could tell the difference between 93 with or without ethanol. For stock bikes it has no effect on performance. Only issue is in damp climates. Ethanol absorbs moisture so a bike in a more damp climate may suffer some premature corrosion in the tank and possibly throttle body. I run 10% ethanol 91 oct all summer without any issues but use non ethanol for the winter months here on the west coast. Chevron and Shell both have non ethanol gas here so it's not a problem. I don't know what issues may arise with carb equipped engines.

 

Just for my knowledge- Where in the combustion process, on an EFI model bike - from the Throttle body entrance to the exhaust pipe exit - are there rubber, cork, fiberglass, and plastic elements to be eaten away by Ethanol?

This comes off a lot like yet another "Urban Myth", unless we can find actual - unbiased and verifiable - scientific evidence of a bike being destroyed by using Ethanol.
No, "I knew a guy, who knew a guy, who's cousin heard from a guy..." doesn't count. Nor does any "study" done by wacko/hate sites with very poorly hidden agenda's.

In doing a Search on this, a lot of the "Con" stuff seems to be an opinion, vs. something backed up by scientific evidence. Agreed that the Government doesn't have a clue as to what it is doing, but what difference is this stuff as compared to the gazillion aftermarket "Power Additives"(?) sold at the local Autozone for gullible buyers? Or "Heet", that stuff you used to put in the car during the winter month's to "absorb moisture" and prevent fuel line icing?

Personally, I'lll do my best to stay away from Ethanol right now, "why take a chance" sez me, and the other stuff is readily available, especially if you live far from a major Urban Hub. But I am sceptical and unconvinced as to any solid, unbiased, objective studies / evidence other than rumor and myth spreading stuff on the internet.


Bob

 

I just found non-ethanol stations in my area. I am just starting to use the stuff and hoping to enjoy the benefits I have read about.

 

I didn't bother reading the rest of the threads after seeing this NT.
I pay the extra $ .20 per gallon even in my truck for I see a 3-5 mpg bump in running the 92, non ethanol gas in it.
There are all kinds of debates around the web, but, I experience what I do and am narrow minded enough (comes with age I think) to run with what I experience.
I love it when I go north about an hour, and see tags on the pumps that specifically say "not for highway use", thats the **** I fill no matter what I am driving with, regardless of the cost.

Locally we have a couple of stations that run non ethanol with the only caveat being they share 1 hose, and I am not sure where the valving is, so there may be 2 gallons of the last guys "blended" fuel I am getting all though I pay for the "non friendly" version. This probably is no biggie in my truck, but matters in the bike. I think of that while filling, but, what ta hell, it still makes me feel better.

 

In my area there are no non ethanol stations other then marinas I guess, I have a carb bike that has over 40k on it, what should I be doing if this stuff is eating my carb?

 

I just had a thought... (Uh-Oh).

Don't most modern Filling Stations have Fiberglass Tanks undergound?

Aren't the hoses at the gas pump rubber, probably plastic tubing lined?

Aren't there any gaskets in the underground tank, the connecting lines, the filling pumps, at the refinery, the Tanker Trucks, etc.

Why aren't these being eaten away?

If what being offered is true, then we've got BIG problems! But yet we don't hear of any fiberglass storage tanks suddenly dissolving and spewing ethanol laced fuel everywhere. Or any gas pump hoses suddenly spewing leaks! Sumtin' ain't adding up.

Bob

Edited / added about 30 minutes later:

I found it extremely difficult to find any "SCientific" articles or repoerts regarding Ethanol. Mostly either folks directly involved with the making of it (read Profits), or transversley, folks on conspiricy theory or protest type sites (read "Bitter").

That said, I thinkl these two at least are verifiable and reliable, with no hidden or apparent self-serving agenda's.


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2011/01/the-great-ethanol-debate/index.htm

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/december/ethanol.asp

Interesting. To me, the summary would be:

#1. You WILL get lesser fuel economy, as the BTU's in ethanol are less than in gasolene. Easy science, agreed. But... you might be able to improve that if you tuned t your engine specifically for E-10 use. Not promoting it mind you, but just sayin'.

#2. Ethanol holds and CAPTURES free moisture from the surrounding air, - a good thing eventually processing it and adding it to the burnt fuel. It doesn't attract moisture, and help to rot out your steel gas tank.

#3. Ethanol doesn't necessarily dissolve and destroy all of your plastic, fiberglass, rubber, etc. parts. It IS a much more aggressive cleaner than common gasolene, and dissolves much more sediment, gunk, carbon, varnish, etc. deposits. That said, you need to watch your fuel filter more, and most likely change it more, as these dissolved gunk particles will get lodged in the fuel filter... a good thing, but possibly a PITA in having to change the filter more often, etc. Reading further, the Ethanol also dissolves some coatings on interior metals, and also sends these dissoved gunks to the fuel filter.

In the end, #1 bothers me the most, especially with the price of fuel, which IMO isn't going to go down much, more likely up. Less BTU's not matching the BTU's in gasolene is an understandable scientific fact, so no wierdness or endless debates there, and a slam-dunk. For that reason alone, I'll try to stick to Ethanol free juice, until we are all forced to use it.

For the record, I religiously add 3 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil to EVERY (I never miss!) tank full of gas. Maybe this helps. Been doing it since the mid-60's, and have had almost no fuel system related issues, actually none that I can think of, or upper cylinder issues ever. I don't put any in the oil, just in the gas. I'm one for keeping a bike (or car) 8-10 years, and putting on very near 100,000 miles before trading up. Seems to work pretty good for me anyway..

Again, it was difficult to find any write ups on Ethanol that weren't from an Ethanol connected website, or from the numerous conspiricy theorist nutjobs, these two links above seemed to be reliable sources, and unbiased, etc.

A good read anyway.

Bob

 

Fleecing of America. Mix cheap corn gas with
Normal gas and keep the price the same.

 

Fleecing of America. Mix cheap corn gas with
Normal gas and keep the price the same.

 

Ffs. This argument is getting so old.
Corn used in ethanol production is NOT edible. Period. So enough of this absurdity.
Ethanol actually cleans the fuel system and will not gum up carbs unless it's left for a period of months without a stabilizer. It's called phase separation.
And a modern motor is built to handle ethanol. Yes 20 or 30 year old carbs may not be compatible with ethanol however if there was going to be a problem it would show itself pretty quickly.
Here premium isn't ethanol polluted so I'm lucky and don't use it but it's not going to harm a modern motor.
Most motors will lose some fuel economy but not all do.

 

And hes going to take our guns and let the united nations take over your local school board and then mandate Islam as the national religion too... God save us!