That Time America Ran Out Of Octane

"McMike" (mcmike) 08/18/2015 at 12:54 • Filed to: Mcsturgis, tutu153, twowheelsbad, road trip

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While pretty much anything on four wheels made within the last 15 years can adjust timing on the fly to prevent knocking, my motorbike can’t.

Me - Admiring the old-timey analog pump in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

As some of you know, I rode my motorcycle from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! during the first two weeks in August. It’s only now that I’m putting all the photos together, and trying to come up with some interesting parts of the trip to share. I wrote nothing down, and only have time-stamped images and a future credit card bill to freak out about sort it out.

Here in the DC area I’m spoiled, as every station I visit has the option of 87, 91, and 93. With the aftermarket FI module I have on my motorbike, I get some pinging using anything less than 93. If I had known anything about programming the module, and knew that finding 93 was going to be so hard to find on this trip, I may have adjusted the module to run on a lower grade. I didn’t so I couldn’t, so the only other action I could take was to bitch about it.

Shortly after we left Ohio (or was it Indiana?) I noticed that 93 it was no longer offered whenever we stopped for fuel. Knowing we were going to experience nothing but flat, two-lane, mid-western secondary roads, I wasn’t too worried. There was still a little knocking while passing on the highway, but the motor would cruise just fine on 91. We filled up with it, and we were off.

A few days later, we started climbing the Black Hills, and the knocking became nails on a chalkboard, and I had to do something about it so I could get out of the truck lane on those longer grades.

The next morning, I found an autoparts store, and bought the last few bottles they had. It was understandable the shelves were empty, since I think there were a lot of motorcycles in town that week.

All is good, we continued with our trip and I gave the bike a dose of additive every time we filled up. I think I had enough for the next 1,000 miles or so if we didn’t find any 93.

.......Then this happened half way through Nebraska.

“We have both kinds of gas; unleaded, and regular unleaded.”

As we pulled into rural stations around our 140 mile comfort range, we started running into this shit. We would see stations that listed two prices; one for “unleaded” and one for “premium,” only to find that some thought ”premium” just meant no ethanol. We were almost out of additive, and now both bikes would need it if this was all we could find. I started to worry, since I didn’t feel comfortable at all running 87.

We started cutting our stints shorter, leaving mileage in reserve for the hunt for 91. We even sent the girls in sometimes to ask if they knew where we could find 91 or higher. Sometimes the cashier knew, sometimes they didn’t.

One station actually advertising the fact that they have higher than 87

2,000 miles, and the highest we saw was 91. What do you mid-western folks do if you require 93?

Lesson learned? Pack more additive, detune your motorbike, or (assuming they have it on the interstate) stay near the interstate.

Some fuel numbers I just found jotted down on a post-it note on my desk:

4509 miles

~38MPG

118 gallons of fuel.

34 fill-ups

$355 in fuel.

Definitely cheaper and more fun than towing a trailer.

Milky > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:02

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This still surprises me. My last 2 cars have used premium but when I go back home the stations not in town only have regular. I get that most cars in the country don’t use fancy gas but with the EcoBoost F150 and cars like it becoming more popular I’d bet this changes.

Mercedes Streeter > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:02

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I experience this problem whenever I partake in the Midwest smart Rally each year. Sometimes, the rally gets held in some place in the middle of nowhere where the nearest petrol station with 93 octane is at least 50 miles away back onto the Interstate.

The only solution is that we stock up on those octane boosters before leaving.

While smarts can compensate for lower grade fuel, our already fragile engines really shouldn’t be running it.

Cixelsyd > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:02

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I live in Cincinnati, and in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky, it depends on the station. Supermarkets and most stations top out at 91, but Shell and BP carry 93 as their premium, which is one of the reasons I always fill up there.

Jcarr > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:02

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Almost looks like you’re rocking a Flock of Seagulls do.

Dusty Ventures > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:03

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It’s not just the Midwest. When I went to Oregon and back I ran into this problem when I crossed into Iowa. I didn't see 93 again until either Missouri or Illinois/Indiana on the return. Midwest, Rockies, pacific coast, all of it 91 at best

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:04

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”premium” just meant no ethanol.

