Fuel with ethanol (10%)

[XSive Okie]

Anyone have any experience and/or problems running this stuff? I haven't used it in the bike yet, but I know my '95 Chevy 4x4 doesn't like it when you're standing on the throttle. Makes her cut out, like one or two cylinders dropped. I try to keep the bike as trouble free as possible, and if I have to, I will avoid that crap like the demon, if you guys have had bad experiences with it.

[CatatonicBug]

I think I've only managed to find one gas station that sold fuel that was NOT 10% ethanol, and that was on my way to MOTM. ALL stations here are ethanol. No issues with it, AFAIK, but then I really have nothing to compare it to.

[XSive Okie]

Still a 50/50 mix where I'm from, might be different in OKC or Tulsa. Good to know that you didn't have any issues though. My truck is throttle body instead of a carb, so maybe that's some of the difference, but when playing in the mud or passing someone on the highway, it cuts out big time when I use the 10% and fuel mileage drops a bit. Appreciate the response.

[cowboybob998]

Small engines

I hear that it is doing its toll on small engines and the carbs on them, something about mosture and the resadue that gas leaves behind, they say more than ever it is more important now to put addative in the gas if you are going to leave it set.
i have read on here about asetone in the gas helps, let those that know more than i chime in,

[Geezer]

It's a good thing in most cases. I've not seen any fuel system problems with it in any Yamaha I've worked on. The ethanol breaks down carbon in the combustion chamber and burns cooler than gas. So other than a small ding in mileage, it's a good thing...

Geezer

[cowboybob998]

damage

It's a good thing in most cases. I've not seen any fuel system problems with it in any Yamaha I've worked on. The ethanol breaks down carbon in the combustion chamber and burns cooler than gas. So other than a small ding in mileage, it's a good thing...

Geezer

There is alot of info out on the net about the damage that ethanol is and can do and if they rase the % it will get worse, thats what i have been reading any ways

[dbeardslee]

I hear that it is doing its toll on small engines and the carbs on them, something about mosture and the resadue that gas leaves behind

I used to run a quart of dry alcohol through the tank every once in a while to dry it out. Water won't mix with gas, but it will mix with alcohol, and the alcohol/water mix will in turn mix with the gas. I would think if anything it would keep your fuel system cleaner and free from water. My understanding of the downside of ethanol is that it can deteriorate some rubber parts. On the other hand, I've had a number of problems over the years from running high octane gas. When I ran it in my 5 liter mustang, it would foul the plugs. I made the mistake of running some 105 boost in a '74 corvette I owned some years ago, which had a sock-like filter over the intake gas tube inside the tank. It melted the filter and shut off the gas flow . I'm a firm believer that it's best to run regular 87 octane gas as long as it doesn't pre-ignite. I found out years later that the octane rating is actually a measure of the gas's compressibility, and the higher octane gas is actually less explosive than the lower octane.

[Geezer]

fuel filters melting from alcohol is old news. Any filter made in the last 30 years can handle ethanol...

BTW, it was methanol that was causing all the problems in the in the early gasohol mixes....

Geezer

[cywelchjr]

However you have to be careful as both types will collect water in the fuel. It won't cause it to pool in the bottom, so it's not a problem if you keep running the engine regularly, but it does cause rust problems (and apparently is causing problems with some modern MC plastic tanks, case in point being some of the Ducati's). I'll agree that it does tend to run cooler, if you have adjusted the mixture to the correct level, but it also lowers mileage and makes engines without a fuel management system able to adjust run lean. That's why the only bike I have run on both used to get 53 MPG and now is lucky to get 46. It also tends to gel quickly gumming up the carbs more quickly.

[natemoen]

I can't even remember the last time I saw a gas station that sold gas that wasnt 10% ethonol!!!

[jmnjrpa]

Alcohol

Geezer's right. Methanol is wood alcohol while ethanol is grain based. There is a considerable difference. Use rubbing alcohol (70%) and you will get rust problems. First thing in the spring I add 10% (use 99+%) to all my small engine tanks to clean out the water. I have a 25 year old lawn mower that runs as good as the day I bought it. Back in the 70's I applied for a grant on a new alcohol still design so I am more than familiar with it's good/bad points. Most of the bad publicity was created by Big Oil in the late 70's because it was seen as a competitor. Not true any longer because Big Oil now OWNS all the large alcohol distilleries.

[cowboybob998]

ethanol

Her is the site where i read about ethanol fuel, read it and tell me what yall think, i tought it made sence.
www.fueltestkit.com

[scooteraddict]

well what i have noticed around here is the people that do not winterize and fill up with e10 need carb cleans and drained tanks in the spring and those that dont winterize and full up with premium (the only way we get non ethonal gas) dont need carb cleans just a bit of seafoam and away they go

i have also noticed those that use stabil to winterize and use e10 still have issues in spring while those that winterize with seafoam dont

[petejw]

theyve just announced over here, that in the next 12 months there phasing
out unleaded fuel, the only options available will be a 10% ethanol blend
and premium which sux.

[firemanstan7]

Would putting in a bit of Seafoam every couple of tanks help out?