Combating E10 Fuel

[ndbigfish]

The do-gooders from the government have seen to it that all of the local gasoline has 10% ethanol added to it. Is there a way to overcome the absorption of water, corrosive effects and reduction in octane rating of this fuel? I have read that Star Tron might be good treatment additive. Any thoughts?

[Jared]

Sorry I can't help you. Luckily Utah isn't populated so much that the state government has decided to make that change. They tried it a few winters back and there were so many complaints that it only last 6 months.

Besides the worst fuel economy, what are the other noticeable changes?

[snarleybill08]

we have had it around here for years. no problems. just ride it and don't let it sit.

[Kawhead]

NO! H no don't let it sit! I'm cleaning out a chain saw carburetor right now 'cause I let it sit! I'm more than fed up with this and several other things that's going on,

[dogdoc]

In TX you can buy no ethanol fuel if you want and pay 10 cents more per gallon.

[timebandit]

Up here (canada) we've had ethanol for quite a long time.
I run it in all the motors I have all the time an have had no problem.

Proper tuning, maintenance and tune up is the key I think.

[snarleybill08]

i,m not an ethanol advocate, but it will boost the octane in a roundabout way. it burns cooler than gasoline.

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by Doc (Lonewolf)

In TX you can buy no ethanol fuel if you want and pay 10 cents more per gallon.

Not in this Texas town. I was in CC last weekend and there was no ethanol in the fuel.

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

Sorry I can't help you. Luckily Utah isn't populated so much that the state government has decided to make that change. They tried it a few winters back and there were so many complaints that it only last 6 months.

Besides the worst fuel economy, what are the other noticeable changes?

It is more corrosive on pump diaphragms, fuel lines, octane drop, etc.

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by snarleybill08

i,m not an ethanol advocate, but it will boost the octane in a roundabout way. it burns cooler than gasoline.

I have heard the octane level drops as ethanol is introduced to gasoline. This will just increase the "pinging" associated with pre-detonation; if I understand correctly.

[waterman]

ndbigfish,

Adding ethanol increases the octane not decrease it. Have run it for years with no ill effect. All of the plastics and rubber will handle the ethonal. Everyone talks about loss of mileage, heck most times I have the same or better mileage with ethanol.

[biscuitsngravy]

All gas stations here in Iowa have ethanol and regular gas. The octane is higher than regular gasoline. Last I checked, it's about 10 cents a gallon cheaper than regular gas. I run it in all my vehicles, including the Nomad. Doesn't ping either. I'm happy with ethanol. Oh yeah, there is an ethanol plant about 6 miles away and the farmers love it too. You should see all the trucks hauling corn to the plant! BnG

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by waterman

ndbigfish,

Adding ethanol increases the octane not decrease it. Have run it for years with no ill effect. All of the plastics and rubber will handle the ethonal. Everyone talks about loss of mileage, heck most times I have the same or better mileage with ethanol.

I think the octane drop comes after exposure to moisture in greater amounts than .5%. I'm reasonably sure most storage tanks in the ground have this level of moisture from condensation of normal thermal cycles. I'll watch my mileage and hope for the same result.

[macmac]

Been here years too, and a chain saw I had according to a Sachs Dolmar rep ate the piston due to E 10. I find it goes weak in around 90 days in a saw. I found it went weak in 10 months with my parked car and truck when I rise the USA trip.

Almost had to drain and add fuel to get them out of the lower field of a friends. That was lots of fun with the car since the clutch was frozen and I needed some rpm and power to get it busted free.

With ease i could live better with out garbage gas..

What I use as fuel stablizer is Seafoam. I use that in my truck, van, car bike and saws.

I refise to own a lawnmower, because that would mean I wanted to mow a lawn right?

I won't own a snow blower for the same reason. I snow shoe a path, and that's that. But if I did Seafoam would be used in them too.

I don't use Stable, as the lable says 90 days, and I KNOW Seafoam does better than that...

For a long time this Seafoam was used in 2 stroke outboard engines as winter fuel storage and engine fogging, probably why it is called Seafoam.

Makes a good parts cleaner too, though to do that all the time would be expensive. But i reccomend trying it on a baked on crudy piston with stuck rings. Or a gooked up carb full of green or brown goo... Cuts white aluminum oxide well too, like waht salt water does to any engine alloy parts.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Here in north Alabama we have stations with 10% ethanol and some stations have the gas without it. The cost is basically the same for ethanol or the good stuff. Also the octane on mid grade is 89 octane for ethanol or the good stuff.