Hawk and higher octane fuel

Ariel Red Hunter · 05-21-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTech

Just wondering why it is recommend to run at least 90 octane fuel in our Hawks. From what I know about the octane rating is higher compression engines need the higher octane rating and the rule of thumb is if you can hear a knock or chatter (spark knock) then run the higher octane fuels. Also it's been said that the Hawk was designed to run in Africa, Spain and other countries and was to be a work horse, so to speak, with little maintenance needed. Now I'm not well traveled but I am wondering how accessible higher octane fuel is in these countries. I've been running 87 octane in my Hawk for the last couple tanks and haven't noticed any difference in the way it runs or sounds. I want my Hawk to last many years because it's just plain fun to ride and was wondering what everyone's thought is on this. Weigh in and let me/us know your thoughts. I know there people on here much more knowledgeable that I am and maybe I'm just thinking wrong.

No, you are not thinking wrong. To my mind, the only reason to use higher octane fuel is if it is not ethanol polluted. Ethanol gas is ok if you use a tank a week, or more. We have a lot of ruined outboard motors, lawn mowers, and weed whackers around here from the stuff. The fuel itself isn't that bad, it just has a very short shelf life. It goes bad real quick, in other words....ARH

**JerryHawk250** · 05-22-2017, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

We have a lot of ruined outboard motors, lawn mowers, and weed whackers around here from the stuff. The fuel itself isn't that bad, it just has a very short shelf life. It goes bad real quick, in other words....ARH

Same here. With the high humidity the ethanol fuel turns to crap quick. I use to work on outboards and small gas engines and a lot of the issues with these motors was ethanol related. I personally run 89 octane ethanol free in all my small engines including the Hawk. I have run ethanol fuel but I knew I would burn through most of it that day and filled back up with ethanol free fuel.