Octane rating
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
But didn't someone post a higher octane meant less power, or did I misread something?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
This is true...E-85 has an octane rating of about 105.
There are MANY benefits to using ethanol and/or higher ethanol blends!
There is just so much bad information out there it's unbelievable & most of the people bashing ethanol just don't have a clue what they're talking about.
I'm not even going to get started this time 'cause I could type 5 pages of factual info & it's just not worth it on a Friday afternoon to get into a fuel debate.
If HD would design bikes to be flex fuel & capable of running on higher ethanol blends & even E-85, emissions would be so much cleaner and pipe emissions would have so much less NOx that we wouldn't need all this emissions crap on our bikes, such as catalytic converters, lean AFRs, new water cooled heads, etc. Engines also make more power running on higher ethanol blends, especially E-85.
Cleaner emissions, less emission controls would be needed, engines making more power using a much cheaper fuel. Yeah, those sound like good reasons for people to hate ethanol....good grief.
& to think....all it would take is replacing a few hoses & gaskets & tank liner with alcohol compatible materials such as Teflon & using different programming in the ECM. The automakers do it...so could HD & we would all benefit greatly, regardless of what the haters think they know.
& before someone starts bashing my opinions, you don't have to agree with what I have to say...that's ok, I know the facts.
& yes, I work in the fuel industry & have for almost 17 years...on both sides. I know my **** & I'll leave it at that.
Good day.
There are MANY benefits to using ethanol and/or higher ethanol blends!
There is just so much bad information out there it's unbelievable & most of the people bashing ethanol just don't have a clue what they're talking about.
I'm not even going to get started this time 'cause I could type 5 pages of factual info & it's just not worth it on a Friday afternoon to get into a fuel debate.
If HD would design bikes to be flex fuel & capable of running on higher ethanol blends & even E-85, emissions would be so much cleaner and pipe emissions would have so much less NOx that we wouldn't need all this emissions crap on our bikes, such as catalytic converters, lean AFRs, new water cooled heads, etc. Engines also make more power running on higher ethanol blends, especially E-85.
Cleaner emissions, less emission controls would be needed, engines making more power using a much cheaper fuel. Yeah, those sound like good reasons for people to hate ethanol....good grief.
& to think....all it would take is replacing a few hoses & gaskets & tank liner with alcohol compatible materials such as Teflon & using different programming in the ECM. The automakers do it...so could HD & we would all benefit greatly, regardless of what the haters think they know.
& before someone starts bashing my opinions, you don't have to agree with what I have to say...that's ok, I know the facts.
& yes, I work in the fuel industry & have for almost 17 years...on both sides. I know my **** & I'll leave it at that.
Good day.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 587
From: Michigan
Someone did. Sometimes simple generalized statements can be misleading.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 212
Likes: 5
From: Left Coast FL
Aside from the ongoing discussion related to the octane rating, should there be any concern for the "age" of the fuel in those storage tanks at the gas stations? What is the usage/turn rate of that higher octane/priced fuel - how long has it been since it was delivered to the gas station - is it treated with some type stabilizer in anticipation of longer storage intervals because of less sale?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 45
From: Stockbridge GA
But the end result is the same. If you use a higher octane fuel than what your engine needs you could have less power.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 4
From: The Great River Road, Wisconsin
Well put fabrik8r, well put.......
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
Let's talk about ethanol from a real world standpoint. I assure you, these are not just opinions, but facts. I have been a master tech for over 30 years, and have seen the positive and negative affects of ethanol.
The good.
Ethanol does have a higher octane rating, and burns cleaner than gasoline. Ethanol also has a cooling affect inside the engine. As any alcohol does, ethanol is trying it's best to evaporate anytime it comes in contact with air. As ethanol enters your engine, it's evaporative quality draws heat out of whatever it comes in contact with as it tries to evaporate.
The bad.
Ethanol is alcohol. It strips any lubricant from whatever it touches. Think about pure gas... It is a petroleum product that contains small amounts of lubricant. It lubricates (ever so slightly) the entire fuel system. Ethanol removes these small traces of lubricant. Ethanol being a derivative of corn also is a minor corrosive. It takes almost exactly double the amount of ethanol to do the same amount of work as regular pure gas. So theoretically 1 gallon of e10 will do the same work as .95 gallons of pure gas.
Our fuel systems are not designed for ethanol. When auto manufacturers design a fuel system for ethanol use (such as e85) they use more robust fuel system components.
The bottom line is that ethanol is not our friend. Unfortunately it's probably not going to go away. Fewer gas stations are offering pure gas. It's something we will have to live with, but being aware of its harmful effects at least you know what you are dealing with....
The good.
Ethanol does have a higher octane rating, and burns cleaner than gasoline. Ethanol also has a cooling affect inside the engine. As any alcohol does, ethanol is trying it's best to evaporate anytime it comes in contact with air. As ethanol enters your engine, it's evaporative quality draws heat out of whatever it comes in contact with as it tries to evaporate.
The bad.
Ethanol is alcohol. It strips any lubricant from whatever it touches. Think about pure gas... It is a petroleum product that contains small amounts of lubricant. It lubricates (ever so slightly) the entire fuel system. Ethanol removes these small traces of lubricant. Ethanol being a derivative of corn also is a minor corrosive. It takes almost exactly double the amount of ethanol to do the same amount of work as regular pure gas. So theoretically 1 gallon of e10 will do the same work as .95 gallons of pure gas.
Our fuel systems are not designed for ethanol. When auto manufacturers design a fuel system for ethanol use (such as e85) they use more robust fuel system components.
The bottom line is that ethanol is not our friend. Unfortunately it's probably not going to go away. Fewer gas stations are offering pure gas. It's something we will have to live with, but being aware of its harmful effects at least you know what you are dealing with....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
However, it's not my job to design & engineer ethanol compatible fuel system components for HD...that's what they should be doing & it should be this way from the factory to begin with...just like many newer vehicles on the road, flex fuel. Then you could choose to run whatever you want.
Don't like ethanol, then don't run it. If it were capable, I would run E-85.
Last edited by Sharkman73; Oct 14, 2013 at 08:33 AM.
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