[FIVEINCH]

2004 GSX-R600

I ask the question of what type of gas to use for the 600 because while at the dealership the GSX-R750 had a tag on it to use high octane gas. Given that the '04 600 is a track bike with lights, I felt the question was warranted. The manual states not to use anything less than 87 octane, unlike most vehicle manuals that state the particular engine was designed for a specific octane rating.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

I used to use the highest 'grade' of gas, until I read *many* threads about the topic. I'm sure someone will be along in a moment to counter this, but I feel like I can use the cheap stuff and get more power. I'm currently using the medium 'grade' stuff, and I can;t tell a difference over the higher 'grade' stuff.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part3/

The high test stuff resists early detonation. That's all it does. If you can hit hte throttle and not hea rhte sound of someone cracking a wad of twigs under the gas tank, you're probably fine with the cheaper grade.

 

[inspiron]

I'm sure that there is another post somewhere in the archives, but here we go again...

RTFM - Suzuki puts a fuel specification in the user's manual. Using higher octane fuel won't give you any noticable improvements - it will just make your wallet lighter.

In Germany, normal fuel is 92 octane, super is 95 and super plus is 98. Shell sells "V-Power" with 100 octane. When they brought it out last year, alot of magazines did tests to see if there was any benefit of this high-octane (and high-cost) fuel - for some engines, they actually ran better with 95 or 98 octane!

Summary - use the fuel that the manufacturer suggests, unless you are in a country where the fuel quality is poor (like eastern europe, africa and some parts of south america). In the USA, there is no benefit to spending more for higher octane fuel.

 

[FIVEINCH]

I'm sure that there is another post somewhere in the archives, but here we go again...

RTFM - Suzuki puts a fuel specification in the user's manual. Using higher octane fuel won't give you any noticable improvements - it will just make your wallet lighter.

In Germany, normal fuel is 92 octane, super is 95 and super plus is 98. Shell sells "V-Power" with 100 octane. When they brought it out last year, alot of magazines did tests to see if there was any benefit of this high-octane (and high-cost) fuel - for some engines, they actually ran better with 95 or 98 octane!

Summary - use the fuel that the manufacturer suggests, unless you are in a country where the fuel quality is poor (like eastern europe, africa and some parts of south america). In the USA, there is no benefit to spending more for higher octane fuel.

I do appreciate your concern about repetition, and ignorance of published media.

My issue with the manual was that I felt it was a little vague. I did conduct a search of the postings, however I did not conduct a thorough internal investigation.

I wasn't real sure how Suzuki tuned their 600's Fuel Management System since everything else about the bike came from a racing design.

Thank you, guys, for your help.

 

[Clint]

In Germany, normal fuel is 92 octane, super is 95 and super plus is 98. Shell sells "V-Power" with 100 octane. When they brought it out last year, alot of magazines did tests to see if there was any benefit of this high-octane (and high-cost) fuel - for some engines, they actually ran better with 95 or 98 octane!

There are two ways to rate octane, and my wife's Passat lists both on the filler door. I'd guess Europe uses the other standard, which results in higher numerical ratings.

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

Now that link really breaks down fuel! Didn't know that.

MeatMan: The high test stuff resists early detonation. That's all it does.

I had been using the '93 up until my last 2 tank fills, which have been the middle grade, '89. I now notice my exhaust pipe is beginning to slightly change colors from using the middle grade. Don't really know if that's good or bad. Might need to go back to the '93, huh?

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

Dog-gone-it!

Started my bike this morning to let it warm up before it took it for a spin & noticed that the exhaust was blowin' out "WHITE HAZY SMOKE :shock: ! The kind of haze that you see coming out of the freezer door when you open it.

What the heck?!?!?

No it wasn't cold & no I'm not experiencing any problems whatsoever w/my engine. It now has 1,400 miles on it & sounds great...that is until I started burning middle grade gas. Got it up to 9,500 rpms & noticed that the engine doesn't sound the same.

NO MORE '87 0r '89 grade fuel for me. Guess 'cause I started w/'93 I gotta keep using '93. No problem!

 

[Clint]

Umm, lower grade gasoline will not cause smoking. Has the weather changed at all? Even a slight temperature difference can make the engine run differently, and it doesn't have to be much below 70 to make visible water vapor if it's humid. Did it dissappear immediately or float away?

As for the pipes changing color, it's normal with any bike.

Also, since octane isn't an abbreviation, you don't need an apostrophe in front of it.

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

'Preciate the reply, RED!

I attribute this to the fuel due to the fact that no other changes whatsoever have been made to my normal routine before riding. None!

I just figure that the 89 has had a chance to filter itself completely through the engine after 3 fills & maybe the engine is adjusting to it. In any event I'm gonna go back to 93, or the highest grade. Kinda got use to & definitely like the way my engine has been sounding & performing over the past week or so. This different fuel has changed what I've gotten use to.

 

[Gix-N-8or]

I'll be the one to say use premium. How much would you actually save using less in a 4 gallon tank? These motors are high compression 12+:1 and while I doubt you'll hear any detonation with medium grade gas, why take chances? After all, shouldn't a "sport" bike get the premium gas? My RX-8 supposedly can take 87 octane, but "recommends" premium. If I never exceeded 4000 RPM's, I'd put 87. Needless to say, I put premium in it too.