Ethanol Fuels Question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
You engine needs 91 regardless of it is 10% blend or not. The reason it needs the higher octane is compression. Has nothing to do with better fuels. Lower octane will detonate under compression and heat before spark .
My 1996 FB has sat in the cold garage all winter as it has done all of it life. It is a lower compression engine and runs 87 octane. It has pretty much always used 87 10% blend. It has never had the carb apart. It will start right .up tomorrow or next week if I choose.
I never go out of my way to get non blend gas.
My 1996 FB has sat in the cold garage all winter as it has done all of it life. It is a lower compression engine and runs 87 octane. It has pretty much always used 87 10% blend. It has never had the carb apart. It will start right .up tomorrow or next week if I choose.
I never go out of my way to get non blend gas.
Last edited by smitty901; Mar 21, 2023 at 09:22 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,612
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Thought I post this question here since it's not really specific to any bike. I don't believe the ethanol in most fuels (10%) around here will hurt the engine, but we do have a few stations near me that sell non-ethanol fuel, but only in mid grade (87 octane here, sometimes 88 if you get lucky). The question is, would there be any benefit to running the non-ethanol 87 and some octane boost vs just running the premium from the pump with the ethanol in it? I am referencing performance and longevity, NOT cost.
Note, I have not tried this yet. Just sort of thinking out loud. Thoughts?
I should also note that I have been running this 87 ethanol free in my trucks for while now and I do see a small fuel economy increase.
Note, I have not tried this yet. Just sort of thinking out loud. Thoughts?
I should also note that I have been running this 87 ethanol free in my trucks for while now and I do see a small fuel economy increase.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 21, 2023 at 09:15 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 3,072
From: South of Boston, MA
In 40 years I have only put pump gas in
Its been a long time since non-ethanol has been available
And for the most part I have only used stabilizer the past few years
Bought the Harley last year, so will uses stabilizer from now on
Its been a long time since non-ethanol has been available
And for the most part I have only used stabilizer the past few years
Bought the Harley last year, so will uses stabilizer from now on
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,590
Likes: 8,418
From: Inland NW
It's interesting, in the NW, and even at our higher elevation towns, all of the non-eth gas is higher octane. Typically found at our Conoco stations. We have the race fuel stations scattered few and far between as weill.
I try to put non-eth in whenever I can, just a habit on bikes. I treat them like my power equipment still, for some reason. It's all I buy for the home gas cans for generators, saws, etc..
I know it isn't an issue, just a habit. When I leave my area of the world, I certainly don't wring my hands over it, and just look for the best gas available. Finding that is hard enough in some of the backwater "towns" we have found ourselves in down in other parts of this country, and I have run many-a-tank of some suspect fuel though this bike without issue LOL
I try to put non-eth in whenever I can, just a habit on bikes. I treat them like my power equipment still, for some reason. It's all I buy for the home gas cans for generators, saws, etc..
I know it isn't an issue, just a habit. When I leave my area of the world, I certainly don't wring my hands over it, and just look for the best gas available. Finding that is hard enough in some of the backwater "towns" we have found ourselves in down in other parts of this country, and I have run many-a-tank of some suspect fuel though this bike without issue LOL
I put whatever 91+ octane gas is available in anything I got, bike/mower/weed eater/tiller and never had an issue with storage or operation. Some people think that ethanol will destroy an engine, endorse communism, or make their 401k lose value among other detriments. As long as the motor was designed to run it, it's fine.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Ethanol isn't preferable, but not harmful since the MoCo builds fuel systems out of alcohol resistant materials, and at least on new closed loop fuel systems account for the lower energy content.
Since alcohol has less energy than gasoline, your fuel consumption goes up and you have to gas up more often. That's kind of a big deal to me since motorcycles have small gas tanks. So I always try to gas up at non-oxy premium fuel stations, and only those that are Top Tier.
In a pinch, I will sacrifice non-oxy to keep the Top Tier. For instance, Shell is Top Tier but doesn't offer non-oxy here.
Look up AAA independent test of gasoline to see how much cleaner intake valves and fuel injector nozzles are with Top Tier gas. It's very important.
Since alcohol has less energy than gasoline, your fuel consumption goes up and you have to gas up more often. That's kind of a big deal to me since motorcycles have small gas tanks. So I always try to gas up at non-oxy premium fuel stations, and only those that are Top Tier.
In a pinch, I will sacrifice non-oxy to keep the Top Tier. For instance, Shell is Top Tier but doesn't offer non-oxy here.
Look up AAA independent test of gasoline to see how much cleaner intake valves and fuel injector nozzles are with Top Tier gas. It's very important.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
Conclusion - people overthink things, ethanol being one of them.
Personally I think it's terrible public policy, but I wouldn't get all knotted up about it
Personally I think it's terrible public policy, but I wouldn't get all knotted up about it
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 308
Likes: 127
From: ON Canada
Guess youve never had a small engine to worry about. Store your generator/mower/chainsaw without draining the carburetor (draining gets every drop as opposed to running engine until it stalls) of e-gas and youll be doing a carburetor cleaning or rebuild eventually
🥴
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
Guess you’ve never had a small engine to worry about. Store your generator/mower/chainsaw without draining the carburetor (draining gets every drop as opposed to running engine until it stalls) of e-gas and you’ll be doing a carburetor cleaning or rebuild eventually… 🥴