E10 Petrol UK
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
But like all fuel modifications, the raise the price to put additives in. Then they raise the price for fuel with less additives. Bottom line is we gotta run what's available.
Here in California, 91 octane premium had been laced with ethanol for quite a few years. The main problem I see with it is in small appliances such as mowers, pressure washers, weed wackers, etc. When they sit and the fuel dries out in the carb, the residue plugs up the tiny orifices. Stabil helps some, but not perfectly. My pressure washer gets used once or twice a year. I've put three carburetors on it in three years. Good thing they're only 15 bucks. But this last time, I drained it and filled it with marvel oil.
A real PITA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
In all the years that I have used E 10 gas, the only inconvenience that it has caused me was having to change the carburetor floats in my '77 Airhead BMW to alcohol proof floats. Before I put the bikes up for winter, I ride them to the gas station, dump two ounces of Stabil into the gas tank, fill it up with E 10 Premium, ride home, and park them. Never had a problem. I use non ethanol regular gas w/Stabil for all of my small engines. The gas cap on my Husqvarna garden tractor has a "No E10" symbol on it. The gas cap on my walk-behind trimmer says "E10 Max" on it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,894
Likes: 11,324
From: NE Ohio
E15 pump option is starting to be common 'round my parts .
It's less expensive than E10 by appx 20 cents pr gal
a few years ago I had to make several runs to Philly and back in a week (780 miles round trip for me)
I rented an econobox for the week for fuel mileage savings and wear 'n tear on my truck .
One of the fill-ups I used E15 because of the price.
It didn't save a PENNY and actually cost more, as the fuel mileage was reduced more than the price pr gal savings
since this is a year old thread, I'm curious if E10 has come to our friends over there and what the price difference is.
Here, non alcohol fuel is the most expensive.
E10 (the norm at the pump here) a little less.
E15 a little less still
.L.T.A.
It's less expensive than E10 by appx 20 cents pr gal
a few years ago I had to make several runs to Philly and back in a week (780 miles round trip for me)
I rented an econobox for the week for fuel mileage savings and wear 'n tear on my truck .
One of the fill-ups I used E15 because of the price.
It didn't save a PENNY and actually cost more, as the fuel mileage was reduced more than the price pr gal savings
since this is a year old thread, I'm curious if E10 has come to our friends over there and what the price difference is.
Here, non alcohol fuel is the most expensive.
E10 (the norm at the pump here) a little less.
E15 a little less still
.L.T.A.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 1,158
From: Long Island
There is a video on removing the alcohol from gas.
It involves mixing in some water, giving the alcohol some time to bind w the water.
Then draining the alch/ water from a tap at the bottom where it settles.
We may have to rig up our own "stills"
It involves mixing in some water, giving the alcohol some time to bind w the water.
Then draining the alch/ water from a tap at the bottom where it settles.
We may have to rig up our own "stills"
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 417
From: Outer Banks, NC
Two of my vehicles (My '06 Harley and '17 Chevy Volt) I use a lot and fuel never sits in them very long. So I use E-10 in them (87 in car, 93 in bike). My old boat, mower, pressure washer and small generator get non-ethanol. My boat has a Ford 351 Windsor V8 and needs premium (93 in my area). So I pay through the nose for 93 non-ethanol.
To Q-Ball, Sta-Bil is great for non-E. It does help extend the shelf life quite a bit.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 837
From: KMHT KFMY
The MoCo has already made millions of bikes that were set up for E10
It is the older bikes, pre E10, that become an issue.
If you have ever used a polyester sealer on a rusty tank (Kreme) and you use E10 it will dissolve the stuff and all hell breaks loose....
Older carbs don't like it either... rubber hoses, seals, needles & seats will degrade
That and E10 will gum up a carb if it sits for too long, when I had my ZZR and ZRX if I knew the bikes were going to sit for any length of time I pinched off the fuel lines and drained the carb bowls.... the ZRX took 6 hours to R&I the carbs.... so I made damn sure they were empty when I left it in Florida for months on end or when it was in NH and getting stored for the winter..... the FI'd Harleys never had an issue with the stuff, but when I was putting the bikes and cars away for the summer at the FL house lasrt week, I filled all 3 bikes and the Mustang up with Ethanol free gas.... remember E10 absorbs water too.
If you are in the US, there is a website ( www.pure-gas.org ) where you can search for E free gas, but the downside is most of it is 89 or 90 octane and all of my bikes like 91 or better so it only gets used for storage.... (now if you have no cat converters and a friend at a local airport 100LL is really nice stuff and E free ! )
It is the older bikes, pre E10, that become an issue.
If you have ever used a polyester sealer on a rusty tank (Kreme) and you use E10 it will dissolve the stuff and all hell breaks loose....
Older carbs don't like it either... rubber hoses, seals, needles & seats will degrade
That and E10 will gum up a carb if it sits for too long, when I had my ZZR and ZRX if I knew the bikes were going to sit for any length of time I pinched off the fuel lines and drained the carb bowls.... the ZRX took 6 hours to R&I the carbs.... so I made damn sure they were empty when I left it in Florida for months on end or when it was in NH and getting stored for the winter..... the FI'd Harleys never had an issue with the stuff, but when I was putting the bikes and cars away for the summer at the FL house lasrt week, I filled all 3 bikes and the Mustang up with Ethanol free gas.... remember E10 absorbs water too.
If you are in the US, there is a website ( www.pure-gas.org ) where you can search for E free gas, but the downside is most of it is 89 or 90 octane and all of my bikes like 91 or better so it only gets used for storage.... (now if you have no cat converters and a friend at a local airport 100LL is really nice stuff and E free ! )
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 417
From: Outer Banks, NC
The feds have been pushing for E-15, but most cars on the road, and still being built, are only made for E-10. So E-15 has not gotten very far. For a while now there's a few vehicles made that can run up to E-85, but they are few and far between.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 1,852
From: England
Phil, in the States we have had E-10 for 15 or 20 years? E-10 is the low price stuff. Non-ethanol is more expensive.
The feds have been pushing for E-15, but most cars on the road, and still being built, are only made for E-10. So E-15 has not gotten very far. For a while now there's a few vehicles made that can run up to E-85, but they are few and far between.
The feds have been pushing for E-15, but most cars on the road, and still being built, are only made for E-10. So E-15 has not gotten very far. For a while now there's a few vehicles made that can run up to E-85, but they are few and far between.
.