Where I live in New Hampshire we have easy access to 87, 89, 91, and 93 octane gas. Just curious if it matters what I run in my 2009 Rancher 420FM. This ATV is the fuel injected model.

Thank you in advance.

Don

 

So I fowled my plug this winter by letting my ATV sit and idle too often. Basically I solely used my ATV this winter to plow my driveway but each time I plowed I would hop off the ATV and let it idle while I cleaned up with a shovel around my walkway (takes about 20 minutes) and then hopped back on the ATV to plow the snow I just shoveled from the walkway to the driveway. Seeing how we got a snow storm every week all through January and February my ATV idled a bunch, furthermore since all I did was plow I never really rev'd the motor, just putted along in 1st and reverse pushing/pulling snow.

I know my ATV uses the standard NKG sparkplug (part# BKR5ES-11) however I was wondering if I could just slap the Iridium version in there instead (part# BKR5EIX-11)

Any issues, concerns, experiences would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Don

 

First, use the octane that your owners manual recommends. Honda utilities are generally pretty conservatively built, i.e. lower compression. I would run 87 unless you have access to a non ethanol fuel. Around here that would mean going to 91. The 87 will burn hotter though, and may help with the fouling.

About that plug, I have had that issue in the kids trx90 if it is just putting around a lot. I switched to the next hotter plug and that fixed the issue. Another alternative would be to run the stock plug and just open her up once in a while

 

How about just shutting it off while not in use?

 

Letting a machine idle for 20 minutes is a bit unreasonable. Wasting fuel and by sitting there the fan will be kicking on and off trying the keep the machine cool because the engine is not getting any air. I've ran 87 octane in every atv I've ever owned. Some higher compresion engines like in the 450 sport quads might call for higher octane premium fuel but I've never owned one of those. Honda utility quads shouldn't need it.