Ethanol in gas
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 2
From: Monroe, Louisiana
RE: Ethanol in gas
I run 10% ethanol all the time, mostly in my car, but I put it in the bike too. \\; I havn't had any problems.
 \\;
 \\; Thats not to say I think its a good thing. \\; In fact I think its one of the biggest Rip Offs our government has ever imposed on us. \\; Ethanol is a Hoax. \\; Its not meant to be economical. \\; It cost more to produce and has caused prices on just about everything to go up. \\; It is suppossed to be saving our planet from global warming, which is another Hoax. \\; This country needs to elect people that will look out for our interest instead of their own.
 \\;
 \\; Thats not to say I think its a good thing. \\; In fact I think its one of the biggest Rip Offs our government has ever imposed on us. \\; Ethanol is a Hoax. \\; Its not meant to be economical. \\; It cost more to produce and has caused prices on just about everything to go up. \\; It is suppossed to be saving our planet from global warming, which is another Hoax. \\; This country needs to elect people that will look out for our interest instead of their own.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Inland Northwest
RE: Ethanol in gas
I'm with Magos and Rox on this one. I consistently get 3-4 miles per gallon less using fuel with 10% ethanol. \\;20% less mileage sounds like a bit of a stretch but there's no doubt that I get less mileage.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
RE: Ethanol in gas
The man that told me this is an engineer, you know how precise those guys are. He said he measured it on a trip from Houston to Kentucky. He has a 2002 Caddy. He said that during the trip he checked his mileage the whole way and noticed the reduction in mileage only when he put in the 10%. I don't doubt this guy but maybe the size and type of vehicle has something to do with it. T.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
RE: Ethanol in gas
I don't care what anyone says, I notice a mpg hit whenever I am forced to use that crap. Doesn't run any different as far as I can tell, I just hate spending the same and getting less bang for my buck, especially with the price of gas these days.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Central Arizona
RE: Ethanol in gas
In Arizona, we get pure gas for half the year, and 10% ethanol blend the other half. \\; Not sure about the bike, but my car averages 300 miles per tank with pure gas, and only 270 miles per tank with the 10% blend. \\; In my mind, ethanol is merely a filler. \\;
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Lake Stevens Washington
RE: Ethanol in gas
My milage is down in my car when I run it and my bike runs like crap. I get a lot of detonation in both my car and my bike when I fill up with it. Here in Washington state there are some places that run up t 20% or so the sticker says.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Ethanol in gas
I get 10% all year here in NH. 40 mpg all the time. Not too bad compared to averages!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 1
From: Indy area
RE: Ethanol in gas
Yes, it is good for octane, but it has fewer calories than the gasoline it replaces. And it absorbs moisture. No need to use Heet with ethanol-blended gas.
I understand that oxygenates are used in higher-population areas in an effort to reduce emission in older vehicles which do not have closed-loop EFI. When used in an engine with modern (closed-loop) EFI, the leaner burn is counteracted by spraying more fuel. Whether that is the reason, or merely the fewer BTUs in the fuel, more gets used for the same results as straight gasoline. I typically see somewhere between 5 and 10 percent less mileage with it. I guess that would not bother me nearly so much when I have to use it if it cost that much less at the pump.
I understand that oxygenates are used in higher-population areas in an effort to reduce emission in older vehicles which do not have closed-loop EFI. When used in an engine with modern (closed-loop) EFI, the leaner burn is counteracted by spraying more fuel. Whether that is the reason, or merely the fewer BTUs in the fuel, more gets used for the same results as straight gasoline. I typically see somewhere between 5 and 10 percent less mileage with it. I guess that would not bother me nearly so much when I have to use it if it cost that much less at the pump.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 7
From: Minnesota
RE: Ethanol in gas
Err.... facts? I am going to take a wild guess that that website if funded by the Ethanol producers.
Google Ethanol and the University of Minnesota. The U of M recently completed a 5 year study of Ethanol. Lots of information there written by guys with PHDs after their names.
Here is what Ethanol does for us.
Slightly less gas milage (Ethanol has half of the BTUs that gasoline does. So if it is 10% Ethanol you can expect 5% less energy than pure gas) , continued upward pressure on grain prices that eventually trickles down through the rest of the food chain and negative pressure on the world's ecosystem due loss of natural growth areas being cleared to meet the demand. Oh, and it is corrosive. Vehicle manufactures have made the parts that come in contact with it resistant to corrosion, but I am not liking the idea of putting something in my bike that is corrosive. My guess is that this is what is causing the failures of the 08 fuel pump housings. The manufacturer did not make it resistant enough. The good news is that it will not make your bike run any hotter. The EPA does that thorough its mandates. Ethanol is very inefficient, in that it takes a lot of energy to produce. Bio diesel from soy beans on the other-hand is something like 93% efficient.
There are stations that sell pure gasoline in my state (MN). There are a couple near my home. On the pumps it says something like "for collector cars, boats and motorcycles only".
Google Ethanol and the University of Minnesota. The U of M recently completed a 5 year study of Ethanol. Lots of information there written by guys with PHDs after their names.
Here is what Ethanol does for us.
Slightly less gas milage (Ethanol has half of the BTUs that gasoline does. So if it is 10% Ethanol you can expect 5% less energy than pure gas) , continued upward pressure on grain prices that eventually trickles down through the rest of the food chain and negative pressure on the world's ecosystem due loss of natural growth areas being cleared to meet the demand. Oh, and it is corrosive. Vehicle manufactures have made the parts that come in contact with it resistant to corrosion, but I am not liking the idea of putting something in my bike that is corrosive. My guess is that this is what is causing the failures of the 08 fuel pump housings. The manufacturer did not make it resistant enough. The good news is that it will not make your bike run any hotter. The EPA does that thorough its mandates. Ethanol is very inefficient, in that it takes a lot of energy to produce. Bio diesel from soy beans on the other-hand is something like 93% efficient.
There are stations that sell pure gasoline in my state (MN). There are a couple near my home. On the pumps it says something like "for collector cars, boats and motorcycles only".
ORIGINAL: Magos
Some neat facts:
http://www.ethanol-information.com/unleaded.php
NOTE: \\\\\\; It helps your engine run cooler (not bad for us)
Some neat facts:
http://www.ethanol-information.com/unleaded.php
NOTE: \\\\\\; It helps your engine run cooler (not bad for us)
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