Looking for some feedback to an unusual situation, and wondering if anyone else has experienced this - but first some background:
-- I ride in Colorado, and the fuel blending is a thing.
-- I try to run only 91 or higher octane, and when available, no ethanol.
-- Have had zero issues prior to this service, and went ~ 2k before I started experiencing below...
-- Recently had the recommend 15K valve adjust done at my local Kawasaki shop (was at ~ 18k miles). Quite a few were tight and adjusted to spec.
-- New plugs installed during above maintenance.
I'm running into this "issue" of some "valve float" (unsure if its the correct mechanical term), or valve ping when I get on the juice when the motor is in a lower RPM range - say 2.5k to 3.5k. This is a new response from her. I just picked up this rig in January, and I've been on her nearly every day since. All winter her performance was outstanding, as was true this spring. Then I had the valves done and did a thousand miles round trip, again zero issues. The change has happened over the past few months, and isn't terrible, but I cant help but wonder if the Summer fuel mix is causing this. My local no ethanol fuel has dialed down their octane so I haven't been using it, and have been rotating through a few local high oct providers.
After chatting with the shop they agree that its likely the fuel change is playing into this, because mechanically she seems to be running fine in all other aspects other than this low RPM goose rattle, but they haven't heard of any other ZX14eers having this problem, but then again they don't have folks riding theirs as a daily driver like I do. I'm experimenting with an octane booster additive to see if it has an effect on this.
I have also removed my experimental pre-filter thinking that it may be playing into this, but it has made no impact.
Thoughts?
Thanks for yalls time.
DT
* Last updated by: DTTyson on 8/6/2024 @ 2:24 PM *