ethanol

LongRider

LongRider

Member
Only had my bike a couple weeks, but friends told me to use ethanol free gas if I can find it. (for those of us with carbs) Is this true? I have found some and been using it. But its hard to find.
 
TexasRaider

TexasRaider

Member
Well, this is a tough one. First off, if you can find gasoline without ethanol then yes, DEFINITELY use it, but like you said, it is tough to find, depending on where you are. I sell gasoline and diesel (among other things) and will tell you that the ethanol blended fuel is a joke. Don't know who paid who to get that pushed through by the federal government, but it is no good for anyone but the ones in the ethanol market, and of course the mechanics. We are in a rural area, but just about 60 miles from the DFW Metroplex and about a month ago the last place we could find without ethanol, stopped handling it so we had no choice but to switch. In newer vehicles, you shouldn't have any issues, other than worse fuel mileage. In older ones, watch out because it can break up sediments and any buildup inside the tanks. You really have to watch your fuel filters. We now have to change them in our pumps about 6 times more frequently than before. Just a mess, but we have to live with it.

Anyway, I will get off my "box" here but if you can find pure unleaded, by all means, buy it. I do recommend, no matter what you use, to add a product called Sta-bil to your fuel. It is a fuel stabilizer and is a must for any fuel that sits for a while. Put it in all your gas cans that you use for lawn mowers, or ANYTHING that will likely sit for a while and the gas won't go bad.
 
mcgroom

mcgroom

Well-Known Member
TexasRaider said:
I do recommend, no matter what you use, to add a product called Sta-bil to your fuel. It is a fuel stabilizer and is a must for any fuel that sits for a while. Put it in all your gas cans that you use for lawn mowers, or ANYTHING that will likely sit for a while and the gas won't go bad.
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I agree with everything you said but......my understanding is that Stabil is good for the 90% fuel but does nothing for the Ethenol which is doing a lot of the harm these days. I have no scientific proof to back my statement but my day job involves small engines and the large portion of equipment that comes in for repairs is fuel related and no can understand how it happened since they used Stabil and have been for years.

Just my 2 pennies.
 
TexasRaider

TexasRaider

Member
mcgroom said:
I agree with everything you said but......my understanding is that Stabil is good for the 90% fuel but does nothing for the Ethenol which is doing a lot of the harm these days.
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So when you say the 90% you are saying the ethanol blend that is up to 10% ethanol? That is what I am referring to as that is all that is offered here is "may contain up to 10% ethanol" or at least that is all for now, so Sta-bil should still be good for this, correct?

Now if you are talking about people using E85 I can only imagine what sort of trouble they are having as that isn't supposed to be used in anything but an engine approved for use, plus you lose like 40% in fuel mileage so why bother?

Again, this crap just pisses me off so I don't want to ramble about it and get off topic!
 
2004BC

2004BC

FREEDOM!!!
mcgroom said:
I agree with everything you said but......my understanding is that Stabil is good for the 90% fuel but does nothing for the Ethenol which is doing a lot of the harm these days. I have no scientific proof to back my statement but my day job involves small engines and the large portion of equipment that comes in for repairs is fuel related and no can understand how it happened since they used Stabil and have been for years.

Just my 2 pennies.
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Last year (April 09) my brother added stabil to his racing snowmobile's fuel and stores it away. February(10) he takes it out on a trip to
Canada, nails it, and blows the engine. Brings it to a top Skidoo shop for analysis/repair and they tell him it detonated from low compression. They said they've had a ton of high compression snowmobiles come in with blown pistons because the Ethanol had evaporated out when sitting more than 6 months. They told my brother Stabil doesn't do any good to prevent Ethanol from evaporating. They recommended for a long stretch to either drain the tank and run the carb dry or add stabil then octane boost before using. Interesting how useless Ethanol is and sometimes worse than just plain regular gas.:cheers:
 
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whatever01

whatever01

Member
I was using this stuff that the coast guarduses called K100mg and or K100 or something like that and their logo was we make water burn and I believe it this stuff worked great in my BAJA and anthing else you want to add it to; its a fuel additive and stabilize, octane booster and something about keeping the breakdown of ethanol from happening really good stuff. Its about 20.00 a qt but well worth it........I will look around to verify thats the name.:2thumbs:
 
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coach

coach

Active Member
LongRider said:
Only had my bike a couple weeks, but friends told me to use ethanol free gas if I can find it. (for those of us with carbs) Is this true? I have found some and been using it. But its hard to find.
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Dude......You live in SC. Our local Pumper's stations sell 100 octane race fuel, ethanol free, and the ethanol free Blue Jay (or what ever the fuc they call them). With that said...the motor-heads here in town tell me ethanol burns cleaner anyway. It's all ok. :whoop: fill and ride. When we start using chicken shit then you can worry. :)
 
O

Oldskuul

Member
+1 For StarTron, ethanol caused such a mess in my K-9 that I had to drain the tank and clean the bowls many times. No such problems after being steered to the Startron.:up:
 
B

bushman

Active Member
only ethonal here in boise is sold by phillips 66 and i can tell a diff in the choppa. just2 pennies
 
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