If only... Note to self - bring octane booster if driving through the flyovers.

. . > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:05

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That’s quite insane. Around here the worst petrol you can buy is 95 octane RON (91 AKI), but majority of filling stations also sell 98 octane RON (93/94 AKI). How the hell do your cars run on 87 octane (91 RON) swill? In Europe that shit was pretty much phased out in the early 90’s.

deekster_caddy > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:07

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I know high altitudes offer 85/87/89 or 90 as their 3 octanes, but that’s because of the air density. Hope you don’t need to replace a few pistons when you get home!

AM3R shamefully returns > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:10

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We really are spoiled around here in the DC area. We pretty much have 93 everywhere

LuczOr > Dusty Ventures 08/18/2015 at 13:11

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We get 92 as premium in Oregon. A bit better than most, but 93 would make me happier.

Pickup_man > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:12

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Welcome to the midwest, SD in my case. I’ve never seen 93 octane except for maybe a handful of places across the entire state and 91 is even getting tougher to find. My bike seems to run ok on 87, but I wont run it if I can help it, and I have to plan rides/fill up times to make sure that I can get 91. It kinda sucks.

macanamera > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:12

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THE GLASSES EMERGE

Dusty Ventures > LuczOr 08/18/2015 at 13:18

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That’s true, I forgot Oregon had 92. But even then it was something only some stations carried

McMike > macanamera 08/18/2015 at 13:19

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GODDAMN RIGHT

RallyWrench > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:20

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Extra points for the Blues Brothers reference.

450X_FTW > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:23

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I’d be screwed, I only run my bike on 93 octane at all times

StingrayJake > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:24

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My old summer job had a pump with the rolling numbers. We used it for our “full” service customers. I put full in quotes because all we did was fill gas and maybe wash windows (if they asked). Occasionally some old fart would pull in and rant and rave about how I should check oil, tie pressure, etc.

StingrayJake > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:27

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This “no ethanol” thing is classic rural ‘Murica telling big gubmint that they don’t need their stinking additives. Their ‘78 chevy ran fine before ethanol and runs like shit on ethanol. Gubmint trying to take classics off the road.

georgechristensen > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:29

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In Australia, every station I’ve stopped at barring really rural independent ones has had at least 95(91) and most had 98(93). Must suck to be a car enthusiast in the midwest, not only will your car rust quickly but you’ll also have difficulty filling it up.

McMike > deekster_caddy 08/18/2015 at 13:32

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It was most present at the end of one of our days, the very next morning I went out and found the additive.

I did my best to avoid the knocking while we were climbing those long grades.

GhostZ > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:37

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Ugh. Nebraska is NOTORIOUS for watering down gas and offering shitty options. Most people drive around on 85 and unless you’re lucky enough to find a shell station, few remember ever a time when 91 was even sold.

It’s worse in the winter when your car won’t start because of all the crap they put in the gas to thin it out freezing up in the lines.

I don’t know what it is, but there’s a real culture of gas stations screwing out anyone driving through on the highway by mislabeling their gas and being noncommital with helping out-of-staters during peak activity too. Price fixing is a regular thing that happens too.

GhostZ > Milky 08/18/2015 at 13:38

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I doubt it. Most people don’t know what grade to use and think it’s just a cost thing.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:41

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Here in MI we have 93 all over. i dont think i have seen a place without it

deekster_caddy > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:42

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I think in the midwest they expect all octane loving gearheads to switch to E85. All the octane you want! But.. not an easy switch for a carb. Or a non-dual-fuel setup.

McMike > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/18/2015 at 13:42

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Michigan was good to us. Once we saw corn, that was the last we saw of it.

GhostZ > . . 08/18/2015 at 13:43

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Most engines in america never break 3k RPM, that’s how. We don’t have 1l or 1.5l engines anymore, and if we do, they’re turbocharged and have ignition timing and boost controllers that make sure power is reduced if low grade fuel is used. Most of the cars running on 85 or 87 AKI are 90s sedans with loping V6s designed to max out at 4-5k RPM and last 200,000 miles of abuse.

