E15 gas...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
It's difficult and expensive to find anything other than ethanol blends here in the Midwest (corn country). I don't worry about it because I have had few problems. One that comes to mind is the need to rebuilt the carb on a power washer a couple of years ago. I have never had a problem with bikes or cars using ethanol blends. The reason for ethanol blends, however, is BS to me.
About 10-15 years ago, it was all the rage because of concerns about oil shortages. Ethanol use would help us beat offshore oil dependence (now kind of BS). Predictions of a massive corn-to-ethanol move and economic benefits here in the Midwest never really materialized because of very high costs to transport it by truck and lack of pipelines. There were reported benefits to air pollution, particularly CO2, but these have been more recently more nebulous due to increased ground level ozone reports from Brazil where ethanol is much more widely used.
I guess my bottom line on the whole thing is that it's really another farm subsidy and corn production seems to be the most highly subsidized large crop in the USA. Like all government subsidies, this one is very well established and will be very difficult to eliminate. Face it E10 is probably here to stay. I don't want to see E15 implemented and have written my senators and congressman to fight this move.
About 10-15 years ago, it was all the rage because of concerns about oil shortages. Ethanol use would help us beat offshore oil dependence (now kind of BS). Predictions of a massive corn-to-ethanol move and economic benefits here in the Midwest never really materialized because of very high costs to transport it by truck and lack of pipelines. There were reported benefits to air pollution, particularly CO2, but these have been more recently more nebulous due to increased ground level ozone reports from Brazil where ethanol is much more widely used.
I guess my bottom line on the whole thing is that it's really another farm subsidy and corn production seems to be the most highly subsidized large crop in the USA. Like all government subsidies, this one is very well established and will be very difficult to eliminate. Face it E10 is probably here to stay. I don't want to see E15 implemented and have written my senators and congressman to fight this move.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 607
Likes: 143
From: Hilltown
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Ethanol was a handy octane booster when the previous substance (MTBE) was banned for environmental reasons. That was years before any concerns about oil shortages, which did become the reason for it's widespread use. When they started using it some vehicles had problems because fuel systems were not made to withstand alcohol. Kinda putting the cart before the horse.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,145
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
False. I proved over and over again with my '09 EFI FXD and my '98 carb FXD that I get consistently 4 mpg *LESS* with that **** corn gas. Also, that **** corn gas *attracts* moisture, unlike good gas.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 157
Likes: 57
From: MD. USA
It's difficult and expensive to find anything other than ethanol blends here in the Midwest (corn country). I don't worry about it because I have had few problems. One that comes to mind is the need to rebuilt the carb on a power washer a couple of years ago. I have never had a problem with bikes or cars using ethanol blends. The reason for ethanol blends, however, is BS to me....
Ethanol, like unleaded gasoline, is different from the blends common prior to it, but neither will destroy your engine. That, rather than some great inside conspiracy is why you don't see warnings on every bike, car, truck and piece of equipment with a gasoline engine.
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