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:

Warning/Indicator Lights
: When the transmission is in neutral, the neutral indicator light goes on. : When the headlight is on high beam, the high beam indicator light goes on. : When the turn signal switch is pushed to the left or right, the turn signal indicator light blinks. ...

Cylinder Head Warp Inspection
Clean the cylinder head. Lay a straightedge across the lower surface of the cylinder head at several positions. Use a thickness gauge [A] to measure the space between the straightedge [B] and the head. Cylinder Head Warp Standard: – – – Service Limit: 0.05 mm (0.0020 in.) ...

Air Intake Duct Assembly (Other than US, CA and CAL Models)
Install the seals [A] as shown in the figure. Fit the projections [A] of the air intake valve to the hole [B] of the air intake ducts. Tighten: Torque - Air Intake Duct Assembly Screws: 1.5 N·m (0.15 kgf·m, 13 in·lb) Hang the shaft [A] to the air intake valve securely ...