unleaded fuel

Just a question about the unleaded fuel in the states and canada, I live in the uk and I have a xj650 1981, the frame is american, and the engine is from canada, can anyone tell me when did unleaded fuel start being used in the states and canada, thank you

 

I believe we switched to unleaded back in the early 70's if not earlier. Well before the XJ, so you should have no trouble with your fuel or have to worry about a lead substitute.

 

In 1971 Low Lead was introduced. It had a symbol of a triangle with a two in it. The cars didn't require it because they didn't have a catalytic converter at the time but the cars went low compression to ready the national fleet and refiners for lead free which was a requirement in 75 and there weren't good additives for unleaded premium so low compression was necessary. In 75 all cars got catalytic converters and all GM cars and maybe all Ford and Mopar got electronic ignition to insure against misfire. The dark days of low performance were on us.

As far as an XJ, they were built for the low octane lead free. In fact putting premium in them only lightens your wallet.

 

I disagree.... I use premium only in my XJ and this is because the premium here is not only higher octane but also non-ethanol. This is a huge plus unless of course you like cleaning your carbs every other year.

 

Use the octane rating that Yamaha calls for. Don't fret the ethanol.

http://www.classiccarbsandmore.com/carbs/page13.html

 

Here on the East coast it does not matter what grade you buy, it all has 10% ethanol all year. There was a station near my house that sold straight gas, but he had to stop about two years ago due to lack of availability.

I tried a tank of premium once and felt like the bike ran decidedly worse, granted that was before I got my carbs in order.

 

We now have up to 15% ethanol in Ct in all gas. Our bikes have what 3 gal. tanks. we have very little to fear as long as you run your bike/ treat it for storage. Outboards are one of the places where the ethanal is killing people. all the 10 micron filters all the carb cleans all the corosion( all because there tanks can be 250 gallons.) The more gas and air the worse the effect!

 

WRONG! Ethanol is crap!!!! Seek out fuel sources that sell non-ethanol fuel. This will help you greatly!

 

i kind of think we have less ethanol in our gas now than we've had in quite awhile
http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/AC/W

follow the money

 

Interesting! Good time for experimentation, now that the season is underway. Next week is the routine checkup, so I think I will try some of these ideas right after. Thanks for the link!

 

thank you all for the help and replys, I will engoy the bike even better now