There’s also the fact that the age of cars in the US on average is lower, 11.4 years VS 8.6 in the EU.

McMike > deekster_caddy 08/18/2015 at 13:45

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But.. not an easy switch for a carb. Or a non-dual-fuel setup.

Or most of the cars I saw them driving themselves!

Damn, they know how to hold on to their cars. I can’t believe how many 90s American cars were still on the roads. They were everywhere.

GhostZ > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:46

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I’m going to assume you just photoshopped these glasses on. I can’t trust anything you post anymore.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:46

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what part of MI did you drive through? Im in kalamazoo

Ike > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:47

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I used to live in Naperville il, I know we have 93 on tap

a gas station off of Naper blrd ? If I remember correct had race gas on tap 101 octane

Justin Hughes > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:52

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Dang, now I’m having second thoughts about driving my BRZ cross country someday. It requires premium due to the high compression motor. It’ll do fine on 91, but I’ve never tried anything less than that, nor do I want to.

McMike > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/18/2015 at 13:54

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We weren’t there long - We did the http://www.us12heritagetrail.org/ from Sturgis to lake MI.

. . > GhostZ 08/18/2015 at 13:54

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Pretty much all cars these days will compensate for low quality fuel, but using it seems rather counterproductive. You pay for an engine that develops a certain amount of power and then you use rubbish fuel that makes both performance and economy worse. And as for low revs - my CLK redlines at 5800 rpm and still requires 98 octanes. I can’t help but think that all of those lumbering sedans you mention could have been tuned from the factory to have a bit more grunt if reasonable quality fuel was readily available.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > McMike 08/18/2015 at 13:56

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ah so just the sother counties. Still pretty nice. Not just corn all the time

Milky > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/18/2015 at 13:58

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You clearly don't travel to the boonies.

McMike > Justin Hughes 08/18/2015 at 13:59

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Treats up to 25 gallons. You should be able to get two tanks out of it.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Milky 08/18/2015 at 14:01

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ever heard of scotts MI or orangeville? been to plenty of small little places and all of them had 93

Milky > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/18/2015 at 14:10

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Get on my level breh

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rub…

Regular only places in Michigan exist. Funny because there are a few around Scott ville that only have regular.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RallyWrench 08/18/2015 at 14:11

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Just rewatched it last night. That bridge scene was absolutely insane.

desertdog5051 > McMike 08/18/2015 at 14:20

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I have had good luck with this product. A lot of HD dealers also sell it.

RallyWrench > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 08/18/2015 at 14:27

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One of my all time favorite movies, and the soundtrack is easily one of the best ever put to film.

McMike > desertdog5051 08/18/2015 at 14:34

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I like that it’s in individual servings that will treat (probably) 4-6 gallons of fuel.

I had to guess at “one-fifth” bottle each time I poured mine in, since the bottle was metal.

—-edit, I just found some details—-

Geez, really? “Not for Jap Bikes?” and not for FI?

Will boost your octane 4 to 7 points

Comes in a clean and convenient disposable tube or bottle

Mix 1 package with 2 to 5 gallons of gasoline

For carbureted engine only

Not for continuous use on bikes with oxygen sensor or catalytic convertor

Tohru > StingrayJake 08/18/2015 at 14:42

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I saw an Escape yesterday with a sticker of your avatar on the back window.

Tohru > McMike 08/18/2015 at 14:44

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As a Wisconsinite, I can confirm. This is my current garage:

Tohru > McMike 08/18/2015 at 14:55

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Here in Wisconsin, we usually only have 91 octane. Though there is a station next to I-90/94 at Lyndon Station that sells 110 at the pump.

Glad you didn’t go two-off on the Dragon.

