Fuel Question
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 11,687
Likes: 22,234
From: Clearwater, Idaho
From the Manual:
"Fuels with an ethanol content of up to 10 percent may be used in your motorcycle without affecting vehicle performance. U.S. EPA regulations currently indicate that fuels with 15 percent ethanol (E-15) are restricted from use in motorcycles at the time of this publication."
"Fuels with an ethanol content of up to 10 percent may be used in your motorcycle without affecting vehicle performance. U.S. EPA regulations currently indicate that fuels with 15 percent ethanol (E-15) are restricted from use in motorcycles at the time of this publication."
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
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From: Illinois
Alcohol is corrosive to metal, it has less BTU's and costs more to produce. However with improved metallurgy, seals, and lubricants the E10 mix has been neutralized as detrimental to modern engines.
The less power output has also been shown that with the increased evaporation results in a cooler incoming charge. that negates the less BTU's and is a wash.
The use of alcohol in racing venues is a political concession to placate the government.
Once the mix goes to E15 and above the life of the engine is reduced from increased wear.
Even Al Gore has stated that Ethanol was a mistake. The cost of planting, cultivating, pesticides used, fertilizer, transportation and processing uses more energy and creates more pollution than the reduction of pollutants gained from using ethanol mix. It has led to the increase in cereal, meat and other food cost across the world. Notwithstanding the huge cost to every taxpayer.
It is subsidized from beginning to end by the government. The alternative energy lobby is the largest source of political campaign contributions that any other source. We get the best legislation that money can buy.
The less power output has also been shown that with the increased evaporation results in a cooler incoming charge. that negates the less BTU's and is a wash.
The use of alcohol in racing venues is a political concession to placate the government.
Once the mix goes to E15 and above the life of the engine is reduced from increased wear.
Even Al Gore has stated that Ethanol was a mistake. The cost of planting, cultivating, pesticides used, fertilizer, transportation and processing uses more energy and creates more pollution than the reduction of pollutants gained from using ethanol mix. It has led to the increase in cereal, meat and other food cost across the world. Notwithstanding the huge cost to every taxpayer.
It is subsidized from beginning to end by the government. The alternative energy lobby is the largest source of political campaign contributions that any other source. We get the best legislation that money can buy.
Last edited by lh4x4; May 19, 2016 at 11:23 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Alcohol has been used to enhance power for about as long as there's been motor racing. Yes, the switch to use of more ethanol, rather than methanol, has partly been political. But it's also partly because 85% alcohol is now widely available at an ordinary gas station, can be set up to produce a lot more power than race gas, and is quite a bit less expensive than race gas (even when the higher volume required is taken into account).
I am by no means a fuel scientist. I do not ever remember having gummy carburetors in my lawn mowers in the 70s when I mowed grass for summer spending money. As an adult I did own my own small engine repair business for 3 years. The bulk 97% of my business was in fact a result of people storing their lawn mowers for the winter with gasoline (10% ethanol) in the tank. An hour removing, degumming and rebuilding the carb. Followed by thoroughly flushing and cleaning the tank and replacing the fuel lines would get them running better than new.
One more thing I have to say about ethanol gasoline is if you were to stop ALL federal subsidies for the production of this corn based product the 10% ethanol gasoline would cost QUITE a bit more than the pure gasoline.
For me I will continue to run the 10% blend in my bike during the riding season. The last 2 or 3 tanks in September I will spend the money for Ethanol free fuel so that she gets stored with 0 ethanol in her fuel system. I also take the time to let all the fuel run out of the carb with fuel valve shut. I do the same process with all my small engines for winter storage. Then again I have been known to run 87 octane in my bike when money is tight. I really can't tell any difference in the way she runs from 87 to 93 Ethanol or Non-ethanol. Then again I don't race or ride my bike hard it is purely for enjoyment which very rarely requires speeds above 70mph or engine RPMs over 4500.
That is my $.02 as if anyone really cares.
One more thing I have to say about ethanol gasoline is if you were to stop ALL federal subsidies for the production of this corn based product the 10% ethanol gasoline would cost QUITE a bit more than the pure gasoline.
For me I will continue to run the 10% blend in my bike during the riding season. The last 2 or 3 tanks in September I will spend the money for Ethanol free fuel so that she gets stored with 0 ethanol in her fuel system. I also take the time to let all the fuel run out of the carb with fuel valve shut. I do the same process with all my small engines for winter storage. Then again I have been known to run 87 octane in my bike when money is tight. I really can't tell any difference in the way she runs from 87 to 93 Ethanol or Non-ethanol. Then again I don't race or ride my bike hard it is purely for enjoyment which very rarely requires speeds above 70mph or engine RPMs over 4500.
That is my $.02 as if anyone really cares.
Alcohol has been used to enhance power for about as long as there's been motor racing. Yes, the switch to use of more ethanol, rather than methanol, has partly been political. But it's also partly because 85% alcohol is now widely available at an ordinary gas station, can be set up to produce a lot more power than race gas, and is quite a bit less expensive than race gas (even when the higher volume required is taken into account).
Just a thought.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
I am by no means a fuel scientist. I do not ever remember having gummy carburetors in my lawn mowers in the 70s when I mowed grass for summer spending money. As an adult I did own my own small engine repair business for 3 years. The bulk 97% of my business was in fact a result of people storing their lawn mowers for the winter with gasoline (10% ethanol) in the tank. An hour removing, degumming and rebuilding the carb. Followed by thoroughly flushing and cleaning the tank and replacing the fuel lines would get them running better than new.
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Last edited by Warp Factor; May 22, 2016 at 06:09 AM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 91
Likes: 10
From: Minnesota
Resurrecting an old thread here but between personal anecdotes and corn subsidy conspiracies (which I believe) no one really answered the question. Can you run non-oxygenated fuel in a modern fuel injected Harley? I filled up on a lower octane non-oxy tonight and had difficulty holding idle a maybe ten miles later. I'm hoping the fuel is the culprit, considering this new bike has under 3K miles on it and was tuned with 93 octane.
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