j.jay.forbes@gmail.com
New member
I sent the following message directly to BMW Motorrad technical support:
”I am the proud new owner of a 2020 BMW K 1600 GTL.
I have a question for an actual engineer (as opposed to my dealer’s salesman) about the recommended fuel octane rating required in the owner’s manual vs. the BMW web site.
Specifically, on page 126, column 3 of my Rider’s Manual, as well as page 197 under Technical data, and even the back page it says:
‘Recommended fuel quality
Regular unleaded (max. 15%
ethanol, E15)
min 87 AKI (min 91 ROZ/RON)
87 AKI’.
But the the BMWMotorcycles.com web site, under K 1600GTL Data & Equipment, states “Fuel Type: Premium Unleaded”
My dealer also recommends and delivered the bike with premium fuel.
This is important to me for two reasons: 1) Obviously, regular fuel is cheaper. But at today’s prices that is only a quibble.
2) The big reason I feel I need to know what fuel is acceptable is that running a higher octane fuel than necessary in an engine will REDUCE performance and possibly cause the engine to run hotter than it would with lower octane fuel. Fuel with an octane rating lower than the engine was designed for will probably lead to REDUCED performance as well (as the brain box compensates for sensed knock).
And then there is the warranty to consider. I haven’t scrutinized it for a required minimum fuel octane, but what would happen if I damaged my engine by running it on the inappropriate fuel? Could they deny a claim based on that?
So please forward this (long, sorry) message to someone who actually KNOWS, not just has an opinion.
Thank you for your time,”
For the uninitiated, ROZ/RON is the European knock rating and you can translate between the US AKI (Anti Knock Index, commonly displayed on US pumps as “(R+M)/2”)) by subtracting about 4 from the Euro index. Therefore, the requirement for 91 ROZ/RON equates to 87 AKI, which is what’s specified.
For those of you that believe you can choose your fuel base on the static compression rating, the K 1600’ check in at 12.2:1!
”I am the proud new owner of a 2020 BMW K 1600 GTL.
I have a question for an actual engineer (as opposed to my dealer’s salesman) about the recommended fuel octane rating required in the owner’s manual vs. the BMW web site.
Specifically, on page 126, column 3 of my Rider’s Manual, as well as page 197 under Technical data, and even the back page it says:
‘Recommended fuel quality
Regular unleaded (max. 15%
ethanol, E15)
min 87 AKI (min 91 ROZ/RON)
87 AKI’.
But the the BMWMotorcycles.com web site, under K 1600GTL Data & Equipment, states “Fuel Type: Premium Unleaded”
My dealer also recommends and delivered the bike with premium fuel.
This is important to me for two reasons: 1) Obviously, regular fuel is cheaper. But at today’s prices that is only a quibble.
2) The big reason I feel I need to know what fuel is acceptable is that running a higher octane fuel than necessary in an engine will REDUCE performance and possibly cause the engine to run hotter than it would with lower octane fuel. Fuel with an octane rating lower than the engine was designed for will probably lead to REDUCED performance as well (as the brain box compensates for sensed knock).
And then there is the warranty to consider. I haven’t scrutinized it for a required minimum fuel octane, but what would happen if I damaged my engine by running it on the inappropriate fuel? Could they deny a claim based on that?
So please forward this (long, sorry) message to someone who actually KNOWS, not just has an opinion.
Thank you for your time,”
For the uninitiated, ROZ/RON is the European knock rating and you can translate between the US AKI (Anti Knock Index, commonly displayed on US pumps as “(R+M)/2”)) by subtracting about 4 from the Euro index. Therefore, the requirement for 91 ROZ/RON equates to 87 AKI, which is what’s specified.
For those of you that believe you can choose your fuel base on the static compression rating, the K 1600’ check in at 12.2:1!
YMMV
.... so I 
