Vp Racing Fuels U4.2
VP Racing Fuels U4.2
CW EVALUATION
Pour-in horsepower?
EVER SINCE OTTO INVENTED HIS CYcle, folks have been trying to figure out what to put in fuel to make an engine produce more power. Mothballs apparently did the trick at one time, nitromethane seems under certain special circumstances to have a positive effect, and there are all kinds of racing fuels available now that bump output.
But many current race fuels also need special handling. Some cannot be stored in the bike because they quickly turn into a gummy residue. Further, specific jetting or injection mapping must be utilized to realize their full benefit.
This is where VP Racing Fuels’ U4.2 comes in.
Power increases are claimed to be as high as 6 percent with little or no fueling changes necessary, and it doesn’t need to be drained from the system after each use.
Because U4.2 is leaded, you can’t run it in your cat-equipped streetbike. There-
fore we chose our long-term Ducati 1098 to test U4.2's power-increasing effects in light of our bright-yellow testbike's new Termignoni racing exhaust system that eliminates the catalysts.
Testing was conducted on the CW Dynojet dyno. Baseline runs were made
with 91-octane (RON + MON/2) pump gas. Fuel was then drained and the tank refilled with U4.2 (Motor Octane Number is 102). Runs were again conducted under identi cal weather conditions. Peak output on pump gas was 146.2 horsepow er and 82.3 foot-pounds of torque. Burning U4.2 and with no other changes, the 1098 produced 149.2
hp and 82.4 ft.-lb. of torque. In addition to the increase of 3 hp at peak, a dip in torque from 4000-6000 rpm was filled in to the tune of about 2 ft.-lb., and horse power increased from 8500 rpm to red line. So, peak power was increased just
over 2 percent simply by pouring in the fuel. Running quality also improved with very crisp throttle response and a snappier feel.
At $10 to $13 per gallon (depending on taxes at your point of purchase), U4.2 is a relatively inexpensive way to boost power output and improve running quality. In the case of the Ducati, the irony is that you need the catalyst-free $2900 racing exhaust to get the benefit of the racing fuel.
But U4.2 does work. Otto would surely have liked some for his cycle. □
DETAILS
VP Racing Fuels P.O. Box 47878 San Antonio, TX 78265 210/635-7744 www.vpracingfuels.com Price:...$10 to $13 per gallon
ncreases power Smells like racing vailabIe in 5to 55-gallon pails and drums Remapping usually not necessary
Racing doesn't smell that good Every lap costs a little more V Off-road use only
