Fuel types for ST13s (apart from Diesel that apparently doesn't work)

[Biggles]

I was caught short at a NSW Shell servo because they only have E10 in ULP.  I just grabbed the yellow ULP nozzle and fuelled up then saw the E10 sticker.     

Ruby seemed to cope with it, despite her mother prohibiting it.  Acceleration and high speeds weren't affected, but I'll take ULP95 any time in preference because I'd hate to hurt her feelings.

[Brock]

I think the local BP is 10% as well, cos it said up to 10% on the bowser. Didnt make it any cheaper, and now because speedo is/maybe broke I cant tell if performace will be affected. feels ok tho.

[Biggles]

Yep- all BP 91 RON I've encountered recently have been E10.  At least the 7-Elevens charge a couple of cents less for it.  As I recall, we're losing chemical energy and therefore fuel economy. 
And as far as I'm concerned, it's just politics and greenwash that has inflicted it on us.  Our agriculture should be feeding the world, not our engines.  It's turned agriculture on its head is some poor countries who are chasing the energy dollar at the expense of food.

[STroppy]

I thought that the E10's were about 95 RON and the good old unleaded standard was only 91 RON? Last time I bought ULP in Canberra it was a tad cheaper then the E10. I used to use E10 in most of my vehicles but having seen what it did to the rubber components inside a fuel tank, I now use either 95 or 98 RON, if that isn't available ULP, E10 only if none of the others are available.

After a couple of years of using E 10 in my Ford Exploder the fuel gauge stopped working, a few months after I switched to 95/98 RON the fuel gauge started working again, my theory is that the better fuel helped clean up the shite of the fuel gauge sender?

[Marcus]

I've never taken any notice.. I just go for the unleaded

[saaz]

ST1300 should be rated to be able to use E10. It does have an affinity with moisture so I would not leave it for ages in a tank (I stored the ST1100 with 98 in it plus Stabil), but it can clean the fuel system out which may be a bad thig if it dissolves plastic and rubber in the fuel system.

As for mileage, in the ST1100 I got equal best and worst fuel economy with E10 - must have changed the air fuel ratio in the carbs. On the Trophy I get a bit less distance than straight 91, which you would expect with EFI as there is about 3% less total energy in an E10 blend, unless the vehicle can take advantage of the higher octane (Trophy tales 91).

[Me_3]

I had to run a few tanks through the ST and Scooter on the run down & back to the Rally. No noticeable difference in consumption, on either bike, but I tried to avoid it where I could...

[cravenhaven]

Sheesh!! how do you get away with using anything less than 98. My 03 ST1300 pings like a rattle gun if I use 95, even on 98 it pings under hard acceleration on a warm day.

[Sicman]

The problem with the diesel wasnt that it wouldnt work - Its just Diesel couldnt see where he was going for the smoke 

[Biggles]

Sheesh!! how do you get away with using anything less than 98. My 03 ST1300 pings like a rattle gun if I use 95, even on 98 it pings under hard acceleration on a warm day.

That's obviously another one of the advantages of being half deaf.     

But seriously, I think your FI needs attention.

[cravenhaven]

That's obviously another one of the advantages of being half deaf.     

But seriously, I think your FI needs attention.

I thought they were supposed to run on 98 octane and didnt think anything of it until I started reading these forums. I've owned it since new and its always been that way.
Any hints on what can be done?.

[Biggles]

I thought they were supposed to run on 98 octane and didnt think anything of it until I started reading these forums. I've owned it since new and its always been that way.
Any hints on what can be done?.

I did a search on ST-Owners (well worth joining) but nothing showed.  You might try it, because someone is sure to have written about fuels and FIs in there.  Part of the trouble with search terms is they insist on using the term "gas" which I can quite comprehend.

[saaz]

I remember some owners report pinging even on higher octane fuels. I don't know if there is a definitive answer. As some just seem to do it.  If it has done it from new would not be carbon build up or knock sensor wiring, the latter has been an issue with heat getting to the wiring over time.  Which year is the bike, as this might narrow down any searching?

[cravenhaven]

Hi John,
I bought the bike in early 2003 though the build plate says 7/2002.
I used to belong to the ST owners forum, but when they changed their forum software and lost all the history, I dropped out.

[saaz]

Ok, I will see if I saved anything on the issue or if there are some updates on similar issues. I followed ST1300 things for quite a while I was interested in getting one.  I am still a member of various of the overseas ST forums.