VP fuel worth it?

[kumpy]

I recently got another dedicated track bike and the history of it is that it's always used VP fuel in it. My question is should I continue to use VP fuel? What are the benefits? Is it worth the extra money? Is it gonna hurt the bike if I start using regular unleaded 92-93 octane gas?

[csmutty]

What bike? What motor work has been done to it? What vp fuel was used in it? Usually when a bike runs on high octane fuel like vp it has motor work that has bumped the compression ratio. If this motor work was done you have to use a high octane race fuel like vp offers or else you risk predetonation.

[k_cotter]

that

[wheelieman14]

VP Fuel (and also Sunoco Race Fuel) don't have ethanol, so you don't have to worry about clogging jets (if you have carbs) like the crap pump gas we put in our cars. As already mentioned, pump gas is fine for production street bikes (some require 91-93 octane super unleaded), it depends on how much the compression has been bumped up and what your state of tune is, whether or not you need race fuel.

[OreoGaborio]

See if you can get it dyno tuned for pump gas. If so, it'll pay for itself after your first 2 day event.

[daviid]

VP Fuel (and also Sunoco Race Fuel) don't have ethanol, so you don't have to worry about clogging jets (if you have carbs) like the crap pump gas we put in our cars. As already mentioned, pump gas is fine for production street bikes (some require 91-93 octane super unleaded), it depends on how much the compression has been bumped up and what your state of tune is, whether or not you need race fuel.

actually VP is notorious for clogging of jets and fuel injectors. U4.x MR11 MR12 and even C12 (not as common) has a tendency to gum up. with VP you really need to dump the tank between rounds. I haven't heard of any overnight issues, but most of the guys I know would still dump everynight.

[OreoGaborio]

Pssh, what would you know? You a VP vendor or somethin?

[kumpy]

I do believe engine work had been done to it which would explain why it would run on VP fuel its entire life!

[kumpy]

What's the general concensus about dumping fuel at the end of the day cause it would go bad? I've never heard of that!

[OreoGaborio]

He said "drain it", not "dump it". Get it out of your bike and back in the gas can.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Race fuel goes bad quickly.
It also has no cleaners or added lubricants (I think) when I ran VP everybody used to fog the motor and remove all traces of VP at the end of the race weekend.

[aldend123]

I do believe engine work had been done to it which would explain why it would run on VP fuel its entire life!

Just because they cracked the block open and replaced the rings or did a little valve work isn't enough to justify high octane fuel. But if they bumped the compression up, as said, that is. You might want to see if you can find out what was done when they did the work. It would be really good to know for future use. Like if you had a shop tune it, and it has higher compression than stock, they'll probably want to know that.

[jwm2k3]

We need to know what bike it is.....fuel injected or carb....full exhaust or slip on and power commander or jet kit.....

Other than that I love the smell of race fuel so much, its worth it just for that...

[Jim]

We need to know....full exhaust or slip on and power commander or jet kit........

That makes no difference at all. Just need to know if the compression ratio was increased.
Would be nice to know what type of VP the bike ran.

[csmutty]

Yeah. And its like $14 a gallon at the track. Im glad I dont have to run it anymore.

[Jim]

Glad my new motor can use pump gas too. Cheaper and no more siphoning out race fuel at the DVD of each event.

[rg500]

That makes no difference at all. Just need to know if the compression ratio was increased.
Would be nice to know what type of VP the bike ran.

Having aftermarket cams or advancing the ignition timing can also require the use of race gas. Detonation isn't only a result of raised compression.

[Jim]

Having aftermarket cams or advancing the ignition timing can also require the use of race gas. Detonation isn't only a result of raised compression.

Correct, but an exhaust or PC3 doesn't raise compression. I was more correcting John's post.

[jwm2k3]

Correct, but an exhaust or PC3 doesn't raise compression. I was more correcting John's post.

Jim, suck it.

[B440]

Got a compression gauge? Do a compression test. That's where I'd start.

[xsiliconkid]

What's the general concensus about dumping fuel at the end of the day cause it would go bad? I've never heard of that!

race fuels like VP c12 don't have any additives (like pump gas)to protect metal from corrosion. within days, surface rust will appear on cylinder wall and valve seating surfaces....leave it and will do damage.
So, not only drain the stuff but fog the motor with fogging oil when storing for more than a few days.
If motor has high comression ratio (+13:1) pump gas will ruin the motor pretty quick.

ps conversely, running race fuel in stock motors won't hurt a running motor but will deliver lower perfomance than reg pump gas...but as above no reside will be left behind and cause rust to form on internal surfaces