Fuel question

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Nov 11, 2014 | 04:20 PM

JonGolden

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Charleston, SC

Fuel question

Should I put in super 93 octane, that has ethanol, or 87 octane without ethanol? Those are my two options. I have an 04 FLST.

Thanks.

Nov 11, 2014 | 04:46 PM

Wide_Open

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From: FL

Go with the 93. If you are worried about the ethanol use something like Stabil 360 for ethanol.

Nov 11, 2014 | 04:49 PM

dfwhockey17

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From: Fort Worth, TX

93 octane. There are a bunch of additives out there now to help with ethanol problems, I run the Amsoil stuff myself...

Nov 12, 2014 | 03:19 PM

ChickinOnaChain

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From: .....

I used to use premium but over a year ago, I switched to regular. I haven't seen, heard or noticed any problems with performance.

As for ethanol, I've never seen a station that didn't have it.

Nov 12, 2014 | 03:24 PM

gerjets

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From: Mt Airy, MD

Agreed. Go with the 93.

Nov 12, 2014 | 04:01 PM

olongapo1

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From: Philippines

Unless you have a high compression engine there is no need to run high octane fuel. Ethanol fuel, in addition to having a short shelf life, also burns hot adding to engine temperature. Experiment with different octane ratings. If you find no performance differences, run the Non-Ethanol.

Nov 12, 2014 | 10:44 PM

bill in okc

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Quote:

Originally Posted by olongapo1

Not to mention the acetic acid produced by bacteria in ethanol/water that will corrode lots of stuff. Think filling your tank with acidic fuel.

Even the EPA now says that ethanol can destroy engines and void warranties.

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...s_engines.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/ordntrnt/ORD/NRMR...-stp-sumps.pdf

Last edited by bill in okc; Nov 13, 2014 at 08:09 AM.

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Nov 13, 2014 | 05:52 AM

Warp Factor

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Joined: Aug 2012

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From: Detroit

Quote:

Originally Posted by olongapo1

Lots of myths about ethanol. Ethanol actually burns cooler than gasoline. Corrosion hasn't turned out to be the problem people thought it would be, even when putting E-85 in older fuel tanks (they convert to E-85 on some high-performance vehicles because it makes a good "race gas".... it's higher octane and burns cooler, isn't as toxic as leaded gas, and is easier to get).

Premium gas in Michigan has contained ethanol for at least 20 years now, and there haven't really been problems with it. Yes, it will run slightly leaner on older engines without oxygen sensors, which can't self-adjust to get the slightly richer ideal mixture.

Storage? People put vehicles up for the winter all the time in Michigan with E-10 in the tank, with no problems in the spring.

Running "regular" gas? Sure, it will work, but it takes away some of the safety margin against detonation, a major engine destroyer. And when the engine management system senses detonation (and it will do this before you can hear it), it will pull timing, costing some power and fuel economy.

I've had the same tankful of E-10 in in my standby generator for two years now, and there is no fuel or water separation, and nothing else strange going on.

Last edited by Warp Factor; Nov 13, 2014 at 06:18 AM.