02-10-2018, 12:41 AM
Update: Drained the fuel out of the CB yesterday and rode it immediately to the Chevron gas station about 1 mile from my house, where I filled it up with premium (luckily I didn’t end up pushing it). I proceeded to ride the bike around town to test my theory that the gasoline is responsible for the reoccurring low idle issue. As the engine warmed up over the first ½ mile the normal cold idle speed reduced to 1,050 RPM at the first and second stops. At the third stop, the RPM dropped to 700, but worked its way back to 1,050 RPM, similarly to how it acts when the low idle condition exists. At the fourth stop it dropped to 700 RPM, but this time it worked back up to 1,050 RPM quicker than it normally does. At the fifth and sixth stops the RPM dropped each time, but each time it returned to 1,050 RPM very quickly (much quicker than I have ever seen it). From there on the RPM never dropped to 700 again, and I continued my ride for 12 miles, making one stop to turn the engine off for about 15 minutes and then restart it. I can’t say that a similar scenario where the low idle condition ever “cured” itself while riding like this has ever happened before or not, I just don’t remember exactly. I plan to ride the bike this morning to run some errands and I will report back on the results.
Since I purchased this bike about 75% of my fill-ups have been at the same Chevron station, which is located about 1 mile from my house. I have just over 17,000 miles on the bike now, and I have never used anything but premium grade fuel whenever I have filled the tank. I always look for name brand stations when I fill up, but occasionally, either out of necessity or convenience, I will fill up at a non-name brand station. I have never paid any attention to when the low idle condition occurred with respect to fill-ups, but based on the results described above I will now use only Chevron fuel at all fill-ups, unless forced to do otherwise.
Chevron uses an additive called Techron, which is a detergent based on PEA, polyeter amine. I won’t go on describing what I learned about Chevron fuel in this post, but for those of you interested please look it up. Is it possible that the ECM in my bike has learned how to operate on Chevron fuel with the Techron additive, and that using different fuels cause the low idle condition? I can’t answer this, but I am sure some of you guys out there can offer your insight (Max, Doc, popgun, peterbaron). Gentlemen - please post your comments!
Since I purchased this bike about 75% of my fill-ups have been at the same Chevron station, which is located about 1 mile from my house. I have just over 17,000 miles on the bike now, and I have never used anything but premium grade fuel whenever I have filled the tank. I always look for name brand stations when I fill up, but occasionally, either out of necessity or convenience, I will fill up at a non-name brand station. I have never paid any attention to when the low idle condition occurred with respect to fill-ups, but based on the results described above I will now use only Chevron fuel at all fill-ups, unless forced to do otherwise.
Chevron uses an additive called Techron, which is a detergent based on PEA, polyeter amine. I won’t go on describing what I learned about Chevron fuel in this post, but for those of you interested please look it up. Is it possible that the ECM in my bike has learned how to operate on Chevron fuel with the Techron additive, and that using different fuels cause the low idle condition? I can’t answer this, but I am sure some of you guys out there can offer your insight (Max, Doc, popgun, peterbaron). Gentlemen - please post your comments!