StingrayJake > Tohru 08/18/2015 at 15:06

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It was a cry for help.

twochevrons > McMike 08/18/2015 at 15:32

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Here in Minneapolis we have 93 readily available, but as soon as you leave the metro area, 91 seems to be the best you can get. Can definitely feel the 850R dialling back the boost when I have to fill up out in the boonies.

My MGA (and many British cars of the early postwar era) has a great solution to the octane problem. When it was built, rationing had only ended a few years earlier, and rationed fuel was only 72 octane! The ubiquitous Lucas DM2 distributor has a knob on the side for timing adjustment. No need to mess around with turning the distributor back and forth and checking your work with a timing light – if you’re running on crap fuel, just wind it back a few turns (I think it’s one turn per degree, or something like that), and set it back when you’re done. Easy!

desertdog5051 > McMike 08/18/2015 at 15:39

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Hmmm. I did not know about the not for FI thing. The tub I have is a few years old and doesn’t say that. Kinda hoses the newer bikes. Mine is carbed. I wonder if the “not for Jap bikes” thing is just a personal vendetta of the owner. I have talked to him in the past and he is just a real small operation with like one part time employee.

McMike > desertdog5051 08/18/2015 at 16:48

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I read the Amazon reviews and a lot of people are using it. American twins, metric twins, quads, and sportbikes have all chimed in with “it’s nice to have when you can’t find good gas”

Of course, there are you one star reviews claiming that they “couldn’t feel the difference.” I’m assuming they all have 87 engines, or added it to the gas their engine required, looking for a “boost.” :)

desertdog5051 > McMike 08/18/2015 at 17:28

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I re-read my container and it said safe for fuel injected engines. That might have been the older, open loop systems. Newer closed loop systems may be different.

I have a 9.7-1 compression motor so I carry it on my back country cruises in case I can’t get higher octane gas. Even so, those rural stations that carry higher octane fuels don’t sell enough of it and I’m assuming it gets stale. One thing I found out is that any marina will usually have fresh premium fuel because boats need it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > McMike 08/18/2015 at 19:09

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My car needs 91.... Never notices 93 before, but when I went back east I wasn’t paying for the gas... So maybe I just didn’t notice. We don’t have 93 in CA

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > McMike 08/19/2015 at 10:04

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2,000 miles, and the highest we saw was 91. What do you mid-western folks do if you require 93?

People just tune for 91 instead of 93.

There is a Shell station in my city that sells 93, which is where my friend goes to fill up his thunderbird because it needs close to 100 octane fuel.

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > . . 08/19/2015 at 10:07

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lower compression

McMike > DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom 08/19/2015 at 10:12

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People just tune for 91 instead of 93.

When that’s an option, sure. What about cars that require it out of the box? Do those owners just suck it up and use a lower grade?

McMike > DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom 08/19/2015 at 10:19

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Can you order a lower compression engine at the dealership?

“Ah yes, I would like to take a look at it in Sparkling Bronze Metallic, with heated leather seats, navigation, and the 9.1:1 CR please”

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > McMike 08/19/2015 at 10:22

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All the high end cars that I know of in the area that require higher octane gas require 91, though most people cheap out and put 87 in and just deal with the reduced performance because they don’t care. Examples of this would be my dad with his ml 320, my friend with his XJ

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > McMike 08/24/2015 at 13:12

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Air pressure. As you go up the pressure goes down and the octane goes down. You don’t need 93 as you go up. Although I don’t know why this starts so far east, Sturgis is definitely high enough to run 91, as is at least half of South Dakota.

What’s weird is that a lot of the west has 92 as the highest even at sea level. Not sure what’s up with that. It’s also extremely hard to find fuel that doesn’t have 10+% ethanol.

Hammerdown > McMike 08/25/2015 at 14:48

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I’ve lived in SD/MN my whole life and I”m not sure I’ve ever seen 93 octane. Everything is 91 (If they have it). I bought a VTX 1800 and one of the selling points for me was that it’s tuned to run best on 87 octane. Not having to search for fuel is nice.

McMike > Hammerdown 08/25/2015 at 15:02

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My last bike was a VT1100, it ran on 87 all day long. I miss that bike sometimes.