06-27-2018, 07:59 AM
I have a Shell rewards card (gives me a couple cents off and automatically emails me a receipt) and opt for Shell if I have a choice on the road.
Ferrari recommends Shell-branded gasoline for its vehicles, and since I had a Vespa, I figured if it's good enough for one Italian manufacturer, it's probably good for another.
Small-displacement engines tend to be more sensitive to lower quality gasoline. I'm in a 10% ethanol area, so after each fillup on the Honda or Vespa, I put half a shot glass of Seafoam fuel treatment to counter its effects. It makes a noticeable difference in cold starts and smoothness, and I haven't had to clean the Vespa's carburetor yet.
Ethanol does nasty things to small engines (when I bought the Vespa, its fuel lines split in two after turning into gummy bear material ... I used heavy rubber hoses to replace it) and gunks up jets and such.
Jay Leno did a nice segment on this. Sometimes I do a "Home Depot tuneup" ... buy a can of 100-octane VP 4-cycle fuel at Home Depot in the lawnmower department, run the tank dry, then pour that in and ride 5 or 10 miles to the gas station. The Vespa takes off like a rocket with the VP:
https://youtu.be/DL_8SkZjEPc
Ferrari recommends Shell-branded gasoline for its vehicles, and since I had a Vespa, I figured if it's good enough for one Italian manufacturer, it's probably good for another.
Small-displacement engines tend to be more sensitive to lower quality gasoline. I'm in a 10% ethanol area, so after each fillup on the Honda or Vespa, I put half a shot glass of Seafoam fuel treatment to counter its effects. It makes a noticeable difference in cold starts and smoothness, and I haven't had to clean the Vespa's carburetor yet.
Ethanol does nasty things to small engines (when I bought the Vespa, its fuel lines split in two after turning into gummy bear material ... I used heavy rubber hoses to replace it) and gunks up jets and such.
Jay Leno did a nice segment on this. Sometimes I do a "Home Depot tuneup" ... buy a can of 100-octane VP 4-cycle fuel at Home Depot in the lawnmower department, run the tank dry, then pour that in and ride 5 or 10 miles to the gas station. The Vespa takes off like a rocket with the VP:
https://youtu.be/DL_8SkZjEPc