What type of gas do you use?

[VA400EX]

I was told that running 93 octane is better than running anything with Stabil in it? What do you guys think?

My 400ex is stock so I don't know if that matters.

Thanks

[JOHNDOE83]

For a stock EX I reccomend regular not 93.

Really you dont need high octane unless you have high compression, a stock ex has 9:1 compression and you can run up to 11:1 with 93 octane.

High octane is useless otherwise, I have a 10:1 440 and I swear it runs better on 87 then 93. The time slips from the race track show it was a bettr choice also.

[dirtrider420]

93 in most owners manual it will till u what to run I have a 07 with only a dg pipe and u can tell a difference in 93 then 87

[dxcody]

Honestly, i think people underestimate 93 octane.

I think you could probably get by with running 12:1 stage 2 cam on 93 as long as you jet a little rich and have a decent cooling setup.

But your fine running 87 on stocker motor. I ran 87 in my 11:1 during the winter just because i kinda thought it ran better.

Thats just my opinion.

[Rohr397]

Probably not the case everywhere but the 87 octane is really poor quality around here so I use the premium. The 87 usually ends up having water in it. Also I can't access 93 octane, the highest octane at WA pumps is only 91, sometimes 92 spending on where I go. Its also not much more expensive for me, $4.39 for 87 and $4.52 for 91.

Idk I've always had problems with 87 my motor bogs, cuts out and stalls a lot below 1/2 throttle.

[HondaRacing83]

dont really matter to me, as long as its gas and gets me ridin. i prefer 93 octane because i swear it runs a little better but i aint gonna complain bout 87. i got friends with stock motors that run nothing but vp. im like thats stupid

[VA400EX]

Thanks for your comments, what about sta-bil though? Is there a better stabilizer out there or do y'all do without it?

[ish416]

Are you buying the fuel and storing it for longer than a month? If so then Sta-bil is fine.

If you are just getting it out of the pump and then using the fuel within a month I would say there is no need for it.

The only reason I can think of about why pump fuel would need a fuel stabilizer is if it is e10 (10% ethanol 90% gasoline) or higher. I know some places have E15 (15% ethanol 85% gasoline) and it may be used in one of those tanks as ethanol has a very short shelf life and is easily contaminated with water.

It shouldn't hurt anything but I would try to get straight gasoline with no additives and at least 89 octane on a stock engine.

[NacsMXer]

Originally posted by VA400EX
Thanks for your comments, what about sta-bil though? Is there a better stabilizer out there or do y'all do without it?

I used to use and like Sta-bil, but the original red formula is no longer a good stabilizer for today's ethanol-containing fuels in my experience. It just doesn't stabilize the fuel as well or as long as it used to do with older fuels. After having so many issues with Sta-bil not cutting it in my small engines, fuel turning green in the carbs etc, I stopped using it.

Now I am using Startron, and Briggs & Stratton fresh start plus stabilizers. They perform MUCH better and seem to keep the gas fresher longer. They're actually designed for ethanol, where the original red Sta-bil is not. Sta-bil now has a green marine formula which is also targeted towards ethanol, but I have not tried it. Just stay away from the red stuff for stabilizing any longer than a month.

[finsteratv]

I like to run non-ethanol gas when I can find it. Most dune spots have it, and thats what my bikes like! 93 octane im pretty sure. Always get the best I can at the station

[Wheelie]

I run E-85, no stabilizers or additives. Quad runs great on it.