Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[JeffsHogPen]

I have noticed that 10%-15% Ethanol is now showing up at our local Gas Stations. What can we use as an additive to prevent damage to our Motorcycles ? 

[ultraswede]

None needed!

The exception would be if you are very fussy on your fuel/air calibration.
The 15% Ethanol mixed gas will make the motor run a bit leaner.
On the other hand, Ethanol has 106 octane by itself, and does a good job of
cleaning out the fuel system and reduce carbon build up in the head.

[LC110]

The use of ethanol has be increasing it seems every year.
For the past 6 years I have been adding this product http://www.lcdinc.com/products_fuel_power.php in the fuel on all my combution engines. I am not trying to sell the product. Just saying it does help with upper cylinder lubrication (valve guides and valves) and keep things like injectors, seals and fuel pumps from drying out. Carateristic effects from the use of ethanol.

[kurtlange]

minnesota has had 10% ethanol for years. 87 octane. we also can buy a higher octane, 91, that has no ethanol.

[ultrafxr]

I cannot recall going to a pump the last few years that did not say the fuel contained 10% ethanol.  This includes the east coast to California and Florida to Canada.  Just saying. If I could find it without I'd buy it but I cannot tell any ill affect it has had on the bike.  But ethanol does not have the energy equivalency of gasoline so it will decrease your fuel mileage but a 10% mixture will not make that much difference I do not think.

[Fired00d]

If you're really concerned about ethanol in fuel this was posted awhile back - Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[ridefar]

QuikFill Gas based in Warren Pa is still 100% non ethanol. Available in Pa and Western NY. made from 100% North American(mostly Canadian) crude. My thinking is that if ethanol blend gas is 10% less combustible, then we should be paying 10% less for it!

[Supershooter]

Ethanol looks to be a fuel of the future if we are going to decease our dependance on forgein oil. I havn't seen any adverse effects of using an Ethanol Blends. Ethanol has been an economic boost to small towns in the Corn Belt. It has also added many new jobs in muliple states here in the USA.
Supershooter

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Startron.
Scott

[skreminegul07]

Ethanol looks to be a fuel of the future if we are going to decease our dependance on forgein oil. I havn't seen any adverse effects of using an Ethanol Blends. Ethanol has been an economic boost to small towns in the Corn Belt. It has also added many new jobs in muliple states here in the USA.
Supershooter

Sure it looks good to a few people, but taxpayers are severely subsidizing the government mandated production.  Also the production of the ethanol is not very environmentally friendly.  It's all smoke and mirrors. 

[HUBBARD]

Sure it looks good to a few people, but taxpayers are severely subsidizing the government mandated production.  Also the production of the ethanol is not very environmentally friendly.  It's all smoke and mirrors. 

I concur.  Later--HUBBARD

[MY2NDCVO]

They have been using this in Florida for the last several yrs now with no issues as i know.

[Georgehjr]

They have been using this in Florida for the last several yrs now with no issues as i know.

Unless the fuel 'sets' for a while, I used the 'red' fuel stabilizer and in 6 months later had to rebuild the carbs, the tech told me all the small engines in town, mowers,chain saws etc, had the same issues, they now offer a 'green' marine grade that is supposed to work. we will see this Oct when I am back in Daytona..

[txbear55]

Definitely another govt. boondoggle....currently is financially unfeasible without govt. subsidy (OUR tax money!).
-Consensus is that diversion of corn production for ethanol will result in increased food prices
-Ethanol is very corrosive and prone to water and other impurities absorption...no pipeline shipping, so trucks, trains , etc have to transport
-Energy efficiency is less than gasoline; results in less mpg
-Currently takes 4.5 barrels of oil to produce 4 barrels of ethanol
-Many engines have been extensively damaged by ethanol use

Yes, we need alternative fuel sources, but let's do the proper research before jumping on this unproven fuel and costing the taxpayers billions!   

[ultraswede]

 
Ethanol is an extremely good fuel from a technical view.
106 octane, burns soot free, engine runs cooler, more Tq and HP than gas, does not harm fuel systems
on injected bikes. (I run E85, that is 85% ethanol, runs stronger and cooler than gas.)

If the oil companies mix it with bad quality gas, don't blame the ethanol for that.
The reason you see ethanol in your gas nation wide, is because it replaces MTBE as an oxidant in the fuel,
oxidants are needed to fight smog in cities.
MTBE poison the (drinking)water in the ground, ethanol i harmless in comparison.

Many don't make the distinction between Ethanol and Methanol.
Methanol is bad stuff, corrosive, makes you blind if you drink it, aggressive to some rubber materials.
None of that is true for Ethanol, (the stuff in vodka).


As for the politics on ethanol production in north America I will remain silent, none of my business.
In Sweden we import our ethanol from Brazil, made from sugar cane, which use hardly any fossil fuel for its production.