benefit you gain is lowering the chance of engine knocking, which isn't much of a threat on most modern fuel systems.

Can I mix premium and regular gas?

Can I mix premium and unleaded gas? Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.

Is unleaded gas better than premium?

In terms of actual energy produced, including improved MPG, there is actually no real difference between unleaded and premium. Instead, a higher octane allows for more aggressive driving and a more aggressive engine.

Is it OK to mix 87 and 93 gas?

If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don't worry. You're actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means it will burn differently in your engine.