Gas to put in my PCX 150

[jkautz]

I use 87 in the winter and 89 in the summer here in the USA.

Higher octane gas is actually LESS volatile. Higher octane gas reduces combustion temps and detonation because it takes longer to burn. In other words, 87 is more flammable!

To fight detonation, you need to understand what causes it. There are 3 things

1)High outside temps (summer)
2)High altitude
3)Load (throttle position) & long inclines, heavy riders, etc.

I like using 89 in the summer as I ride full throttle on the freeway in 90-100 degree heat sometimes and encounter some inclines. 87 could possibly have me detonating. Prob not, but just in case, I run 89 in the summer.

What is wrong with running 91? SOme will say you are just wasting money, but there is another reason NOT to run high octane fuel when you don't need it. Your engine (combustion chamber) will accumulate carbon deposits if you run high octane fuel when not necessary that over time can rob performance. On 91, your engine can't burn the entire fuel mixture in time (since 91 takes longer to burn) and attaches itself to the valve heads and combustion chamber as carbon buildup.

So yeah, for the most part, run the recommended gas and oil!

Regarding oil...the plain bearings on the crank and the oiling holes in the motor (orifices) are designed to flow a certain amount of oil through them. You change the viscosity by running too thick of an oil, and the top end can be oil starved at times, same with the piston skirts causing premature wear. You go too thin on the oil, and the plain bearing could be left unprotected by the "too thin" oil film between the surfaces.

What oil do you run on yours? 10w-40? Sythetic?? Semi??

[Mel46]

Now that we have 2 PCX 150 scooters (vs 1 PCX and 1 Burgman) plus several small Honda pieces of equipment such as a new lawn mower, I have done a bit of reading in the Honda manuals that come with them. I don't know if there is much of a difference between their small engines but in their manuals for those other pieces of equipment they tell you to use an additive when using gas with 10% ethanol blend. Therefore, I now rotate between Seafoam and an ethanol converter/additive. I also have 3 gas cans at home that I put the additive in when I fill them. I can fill all of my equipment from those cans plus my bikes...or I fill up after a ride and go right home to add the additive in preparation for the next ride. I use 87 octane gas, but for those who live outside of the United States I understand that our octane rating system is different from yours. Notice that I said I 'understand' that it is different. I am no expert. I just noticed that the formula for calculating it looks different than what is used elsewhere. In any case, if we are out in the country try side and run low on gas, we look for a gas station that does not advertise 10% ethanol added.

[dasshreddar]

The pcx 150 owners manual says (PON)86 or higher octane... whatever "PON" is?
I've been using 91 all the time, but I would be curious to see the results, if any, if you did 87 one week 91 another week etc...
Where was that guy getting his 92 from?

Old Post... been using 87 since... works fine( even with cam and intake parts).

[ScooterMan]

I have been using Rotella full syntheitc in the dark blue bottle 5w-40. I also have been known to run Mobil1 too...just depends on what I have handy. But always full synthetic. I wouldn't hesitate to run 5w-30 in there though either. Just don't go 20w-50, straight 40 weight, or 0w-10, 0w-20, etc. Keep it in the ballpark.

[jkautz]

I have been using Rotella full syntheitc in the dark blue bottle 5w-40. I also have been known to run Mobil1 too...just depends on what I have handy. But always full synthetic. I wouldn't hesitate to run 5w-30 in there though either. Just don't go 20w-50, straight 40 weight, or 0w-10, 0w-20, etc. Keep it in the ballpark.

Rotella full synthetic in the dark blue bottle? Isn't that the T6 diesel engine oil?

[ScooterMan]

I have been using Rotella full syntheitc in the dark blue bottle 5w-40. I also have been known to run Mobil1 too...just depends on what I have handy. But always full synthetic. I wouldn't hesitate to run 5w-30 in there though either. Just don't go 20w-50, straight 40 weight, or 0w-10, 0w-20, etc. Keep it in the ballpark.

Rotella full synthetic in the dark blue bottle? Isn't that the T6 diesel engine oil?

Yes, it's been a popular motorcycle oil though, even for cars. Has very good resistance to sheer which is great for performance applications, or longevity. Not necessary to use a non "energy-conserving" oil though in the PCX since it doesn't share the transmission oil with the clutch like a regular motorcycle. So, any car oil is just fine. But synthetic is always preferable. I run the Rotella T6 in my modified Subaru WRX running on e85 and it puts down 440tq to the wheels. SHop recommended that oil.

