using leaded fuel
 

Hi folks, looks I'm headed to Africa soon. I'm on an '02 F650 Dakar. I've put plenty of low octane fuel (84) in the bike with no problems. What about leaded fuel? In some of the places I'm headed, unleaded fuel might be in short supply. Has anyone here run leaded fuel in a Dakar?? Thanks in advance.

I run a 2002 Dakar and just done 10,000 miles round NW Africa on it with no problems running on leaded petrol. You can get unleaded petrol in most of Morocco, but after that it’s unheard of.

I’m no expert, but the conclusion I drew from the little bit of research I did on the subject before I set off, was that short term use won’t do too much harm. However, long term use of leaded fuel will eat your catalytic converter (assuming you’re running a standard exhaust). So I guess it depends on how long you are planning to stay there.

Barney
www.mali-moto.blogspot.com

leaded fuel
 

Barney, thanks a million for the input. By the way, this post should read LEADED fuel, it's the first mistake I've ever made!

About a spoon full of leaded fuel will kill the converter. Your bike will still run, but not as clean as before.

hmm
 

Could the converter then cause me some problems? I am running a standard exhaust. Do you recommend doing anything prior to leaving Buenos Aires for Africa. My bike is currently in the hands of the capable folks at Dakar Motos. I forgot to ask Javier about this issue.

The 'poisoned' converter won't cause any problems .. well not unless someone checks the pollution levels coming out the exhaust.

If you have a lambda sensor (some times called a CO2 sensor) that will also be killed by the lead. Best to pull it off the bike - place a bolt back into the exhaust to seal the hole and let the EFI run without it. Only put it back in when you have run a couple of tanks full of unleaded through the bike. They are not cheap items so best to save the replacement costs.

LEADED Fuel
 

The Oxygen sensor is not designed for leaded fuel,that is correct. But it will take A LOT! more than a spoon full of leaded fuel before it is affected and even more before it stops working all together. Keep it in the exhaust so the BMS-C (engine management) can do its work.

Best regards from Munich

Stephan

thanks
 

Thanks for all the info guys, much appreciated!