Ethanol Sucks...Recommendations?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
for what its worth, here's my take on it.
I dont let my bike sit with gas in the tank long enough to attract moisture. I go thru several tanks of gas a week.
With "pure" non ethanol gas I only notice a modest amount of extra mileage and no power increase.
non ethanol is more expensive when I do find it. ( finding on pure gas website)
Runs good using Shell 93 with up to 10%.
I dont let my bike sit with gas in the tank long enough to attract moisture. I go thru several tanks of gas a week.
With "pure" non ethanol gas I only notice a modest amount of extra mileage and no power increase.
non ethanol is more expensive when I do find it. ( finding on pure gas website)
Runs good using Shell 93 with up to 10%.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 862
Likes: 1
From: Western PA
Check with local marinas. They may not be listed on pure gas.org. Most sell non ethanol gas. 90 octane will work ok if your bike is stock. 93 octane would be best, but many marinas only sell 87 or 90.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,429
From: Idaho Panhandle
Every temperature change of a few degrees cooling pulls a small amount of air into the tank, where the water is captured by condensation.
I also use Startron as it reduces carbon on the valves over what emulsifiers like Stabil or oils like Seafoam. Seafoam is good if you have poor oil circulation to your valves, ie, vintage engines.
As a rule, I fill up on the way home every trip if the bike is going to be left for more than a few days. If it will sit, even with a full tank for more than two weeks, I add an ounce of Startron. If I do not have Startron on hand, I use Stabil. Both protect adequately with a FULL tank. Startron for maybe 6 months with a full tank, Stabil maybe 3 months.
My nearest 0% ethanol station is 20 miles away. When I can, I use 0% ethanol. I have a friend who stops there and fills 5 gallon jugs, but I do not. With 0% ethanol, all my bikes run like they just had a dyno tune and mileage increases by at least 10%, actually almost 15%.
But ethanol makes people rich at your expense. Politicians get campaign dollars and write off, oil companies dilute their gas and charge the same or more, corporation farmers get subsidies,high prices and guarantneed sales. All you get is lower mileage, higher costs and higher food bills. Thank you for supporting your Washingting politicians, they do live like they appreciate it.
Oh, I do not buy for a minute than I am saving the envirnoment because of 10% ethanol. More CO2 is made growing and making the fule than is saved. It is a shell game and you will never get the right answer.
Of sorry for the rant, this just happens to be one of my "issues".
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
You always have the option to fill up at a local airport with av-gas. It's expensive, and has lots of octane, but no ethanol. I know a guy that does that with his old Triumph. Says the bike feels like it has a third cylinder with that fuel.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 28
From: Living in open carry state :D
But ethanol makes people rich at your expense. Politicians get campaign dollars and write off, oil companies dilute their gas and charge the same or more, corporation farmers get subsidies,high prices and guarantneed sales. All you get is lower mileage, higher costs and higher food bills. Thank you for supporting your Washingting politicians, they do live like they appreciate it.
Oh, I do not buy for a minute than I am saving the envirnoment because of 10% ethanol. More CO2 is made growing and making the fule than is saved. It is a shell game and you will never get the right answer.
Of sorry for the rant, this just happens to be one of my "issues".
Oh, I do not buy for a minute than I am saving the envirnoment because of 10% ethanol. More CO2 is made growing and making the fule than is saved. It is a shell game and you will never get the right answer.
Of sorry for the rant, this just happens to be one of my "issues".
Former Sponsor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Bobcaygeon
In Canada you cannot but ethanol free anywhere that I know of. I simply buy STP fuel additive which increases my octane level - Noticeable let me tell you! No knock or ping when added. Ethanol I believe is here to stay...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,429
From: Idaho Panhandle
Say yes to Isobutanol. If we can't have real gas, then this is the better alternative. Not corrosive, much less affinity for water, much higher energy, and can use existing pipelines. Compared to ethanol, your bike will run better, you probably won't be able to measure the mileage difference unless you are really ****, it has more power, almost like real gas and it will be cheaper because it can use the existing infrastructure because it is not corrosive like ethanol.
From a report to the Marine industry. Charge is being lead by Jeff Wasil of Evinude working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Argonne National Laboratory and BRP Evinrude
"Ethanol is an inside the beltway shell game run by the best con artist money can buy." This is not from their report.
From their initial report:
isobutanol can be safely blended into gasoline at 16 percent by volume
isobutanol contains more energy, containing almost 90 percent of the energy gasoline contains
ethanol has a tendency to absorb water, causing a phase separation in fuel tanks. isobutanol does not have the same affinity to water, making separation rare
ethanol cannot be distributed through existing pipelines. it needs to be blended with the gasoline and transported by trucks and tankers due to its corrosiveness. Isobutanol is able to be distributed from the producer through the current pipeline infrastructure
From a report to the Marine industry. Charge is being lead by Jeff Wasil of Evinude working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Argonne National Laboratory and BRP Evinrude
"Ethanol is an inside the beltway shell game run by the best con artist money can buy." This is not from their report.
From their initial report:
isobutanol can be safely blended into gasoline at 16 percent by volume
isobutanol contains more energy, containing almost 90 percent of the energy gasoline contains
ethanol has a tendency to absorb water, causing a phase separation in fuel tanks. isobutanol does not have the same affinity to water, making separation rare
ethanol cannot be distributed through existing pipelines. it needs to be blended with the gasoline and transported by trucks and tankers due to its corrosiveness. Isobutanol is able to be distributed from the producer through the current pipeline infrastructure
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
...But ethanol makes people rich at your expense. Politicians get campaign dollars and write off, oil companies dilute their gas and charge the same or more, corporation farmers get subsidies,high prices and guarantneed sales. All you get is lower mileage, higher costs and higher food bills. Thank you for supporting your Washingting politicians, they do live like they appreciate it.
Oh, I do not buy for a minute than I am saving the envirnoment because of 10% ethanol. More CO2 is made growing and making the fule than is saved. It is a shell game and you will never get the right answer.
Of sorry for the rant, this just happens to be one of my "issues".
Oh, I do not buy for a minute than I am saving the envirnoment because of 10% ethanol. More CO2 is made growing and making the fule than is saved. It is a shell game and you will never get the right answer.
Of sorry for the rant, this just happens to be one of my "issues".
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
I use an Amsoil product called Quickshot. It is specifically designed for Powersports (i.e. motorcycles) to use with ethanol based gasolines.
here is the URL for more info: http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/aqs.aspx
here is the URL for more info: http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/aqs.aspx