Author Topic: Leaded or unleaded  (Read 6065 times)

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tolis

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Leaded or unleaded
« on: September 21, 2005, 05:53:43 AM »
Hi,
I don't exactly know what the fuel situation is in the US right now, but here in Europe (Athens, Greece to be specific) i can still find Super LRP for the time being to fill up my bike.

I am however planning to take a trip up North (that's Italy, Germany etc) soon on my K7-K2 hybrid and was trying to find out whether i can still find super petrol in those countries to fill it up or whether i would need to add some lead replacement in unleaded fuel. The thing is, i came across this BP chart that if i understand correctly, states that my Honda does not need the lead and can run on Premium Unleaded (comp. ratio higher or equal to 9.0:1)

Here's where the chart is, it is for the Australian market and in PDF format.

http://www.bp.com.au/globalchoice/about_globalchoice/Older_car_guide-new.pdf

Any comments or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Chris

Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2005, 06:00:51 AM »
There are a few threads on this topic on this board.  The message is the same:

Your SOHC4 Honda was designed to use unleaded petrol (gas) and it is perfectly safe to do so.

I have used nothing but unleaded here in UK since it was introduced (1980s (?))
« Last Edit: September 21, 2005, 06:03:30 AM by SteveD CB500F »
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Offline ProTeal55

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2005, 06:03:25 AM »
I would def. say UNLEADED gas is the way to go. I run my 1972 CB750 on 87 octane , or sometimes even as low as 83 unleaded , and it runs the same as when I put 93 or higher in it.
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline Gordon

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2005, 06:06:49 AM »
Yep, your engine was designed to run on unleaded REGULAR, and will see no benefit from using premium. 

For more info, see the faq.
FAQ: http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=264.0

Offline CB750F2

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2005, 06:16:43 AM »
I run unleaded in my F2 with no problems. My research told me that these bikes
are suitable for unleaded fuel. Pat from Aust.
Regards
Pat from Australia

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2005, 06:32:59 AM »
The ONLY time I ran a high octane gas was when I first bought the bike , and wanted some good gas to clean everything out.....
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline cbjunkie

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2005, 08:12:37 AM »


this is good info - i actually spent 10 dollars the other day filling up! it just broke my heart... ;D ;D ;D
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Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2005, 08:26:11 AM »
Don't get me started on petrol (gas) prices.

10 litres in my 500 costs £9 ($16)
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Offline cbjunkie

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2005, 08:33:36 AM »
ya- my dad just moved to ole london-town - he's been a BSA/Triumph dude his whole life - now gone to the dark side with his HD Dyna - he's going through petrol shock, too... We yanks have NO F-ING IDEA!!!
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Offline Dave Wyatt

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2005, 08:34:26 AM »
I run unleaded Premium in the Hondamatic.  It does run better, smoother, etc.  It should run OK on regular unleaded, but it will fart and miss occasionally if I use it.  I could probably tune it out, but the thing runs so sweet as it is, I'll pay the extra 30 - 40 cents at fill up time and leave it alone.  

When your only buying 3+ gallons and get 30+ mpg, it's not that big of a deal.
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Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2005, 08:36:32 AM »
We yanks have NO F-ING IDEA!!!

It's just a matter of how your government decides to raise taxes.

We don't have local income taxes or sales taxes, but pay heavily for fuel.
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bike54

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2005, 11:35:50 AM »
We yanks have NO F-ING IDEA!!!

It's just a matter of how your government decides to raise taxes.

We don't have local income taxes or sales taxes, but pay heavily for fuel.
steve you have forgotton our sales tax the dreaded v a t

merv  ;) ;)

Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2005, 12:51:11 PM »
I was thinking more of local sales taxes.

When my kids were younger, we spent some time in Montreal. They loved the Dollerama store but could never understand why their 99c puchase cost $1.07 (or whatever it was - I can't remember the exact amount) with local sales tax ans state sales tax.
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Offline Egil

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SV: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2005, 02:45:33 PM »
Steve
I fill up my car(98oktan Super unlead)monday (19/09.2005) and paid for 59 liters 701.59 NOK =90.1771EUR =60.8777 GBP
1o liters    118.90NOK =15.2834EUR =10.3188 GBR  , I  have super 98oktan unlead on my bike /car / And my HONDA TRX2150.

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Offline bistromath

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2005, 04:10:40 PM »
Wait until Hurricane Rita hits, and US gas prices could hit $4/gal or even $5/gal. That'd be 73p/liter in GB. Then we might see some of those Hummers on the used market....
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bike54

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2005, 05:30:13 PM »
somebody enlighten me how many miles to the gallon does a hummer do or is it gallons to the mile

merv

Offline Gordon

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2005, 05:44:08 PM »
Apparently you'll have to ask a Hummer owner, because the EPA does not require Class 3 vehicles to report mileage estimates.  I'm guessing it's somewhere around one week's salary of mine to one trip to the mall for the Hummer. 

Offline BobbyR

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2005, 06:09:31 PM »
Chris, unleaded has been around in the US since 1974. The bikes were made to handle it. You pick the octane rating you want. At $3.00 a gallon, mine is running 87 and doing fine. Yes $3.00 may seem low to you, but not a penny goes toward Healthcare or anything the man in the street would find useful in this Country.
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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2005, 07:39:56 PM »
Maybe someone else could comment on this too .. My information is that leaded fuels cause considerably more wear, .. A test, or analysis where 2 engines were dedicated to one fuel or the other, identical miles, .. I would suppose the same oil, and service interval ..

At teardown, the unleaded fuel came in with .001 cylinder wear, .. leaded with .006, .. If this is accurate, there is really no decision to make ..

Offline Geeto67

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2005, 04:12:05 AM »
hummer I've seen 9-12 city driving and probably 16-8 highway (never charted mileage on the highway in my friends) same as the chevy truck as it is based off of.

stock cb750s have low compression and are meant to run off regular unleaded, preimum doesn;t do a lot for them unless you know your bike is going to be in traffic and overheat, then it giver you a ffew more temp degrees before denotating.
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tolis

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2005, 04:15:09 AM »
Thanks

i'll start off with premium unleaded and go down to regular unleaded to see (or hear) if there's any difference.

Unbelievable, i thought these bikes would not handle the lead absence.

Thanks again

Chris

bike54

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #21 on: September 22, 2005, 04:22:45 AM »
hummer I've seen 9-12 city driving and probably 16-8 highway (never charted mileage on the highway in my friends) same as the chevy truck as it is based off of.

stock cb750s have low compression and are meant to run off regular unleaded, preimum doesn;t do a lot for them unless you know your bike is going to be in traffic and overheat, then it giver you a ffew more temp degrees before denotating.

thanks for that does it come with its own petrol tanker lol
merv  ;) ;)

Offline Einyodeler

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Re: Leaded or unleaded
« Reply #22 on: September 22, 2005, 06:07:08 AM »
My pickup truck holds 38 gallons,over $100 last fillup and it wasn`t all the way empty. I put Stabil in the tanks and it`ll sit till it gets below freezing and can`t ride the bike anymore.
« Last Edit: September 22, 2005, 06:09:56 AM by Einyodeler »
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