Ethanol Fuels Question
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 965
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From: Hudson, CO
Ethanol Fuels Question
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 Black Ultra; Mar 21, 2023 at 10:47 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
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?
Note, I have not tried this yet. Just sort of thinking out loud. Thoughts?
Dumping octane boost into your bike is very imprecise, and its easy to over do it.
I can't imagine that the vast majority of bikers west of the Mississippi are unwittingly destroying their bikes by using ethanol 91.
If you use your motorcycle its not a big deal. Longer term storage can be a problem, but its very rare to have a problem with it over the 4 month winter storage period.
Obsess about something else!
Last edited by Keithhu; Mar 21, 2023 at 10:50 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Omaha,NE
Keith is correct. You lose 1 - 2% MPG with ethanol, but that's really the only detriment. However, I would not store a bike more than 3 months with ethanol fuel. That's the only caveat I honor.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 965
Likes: 848
From: Hudson, CO
Good point on long term storage. Do you drain it, or use a stabilizer? Or maybe you just never let a bike sit that long? In Colorado, winters can be long and mind numbing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
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From: SE Michigan
Stabilizer.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Texas
My bike sat for nearly 2 years as I recovered from a bad accident. I had filled it up with premium conventional gas, so I poured some Stabil in the tank, and let it run a bit to get it distributed throughout the system, and put it on a battery tender.
2 years later, it started up and ran fine and continues to run great.
If I had it to do over again and wasn't horribly injured, I would have drained the tank and filled it with ethanol-free before letting it sit 2 years. But as is, it turned out fine using normal gas and Stabil.
2 years later, it started up and ran fine and continues to run great.
If I had it to do over again and wasn't horribly injured, I would have drained the tank and filled it with ethanol-free before letting it sit 2 years. But as is, it turned out fine using normal gas and Stabil.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 965
Likes: 848
From: Hudson, CO
Like I said, I don't think the 10% ethanol hurts anything. I'm sure the bikes are designed for it since that seems to be the standard now around the country. It was more a performance question than anything. I have been running the pump 91 so far. Just a little bored this morning and got to thinking. Thanks for the responses!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: upstate NY
Like I said, I don't think the 10% ethanol hurts anything NEWER. I'm sure the bikes are designed for it since that seems to be the standard now around the country. It was more a performance question than anything. I have been running the pump 91 so far. Just a little bored this morning and got to thinking. Thanks for the responses!
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