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Old May 12, 2021 | 09:43 AM
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While talking to a Harley technician today he mentioned that it’s good to run fuel with ethanol in it during the riding season, where as the non-oxygenated gasoline is good for storage. Has anyone heard of running high-octane (91) Or more with ethanol was a good thing .?
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 09:45 AM
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My understanding is that ethanol is hard on rubber parts regardless of the season
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 09:54 AM
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I disagree with your Harley Technician for the same reason eighteight mentioned. Straight gas is better for engine regardless of the time of year.
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 09:56 AM
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I wonder if he meant more that it's "OK" to run ethanol gas during riding season because it's not going to be sitting in your tank, in your lines, etc for extended periods of time.

I try to avoid using ethanol gas in all of my vehicles.
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 09:57 AM
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If you ride your bike, 10% ethanol is neither good nor bad. Octane is Octane. Ethanol is not good for longer term storage. Thats what fuel stabilizers are for.

Again, if you ride your bike a lot, especially on multi-state trips, trying to find ethanol free fuel is simply not realistic.

Ride your bike, store it properly.
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 10:00 AM
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I’ve heard that the ethanol acts as a varnish remover and keeps carburetors and fuel injection systems squeaky clean.
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 10:05 AM
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I believe that was his thinking, that the ethanol would burn cleaner and keep things cleaner.
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by E-clip
I’ve heard that the ethanol acts as a varnish remover and keeps carburetors and fuel injection systems squeaky clean.
Likely what the tech in the OP was referring to. Alcohol is a solvent. That said, I don't run E10 in my bike, I use ethanol free gas year round.
I have run a few tanks of E10 when on the road and nothing else was available, and the bike ran fine. But I prefer to use the non alcohol stuff in the boat and the bike.


 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by E-clip
I’ve heard that the ethanol acts as a varnish remover and keeps carburetors and fuel injection systems squeaky clean.
You heard wrong. You want to keep your fuel system clean, use a Top Tier fuel with a good additive (detergent) package. link
 
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Old May 12, 2021 | 10:43 AM
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He's wrong ! Corn Alcohol is for drinking not engines, or at least not engines. Racing engines ,yes. But you can not leave that stuff in the fuel system.
I try an avoid ethanol fuel every time time i gas up. That crap turns back into corn when laying in the system.
 
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