Pump gas has additives that do several things, most importantly:
Clean the engine (detergents), stabilize the gas (so it sits in the tank for a few weeks without going south on you).
Race fuel has neither of those. Reason being that in a race application, the gas isn't going to be around for very long. You'll burn it up in a matter of a couple hours. It's not made to sit in the tank.
They also assume you don't need any detergents as in most race applications the engines are torn down and rebuilt ever other even at least. Sometimes, it's every event. In drag racing, it's every single run.
The reason people add seafoam and the like is that they put their bikes up over the long winter months and it helps make the gas even more storageable and cuts down on the gas going south after it's been sitting in the garage/basement from November to February.
Anyone adding octane additive to a stock Max is wasting time, money and effort...not to mention potentially harming the engine.
Regards,
Tom
hey guys, since we're debating the merits of different gas grades and additives, has anyone heard of or used a Fitch Fuel Catalyst. Is this just another scam or is it as good as it claims. It states that it can give you better fuel mileage and it increases the grade of the fuel. It eliminates the use of stabil when storing the bike over winter. Just put the 2 capsules in your tank and forget about it. They are good for 300,000 miles or so. Don't mean to get off topic Cop Runner, but i thought this thread would be a good lead in for this.
Just wondering.
:ummm:
www.fitchfuelcatalyst.com
I know nothing about racing fuel...to comment on. But I knew a guy who drove a tanker for one of the big companies delivering fuel to gas stations. He was telling me that the fuel starts to (drop) or loose it's octane % as soon as it's blended and degrades faster as it is exposed to air and a temperature change. (don't remember why that was - sorry ) He also was saying that they often have to add octane at times to boost it up to standards. I have to agree with the comment that the fuel quality standards probably has gone down due to the high demands. Lets face it, these gas companies will do anything to make it more profitable. I don't add to my gas other than seafoam, nor do I use anything other than, the regular grade. Maybe the odd time I'll run the good stuff. Not sure why really, maybe it's a thing I have, - it's better for the bike, then again who am I kidding !
fuel starts to deteriorate right after the refining process, so as it leaves the plant its going south and the longer it sits at the gas station and then in your tank ya it turns and voila........ varnish junk formed in your tank and carbs= gummed up everything.
seafoam has tons of benefits and one of them that seems to be helping us(vmaxer, why else are you here FF hahahahah) it like methyl hydrate absorbs water so minimize the water build up and rust forming in the tank. helps keep carb clean from clogging and if you smell lots of the additive stuff you can put into tanks it smells like diesel.......... ever put a little diesel into your stuff to help clean up carbon. Well not really the diesel but stuff in there that smells like it but can find it in Jet B which is Naphtha, now that stuff cleans carbon and junk out like nothing else. oh ya and atf now that stuff is like juice in a bottle.
anyways Fitch Fuel Catalyst, have/had those didnt use them for any claims of octane but more to help stabilize the fuel from breaking down. Did see about 1-2mpg increase in my full size truck, both in town and on the highway. and that was over 6 yrs i was testing it in all sorts of conditions. Had them in the tank of the truck and we keep a bunch in the jerry cans.
So race fuel vs pump gas, for sure it cleans the crap out of your engine, might not have the same detergents as pump fuel but holy crap if you ever run it in your vehicle and take a look at it when you take it apart its always looks brand new, no way it gets carboned up.
Again Cop Runner is not talking about which octane is better for the bike just why newer fuels are clog'in up the crap out of our bikes vs fuels of yesteryears. a little race fuel or avgas mixed in to help wont hurt for sure.
Avgas by spec has to be stable for a min of 6 months only down fall is that its dry as hell and can damage seals in the carb so a little two stroke oil or mixing with pump fuel will solve that.
I know every time i drive in the states and put that lovely ethanol mixed stuff in the tank i get less mpg and slightly less grunt out of the bike. by the time i run half tank of gas from north of the boarder it totally chg animals. Plus i dont have that water absorbing stuff in my tank. One of my bikes i tend to leave parked for winter which is about 7 months if not 8 sometimes. i only start it once in the middle for a little bit and (knock on wood) have no issues with it. starts right up, idles, runs strong bla bla bla. only thing in the tank with the fuel is little bit of seafoam, about 4 oz per tank thats it, dont think more helps, not sure but. maybe dry/cold climate helps preserve it.
im sure im way off topic here cop runner when i remember what the f im suppose to be talking about i will write back
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