Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Fuels Containing Oxygenates

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual / General information / Fuel Tank / Fuels Containing Oxygenates

Gasoline frequently contains oxygenates (alcohols and ethers) especially in areas of the U.S. and Canada which are required to sell such reformulated fuels as part of a strategy to reduce exhaust emissions.

The types and volume of fuel oxygenates approved for use in unleaded gasoline by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency include a broad range of alcohols and ethers, but only two components have seen any significant level of commercial use.

Gasoline/Alcohol Blends - Gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (alcohol produced from agricultural products such as corn), also known as “gasohol” is approved for use.

NOTICE

Avoid using blends of unleaded gasoline and methanol (wood alcohol) whenever possible, and never use “gasohol” containing more than 5% methanol.

Fuel system damage and performance problems may result.

Gasoline/Ether Blends - The most common ether is methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). You may use gasoline containing up to 15% MTBE.

NOTE

Other oxygenates approved for use in unleaded gasoline include TAME (up to 16.7%) and ETBE (up to 17.2%). Fuel containing these oxygenates can also be used in your Kawasaki.

NOTICE

Never use gasoline with an octane rating lower than the minimum specified by Kawasaki.

Never use “gasohol” with more than 10% ethanol, or more than 5% methanol. Gasoline containing methanol must also be blended with cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.

Certain ingredients of gasoline may cause paint fading or damage.

Be extra careful not to spill gasoline or gasoline oxygenate blends during refueling.

When not operating your Kawasaki for 30 to 60 days, mix a fuel stabilizer (such as STA-BIL) with the gasoline in the fuel tank.

Fuel stabilizer additives inhibit oxidation of the fuel which minimizes gummy deposits.

NOTICE

Never store this product with “gasohol” in the fuel system.

Before storage it is recommended that you drain all fuel from the fuel system. See the Storage section in this manual.

Fuel Type
Use clean, fresh unleaded gasoline with a minimum Antiknock Index of 90. The Antiknock Index is posted on service station pumps. The octane rating of a gasoline is a measure of its resistance t ...

Side Stand
The motorcycle is equipped with a side stand. A. Side Stand NOTE When using the side stand, turn the handlebar to the left. Do not sit on the motorcycle while it is on its side stand or cen ...

Other materials:

Gear Position Switch Installation
Securely place the springs [A] and pins [B] into the holes [C] of the shift drum. Apply grease to the new O-ring [D]. Install the gear position switch [E]. Apply a non-permanent locking agent to the threads of the gear position switch screws [F]. Tighten: Torque - Gear Position Swit ...

Brake Lever Adjuster
There is an adjuster on the brake lever. The adjuster has 6 positions so that the released lever position can be adjusted to suit the operator’s hands. Push the lever forward and turn the adjuster to align the number with the mark on the lever holder. The distance from the grip to the rel ...

Front Wheel Rotation Sensor Wiring Inspection (Service Code b 43)
Disconnect the front wheel rotation sensor lead connector [A] (see Front Wheel Rotation Sensor Removal in the Brakes chapter). Disconnect the KIBS hydraulic unit lead connector (see KIBS Hydraulic Unit Removal in the Brakes chapter). Check the wiring continuity of the W lead and ...