By jeree on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Have a briggs 16 vanguard. From day one been very reliable and starts and goes and does what it was built for. Have a large hill/trail about 30-35 degrees our property. Have noticed using 89 octane gas signficicantly increases performance,ideling,starting and generally over all.Has anyone used a higher octane rating without motor damage that can occur from using 89?I have equally good results mixing 87 and 89,together resulting in 88 overall.Just seems using 85 or 87 really cheats the performance of these machines.

By Kevin Vallelunga (Kevinv123) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Use the highest octane you are willing to pay for. Using a rating higher than necessary will only burn a hole in your wallet. Using too low an octane rating when you need higher will cuase all sorts of nasty porblems though.

By Roger Smith on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I run 92 or so in vanguard, mower, etc. Using too high an octane doesn't hurt anything, except your pocketbook, which matters on the car/truck but not the atv. When the weather and engine temps are high, low octane can lead to pre ignition (pinging) which causes internal engine damage.

The only reason I can imagine for briggs recommending low octane is EPA etc related.

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Jeree: You can always use a higher octane fuel in your engine without any worries. You can always use a higher octane fuel in an engine, but you should never use a lower octane than what the manufacture calls for. If you do, it can cause detonation (ping) in your engine, which can cause bad internal damage to your engine. I use Trick racing fuel in my Attex. I don't know about more power, but it definitely idles better, and sure smells good.

By Timothy Schotanus (Mudbuster) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I use 110 lo-lead in my modified briggs. It doesn't have the crap additives in it.

By Alfred Cushman on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well, all of you are right, but here's"The Rest Of The Story".
Watch out, The Feds are Comming, it's called FRG, Federal Reformulated Gasoline, this is the "nasty stuff", Small Engines hate. When buying Gas, if you can smell "Ether" or any other "pungent" odor you have it. Simple test, after running for a while do a "Tail Pipe Wipe", use a White Paper Towel, if what you bring out looks like "Black Powder",[ it's called MTBE], yep time to change brands of Gas. I would suggest using Major Brands such as Standard or Texaco, they seem to have better Quality Control, stay with 89Oct. it will work fine.

By Timothy Schotanus (Mudbuster) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If you want to talk tech than the MBTE gas goes through what is called phase separation after about 45-60 days. This is when the additives start to reseparate from the gas.
this is nothing to worry about if you have an old iron block chevy, but the little aluminium engines don't like it. Keep your gas fresh and you will have a lot less troubles over time.

By TIM O'KEEFE on Unrecorded Date: Edit

TIM WHERE DO YOU FIND THE 110 OCTANE. I USED TO BUY MINE AT THE AIRPORT FOR MY MX BIKES, BUT THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO!

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HI TIM I THINK ITS A SUNOCO IN RT 102 IN NORTH SMITH FEALD ON LEFT ,
JUST PAST EDIES MARKET TWARDS WOONSOKET

By Timothy Schotanus (Mudbuster) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You can get it at the airport,a little cheaper there maybe,but the station that Dave B just mentioned is where I usually go. Costs more but its real close to home.

By Larry Noworyta (Larry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THE OCTANE RATING. I DRAINED THE GAS TANK ON MY 99 MAXII, 18 HP VANGUARD OF ALL THE 92 UNLEADED OCTANE FUEL I WAS USING AND REPLACED IT WITH LEADED 110 OCTANE RACING FUEL. THE LEAD SHOULD HELP IT RUN COOLER BUT I DEFINETELY NOTICED A INCREASE IN THROTTLE RESPONSE, NO HESITATION OR ROUGH IDLING PROBLEMS. THE IDLE ACTUALLY INCREASED AFTER CHANGING THE FUEL TO THE POINT WHERE THE CLUTCH NOW ENGAGES WHEN ITS IN DRIVE AT IDLE AND WILL CREEP IF I DON'T APPLY THE BRAKE. I BOUGHT AN EXTRA FIVE GALLON CAN OF 120 OCTANE @ $5.00 A GALLON JUST THIS WEEKEND, THE SUPPLIER ALSO HAS A 130 OCTANE!!
ANYONE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING THE FUEL SHOULD LOOK UP IN THE YELLOW PAGES UNDER "SOLVENTS", AT LEAST THAT IS WHERE I FOUND MY SUPPLIER HERE IN OREGON.
THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT PAYING 5 BUCKS A GALLON FOR AATV FUEL IS THAT IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A STEAL WHEN I PAY $1.45 A GALLON TO FILL UP MY VAN!

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/