Fuel Question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
There's no reason I'm aware of to be particularly concerned, never mind insulting, over choices between E10 and pure gas. Here, since a choice between the two is universal, with only Octane numbers below 91 being E10, I choose pure gas. I carry a can of Seafoam with a 2 oz booze measuring stopper in the top and give my tank a slug of Seafoam when I fill up at a single hose pump.
I think we're all aware that motorcycles are pretty good at letting you know when some adjustment you've made, mechanical or otherwise, has been good or not. Try the Seafoam/shotpour thing and see what you think.
I think we're all aware that motorcycles are pretty good at letting you know when some adjustment you've made, mechanical or otherwise, has been good or not. Try the Seafoam/shotpour thing and see what you think.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 4
From: Bradenton,Florida
This isn't totally true. I've had to replace the in-tank fuel tube on my '05 due to it becoming brittle and breaking.
The guy at the parts counter told me this fuel tube is a common service part and they are attributing it to the alcohol in today's fuel.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Interesting !
OK or not OK, Ethanol was something that they added to fuel by mandate, not design, and its purpose wasn't for improvement of the function of your engine. Sadly, ethanol is possibly the most disappointing accomplishment in the long sad history of disappointing accomplishments.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 334
Likes: 10
From: Southern IL
Interesting !
OK or not OK, Ethanol was something that they added to fuel by mandate, not design, and its purpose wasn't for improvement of the function of your engine. Sadly, ethanol is possibly the most disappointing accomplishment in the long sad history of disappointing accomplishments.
OK or not OK, Ethanol was something that they added to fuel by mandate, not design, and its purpose wasn't for improvement of the function of your engine. Sadly, ethanol is possibly the most disappointing accomplishment in the long sad history of disappointing accomplishments.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
The common problem with the in-tank fuel line is wear from rubbing against the walls of the tank, and that's the main reason you'll find lots of people here replacing them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,272
From: Oxford, Nc
In all fairness, when I replaced my fuel filter at 92,000 miles my plastic fuel lines were pretty brittle. (I took care of that permanently by replacing the plastic with R-30 neoprene.)
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 118
Likes: 24
From: virginia
My 2 sense on the fuel.....for my harley that digests 91 octane or better, I will suffer the pump grade with ethanol in summer. In winter, with some sitting, I use avgas mixed with the 87 octane pump non-ethanol. Race gas at ten bucks is tough, but avgas at 100 octane is less than 6 bucks. Mixed with pump non-ethanol at about 2.50 price is not bad...a bit of a pain. But, the reason I do this is the following. Few years back, I rebuilt a set of four carbs off a Suzuki that were gummed up so badly the parts had to be pulled apart with pliers. I have had two Stihl chain saws fuel pickups just melt into rubber bands. I purchased a honda VTX that had sat over the winter, and the jets were all corroded black and somewhat plugged (with about total 7k miles). Honda Motors recommends not using ethanol fuel that has been sitting for more than 30 days....period, in any of their machinery. Clearly, the alcohol separates out, and causes starting problems. Also is a wonderful collector of water. From my experience, starting, corrosion, rubber failures, and gumming are all new to my mechanical adventures. I rebuilt my first car engine in 1958 or so, and have been at it ever since. Both the marine industry and the harley dealer reps recommend the Startron to minimize the problems. I prefer a bit of extra effort to preclude having to remove the fuel pumps, or other parts due to this crap fuel. I suspect part of the gummint push to convert corn to ethanol is that they can't ship the GMO garbage to educated Europeans. And before anyone wants to argue merits, try first drinking a glass of glyphosate for breakfast.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Interesting, "newdyna".
I have one car that regularly sits in storage all winter with a full tank of E-10. Been doing it for 16 years. Never any problems. And never saw any indication of any problems when I've had the fuel system apart.
This fall, I fired up my boat for the first time in three years, which always runs E-10. I had gotten as much fuel out of the tanks as I could with the fuel pumps before I stored it, but never got around to draining the float bowls. Put some fresh gas in it, and it fired right up and ran fine.
And I had lots of gummed-up carbs apart way before the E-10 days.
I don't quite understand how some people manage to get so unlucky, and then try to blame it on the evil demon E-10.
By the way, the main ingredient in most fuel system water remover and antifreeze products is alcohol. It allows any water in the tank to mix with the gas, so it is eliminated when the gas is burned in the engine.
I have one car that regularly sits in storage all winter with a full tank of E-10. Been doing it for 16 years. Never any problems. And never saw any indication of any problems when I've had the fuel system apart.
This fall, I fired up my boat for the first time in three years, which always runs E-10. I had gotten as much fuel out of the tanks as I could with the fuel pumps before I stored it, but never got around to draining the float bowls. Put some fresh gas in it, and it fired right up and ran fine.
And I had lots of gummed-up carbs apart way before the E-10 days.
I don't quite understand how some people manage to get so unlucky, and then try to blame it on the evil demon E-10.
By the way, the main ingredient in most fuel system water remover and antifreeze products is alcohol. It allows any water in the tank to mix with the gas, so it is eliminated when the gas is burned in the engine.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Jan 16, 2016 at 03:52 PM.