I'm not the only one who's always wondered about the benefits of using a higher octane fuel in an engine that doesn't specifically require it. Are there benefits? Will it hurt the engine to use a higher octane than specified?
This is taken straight from the Yamaha Vino Manual. After my research, I still don't know the answers to the above questions. However, I learned a few technical terms that helps interpret what this stuff means.
R+M/2? What is that?
R = RON (Research Octane Number)
M = MON (Motor Research Number)
There are two types of numbers that "people" use to find the octane number. The formula is just an average of the two numbers. In the US, the number we see on the pump itself is the average whereas in places like Europe, the number on the pump is the MON. Knowing this helps us fairly compare or intelligently discuss octane. So US's 87 octane is the same grade as 92 octane in Europe. The difference is simply b/c the US chooses to use an average of the two numbers rather than the MON number.
US's 87 (R+M/2) octane = 92 ROM octane
So what does that mumbo jumbo mean and why does it matter? Well, it helps to understand what the scooter manual is trying to say. Yamaha is recommending that the Vino is fueled with anything higher than 86 R+M/2 octane (92 ROM) which is basically what we have available here. The US does not offer fuel less than the recommended 86 R+M/2 octane which means we can use anything we see for sale at the pump - 87, 89 and 91 mostly.
So I don't think using premium 91 R+M/2 octane (what we see at the pump) will hurt the engine since Yamaha is saying we can use it if we experience pinging or knocking of the engine. From what my butt can tell though, premium gas does offer a bit more spark off the line.
This is taken straight from the Yamaha Vino Manual. After my research, I still don't know the answers to the above questions. However, I learned a few technical terms that helps interpret what this stuff means.R+M/2? What is that?
R = RON (Research Octane Number)
M = MON (Motor Research Number)
There are two types of numbers that "people" use to find the octane number. The formula is just an average of the two numbers. In the US, the number we see on the pump itself is the average whereas in places like Europe, the number on the pump is the MON. Knowing this helps us fairly compare or intelligently discuss octane. So US's 87 octane is the same grade as 92 octane in Europe. The difference is simply b/c the US chooses to use an average of the two numbers rather than the MON number.
US's 87 (R+M/2) octane = 92 ROM octane
So what does that mumbo jumbo mean and why does it matter? Well, it helps to understand what the scooter manual is trying to say. Yamaha is recommending that the Vino is fueled with anything higher than 86 R+M/2 octane (92 ROM) which is basically what we have available here. The US does not offer fuel less than the recommended 86 R+M/2 octane which means we can use anything we see for sale at the pump - 87, 89 and 91 mostly.
So I don't think using premium 91 R+M/2 octane (what we see at the pump) will hurt the engine since Yamaha is saying we can use it if we experience pinging or knocking of the engine. From what my butt can tell though, premium gas does offer a bit more spark off the line.
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