I'd heard these old lawn mower engines weren't really designed for ethanol gas, and that higher octane gas was better for them because the fuel can burn too hot otherwise and cause pinging and extra wear and all that. And lately I've been spiking my minibike and lawnmower gas with ethanol conditioner, as well as the Lucas octane booster. I also believe the results have been positive, and notable. For one, the pinging in the old Briggs 8B flathead is gone, and until it comes back, I'm going to keep spiking.
Anyway... I wanted to post about something else that just happened to me today... once I'd warmed up my old Bonanza's Briggs 6BS to a nice and steady idle... I went to top off the tank -- but first, decided to add a quick shot of octane boost (just a healthy smidge, but yes directly into the tank) with the bike still calmly idling. Never done that before, but long story short -- not 5 to 10 seconds later, the engine changed it's tune and clearly slowed it's cycling. It was like the shot of booster had made a bee line and quickly gotten sucked into the carb's take-up tube? Yes I'll grant you, the idle dropped, but it wasn't a naturally shifting idle like a carb often does. It was like I could hear the engine encountering an obstacle, or a load, but without throttle.
I know this may be elementary to some, but it was remarkable to see it in action. It was like the combustion stroke was suddenly burning through the fuel more slowly. And that's exactly what I've been hearing octane is all about.
So, I just thought I'd write about it. Here, I grew up thinking octane was a performance enhancer, only to find out now that it's actually a depressant! Lol
Anyway... I wanted to post about something else that just happened to me today... once I'd warmed up my old Bonanza's Briggs 6BS to a nice and steady idle... I went to top off the tank -- but first, decided to add a quick shot of octane boost (just a healthy smidge, but yes directly into the tank) with the bike still calmly idling. Never done that before, but long story short -- not 5 to 10 seconds later, the engine changed it's tune and clearly slowed it's cycling. It was like the shot of booster had made a bee line and quickly gotten sucked into the carb's take-up tube? Yes I'll grant you, the idle dropped, but it wasn't a naturally shifting idle like a carb often does. It was like I could hear the engine encountering an obstacle, or a load, but without throttle.
I know this may be elementary to some, but it was remarkable to see it in action. It was like the combustion stroke was suddenly burning through the fuel more slowly. And that's exactly what I've been hearing octane is all about.
So, I just thought I'd write about it. Here, I grew up thinking octane was a performance enhancer, only to find out now that it's actually a depressant! Lol
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