Low Octane fuel and Synt Oil? - Horizons Unlimited

**Andy White** · #1 20 Oct 2005

640 Adv 2004
On a trans Africa trip and am in Libya - Tripoli at the mo, has anyone been here and had similar problems with the fuel?

1)I have disconnected the "low octane" cable and now the bike is sounding realy, realy "rough" and under powered, fuel consumption has sky rocketed, was getting around 20km/l and now it's at about 13km/l, is this normal or is it just co-incidental and I'm missing some other problem. Need to sort out before the crossing.

2) Although I'm about 2000km away from the next service, I wanted to to do it before heading South and crossing into Niger, unfortunately, the Synt oil I had with me for this legs service was -lets just say misplaced - will it realy screw things up using regular oil, say a 10w/40 for the next leg of about 4000km. Having a time trying to translate the Arabic.
Salaam Andy

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**Ian** · #2 20 Oct 2005

Fuel setting: not sure of the available settings on the 2004 Adv. On my 02 LC4 I had the aftermarket box. One setting is for 80 rated fuel, one for 95. Generally in NW Africa I found 90 rated fuel, so I used the 95 setting. I got around 18km/litre on the piste, 22km/litre on sealed roads.

Oil: I used the best quality (I recall either API SF, SG or SH) rated engine oil I could find. It was semi-synth for a car and bought from a Total fuel station in Niamey. At the end of 02 there were at least 2 Total fuel stations in Arlit, and I think at least one in Agadez.

This oil stayed in for at least 3000 miles and nearly 3 years later my engine hasn't self-destructed.

**Andy White** · #3 22 Oct 2005

Ta Ian - I've found some oil after 3 days searching in Tripoli, an API SJ/CF Synt car oil but still better than no oil. As for the "low octane" fuel the manual says to unplug for anything below 95 - ie from 80-95. Going to run on 95 + setting and see how it goes. Even took time out to speak to one of the guys at the local "Libyan Shell" head office (not the same Dutch company as the one you and I know) and he assures me their fuel is rated 95 -Inshallh
Happy Trails - Andy

Quote:

Originally posted by Ian:
Fuel setting: not sure of the available settings on the 2004 Adv. On my 02 LC4 I had the aftermarket box. One setting is for 80 rated fuel, one for 95. Generally in NW Africa I found 90 rated fuel, so I used the 95 setting. I got around 18km/litre on the piste, 22km/litre on sealed roads.

Oil: I used the best quality (I recall either API SF, SG or SH) rated engine oil I could find. It was semi-synth for a car and bought from a Total fuel station in Niamey. At the end of 02 there were at least 2 Total fuel stations in Arlit, and I think at least one in Agadez.

This oil stayed in for at least 3000 miles and nearly 3 years later my engine hasn't self-destructed.

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**BMBaxter** · #4 22 Oct 2005

a larger main jet(1-2 sizes)will often allow low quality fuel to work.Your gas mileage will drop(10-20%).Also,as you've already experienced a decrease in engine performance is normal.