[jkautz]

Good to know. I run 15w-40 Rotella in my truck in the summer and the Rotella T6 5w-40 in the winter. So maybe ill use the 5w-40 T6 in my PCX since I always keep a few dozen quarts on hand.

[wangsuda]

For those of you who live in Thailand, have you noticed a big difference between 91 gasohol and E-20? A friend who has an older PCX (125) swears by E-20 and recommended I try a tank. Any thoughts or real world experiences?

[kramnala58]

Sorry, I have only used 91 so I can't offer any feedback.

[maddiedog]

I use 87. We do have 85 here, but I don't think I'm going to risk it to save 8 cents on the fillup.

It sounds like not one person answered this question lol Is it okay to run the premium 91 octane in a PCX150 or not?

Yes. You will notice absolutely no difference in performance.

[chowzai]

Guys, I use v power nitro + unleaded just now with octane rating 99. Lol. The engine is so much more responsive to the point I had to go back and check I put in unleaded. Not anything else. I personally highly recommended.

Acceration is also much quicker. Maybe it was because I had below a half tank before and a full tank now but that shouldn't make a difference.

R

[j.d.b.]

Okay. YES you may use anything from 86 octane on up in your PCX. NO, there will be no consequences other than too much money spent on high-octane fuel you don't need. No carbon or other abnormal residue, no valve damage, no extra heat, nothing other than overspending on fuel. I work in powertrain engineering for a major company we all know and love for many years, now. I have developed and tested quite a few motors and have never seen any damage caused by high-octane fuel. We do all early (and sometimes full-program) development with MS8004. It is 97 RON fuel with no additives(and REALLY pricey). As development progresses we continue on testing and developing the calibration with whatever fuel the motor is designed for. Hot-rods typically require high-octane (min 92 at the pump)(because we develop more pressure with them) while our base or ordinary duty motors are all designed to run on 87 E-10 (at the pump). Honda has developed and calibrated these motors to run 86 min. octane. You may run all the 90+ fuel you like without any consequences other than higher cost. Are we all clear on this, now?

[Mel46]

Ok, I filled my bike with 91 octane and before I left the pump I heard a high pitched squeal, almost like a cry, from my wallet. I can't be sure but I think I heard that every time you fill your tank with high octane fuel an angel cries. Hmmm...maybe that was the angel and not my wallet??

[j.d.b.]

Ok, I filled my bike with 91 octane and before I left the pump I heard a high pitched squeal, almost like a cry, from my wallet. I can't be sure but I think I heard that every time you fill your tank with high octane fuel an angel cries. Hmmm...maybe that was the angel and not my wallet??

Hi Mel, can I (steal) appropriate that line "an angel in my wallet"? I hear a hit single in there.

One other thing, someone here asked what "PON" meant in Honda's octane spec. It stands for "Posted" octane number. "RON" is "research" octane number. There are others (MON for "motor" octane number, the list of these derivations goes on).
Honda calling out "posted" octane number suggests to me (my opinion) their motor is capable of running on nearly anything referred to as "gasoline" that will burn(outside E-85)(that's a whole different can-o-worms).

[Jge64]

Non-eth 90 (REC90) for mine.....very local and top tier.....nice to live near marinas....

[Valiant]

I put pure gasoline in my tank and continue to do so(beyond the PCX), the 89 octane is just a bonus, it doesn't come in any other flavors.

Hard to say if there's any real benefit in doing so, I just don't think there's any benefit in diluting fuel with ethanol.

[Pcxdemon]

91 e10 deff makes mine feel peppier...

[wangsuda]

91 e10 deff makes mine feel peppier...

That's what I use here in Bangkok. We also have 95 E10 widely available, as well.

[ScooteringAbout]

I run 98 Vpower in mine from Shell stations.

[Pcxdemon]

To clarify,
We here have unleaded 91ron, 95ron and 98ron as well as 91e10 ( 10% ethanol mix) and the e10 is the only one that gives a slight but noticable power difference on my Pcx as mine is highly tuned so the difference is slightly easier to tell.