Higher octane fuel essentially burns colder and makes less power unless the engine was designed to run on it. Regular fuel is the right choice for a completely stock sled. Is this true???
I own a 1998 700 XTC-P, The only engine mods I have are reed spacers and a bored silencer. What should I run? I think 87 is listed in my manual. Am I wasting my money by burning premium?
I own a 1998 700 XTC-P, The only engine mods I have are reed spacers and a bored silencer. What should I run? I think 87 is listed in my manual. Am I wasting my money by burning premium?
yamaholic22
Active member
yes, you really are wasting money by running premium in that sled. However, if you want some more power, remove the middle layer (metal) and one of the outter layers (fiber) of your stock head gasket, and just run a single fiber layer, and you will have a lot more compression and a noticeable increase in power and throttle response. This mod requires premium fuel because of the increased compression. Great mod on those sleds, along with the reed spacers/reed stopper notch, and silencer mod.
Depends on your jetting. If you are running a little on the lean side or you run on a really cold day or even possible encounter higher elevations than you are jetted for the premium may save you.
Premium fuel does not produce HP, only helps to control knock.
Premium fuel does not produce HP, only helps to control knock.
snomoguy the higher the elevation the less octane you need.
If you remove one layer of the head gasket you can can stil run 87 octane but if you remove two layers I would run premium fuel.
If you remove one layer of the head gasket you can can stil run 87 octane but if you remove two layers I would run premium fuel.
pro116
I agree with the less octane needed for higher elevation due to less air to a point, and if all the variables are right on. But to protect from pre-ignition the higher octane will help, if a guy is running toward the lean side, which most of us do in the west. Due to the fact we may unload at 6 or 7000' and ride to 10 or 12,000'.
I agree with the less octane needed for higher elevation due to less air to a point, and if all the variables are right on. But to protect from pre-ignition the higher octane will help, if a guy is running toward the lean side, which most of us do in the west. Due to the fact we may unload at 6 or 7000' and ride to 10 or 12,000'.
sandmanmike1
New member
My 94 Vmax 600 ST requires 88 octane per the owners manual so I always run 89 octane mid grade.
daman
New member
sandmanmike1 said:
My '95 says the same thing i run '89 in that too.
them sleds had the thin HG from the fact.
woolyviper
New member
We run 91 octane in Northern MN because it doesn't have any alky in it.
i run 91 mid grade as well in my sx700 it runs great.But then again i am a flatlander.
marcush
New member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2003
- Messages
- 100
Well I always run preminum and the reason is if you had regular unleaded tested for its octane level I think you would come up with alot less the 87.By the time we buy the gas it is already old and been sitting in big storage tanks for awhile.One guy said on here consider gas to be old if it has been sitting for a month.
snomo I agree.
Not to hijack, but....
Are octane increasing additives ok once and awhile? ie: 104+?
Reason being, I want to do the head gasket, however there are times on the trail that premium is not available. Not often, but it happens.
Are octane increasing additives ok once and awhile? ie: 104+?
Reason being, I want to do the head gasket, however there are times on the trail that premium is not available. Not often, but it happens.
