Methanol
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Matthews, NC
Methanol
Does Methanol affect performance in HD motors? The wife and I did a weekend trip to Virginia on my 2007 FLHTC (now, we are on topic), and instead of finding 93 octane fuel (like I can purchase in NC), every station I visited in Va had 92 octane w/ 10% Methanol. It seemed my MPG suffered. Is there any substance to this, or did I just get crappy MPG? The bike seemed to ride just fine with the Methanol mixture.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Wild&Wonderful West Virginia
RE: Methanol
I think it is ethanol not methanol. I traveled through Va. last week and found the same. I dont think you get the best mileage running it, but I did not notice bad prefromance using it.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Methanol
In my Tahoe, I notice it about 12% less milage with the 10%ethanol. I use to always fill up at the same station every week and noticed my milage going down, I monitor it always, force of habit... Switched stations and instantly back up 2+ mpg, easily worth the few cents more a gallon. Always try to use the same fuel(the good stuff)in the bike, haven't been far from home on the bike in a couple of years... 
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 83
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From: Cleona Pa
RE: Methanol
My milage dropped from 160 befor fill up at quarter tank to about 140 with 10 percent ethenol
Byron
Byron
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
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From: Minnesota
RE: Methanol
Ethanol has half of the BTUs that gasoline has so if it is 10% you theoretically have 5% less energy in a gallon of E10 compared to pure gas so you should get a little less milage out of it. This is more dramatic with E85. The Harley manual will tell you it is OK to use up to 10% Ethanol. Your car manual too. In Minnesota it is hard to find non-oxygenated fuel. A few stations have it with a label on the pump that says "for collector cars, boats & motorcycles, etc." I use pure gas whenever possible and I will run at least 3 tanks of real gas before storing for the winter. Ethanol is corrosive. Vehicle manufacturers have adapted parts that come in contact with fuel to resist corrosion from Ethanol but if I can avoid putting something in my bike or car that is not good for it and gives me less milage I will. Grain prices have gone through the roof in large part do to the demand for Ethanol. This means that when I buy steaks for the grill on Memorial Day it costs me more. I guess its too late to say don't get me started on Ethanol!
