15% Ethanol - Is it safe?

[Mechanically Geeky]

Hi all,
I've been told that the federal government in Canada plans to raise the ethanol precentage from 10% to 15% on pump 87. I usually put regular gas in the GS, but would 15% be a bad idea? I know shell 91 has zero ethanol, and I would use that if I wasn't cheap. Any opinions on this?

 

[Cipher]

It depends if you drink it straight or mixed.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG!

I thought all shell offerings were 0 ethanol?

 

[fastbysuzuki]

No it's not great ethanol is hygroscopic (it absorbs moisture from the air) i.e. Water can gather in your petrol tank plus I believe it is quite aggressive.
Here in the uk I think it's 10% however I have heard they are going to 15% if there was an option here to use non ethanol
fuel at the pumps I would use it.
i believe the petrol used in aircraft has no ethanol.

 

[chuck hahn]

If you are touring and / or burning the tank full in a week or two its fine. But say setting all winter or a few months I wouldn't leave it in the tank or the carbs. I would drain both before letting any ethanol content fuel set around for very long.

 

[wymple]

I've used ethanol forever in everything I have. I keep the tanks full or close when sitting. I don't leave them sit with ethanol over the winter, nor more than about 3-4 months othewise. I never have problems, that includes lawnmowers, weedeaters, chainsaws, and older vehicles dating as far back as 1959. I used it when I still had my 1950 construction air compressor with a Hercules 6.

 

[SailEXIT]

Non ethanol is the way to go, imo.

Use the old Sunoco Ultra 94.
You can still find it at some Petro Canada stations.

Shaun

 

[Mechanically Geeky]

Ok so the only real issue is letting it sit over a period of time? I've spoken to a few classic car guys that treat ethanol like cancer, saying it can damage an engine. They say E15 vs shell gass will basically change the tune, as ethanol will lean the engine out. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Guest]

If you are touring and / or burning the tank full in a week or two its fine. But say setting all winter or a few months I wouldn't leave it in the tank or the carbs. I would drain both before letting any ethanol content fuel set around for very long.

This^^^^^^^

 

[Guest]

I've seen a lot of bikes come through the shop with water in the tank and carb bowls. I avoid it like the plague on carb bikes. I've also have to replace quite a few petcocks that should not be leaking being less than ten years old. Even fuel injected bikes after sitting for a few weeks can wind up with a puddle of water in the bottom of the tank at the pump. Mind you Florida has 100% humidity all the time. I've even had lawnmower shut off valves leak with in a year.

 

[GoldenBoi]

I would think the o-rings and such in your carbs wouldn't be compatible with too much of an alcohol content. I remember finding a supplier of motorcycle carb o-rings which were made with ethanol laced fuels in mind. I think it was a seller on eBay, but I can't be sure this early in the morning and still sober.

 

[eil]

We have E85 in some stations here although presently it has to be marked separately on the pump from regular unleaded.

If they ever go to 15% ethanol here in the US and make it the new "regular unleaded", a lot of people are going to have serious problems. I have one car and a weedwacker whose owners manuals forbid the use of more than 10% ethanol.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Phase separation process can occur with a very small of of water introduced to Ethanol Fuel (think humidity and temperature changes)

<strong>

 

[Gorminrider]

..... actually, you can get water in your tank with any gas. The moisture in the air of the tank's free space condenses on tank walls and settles to bottom. Gasoline and water do not mix....

So, as said above, keep your tank FULL when not in use unless you live in a desert. A bit of fuel stabiliser extends the lifetime of that tank of fuel.
Musing:
Alcohol is used in race cars . But Alcohol delivers less mileage per liter or gallon. a bit of water mixed with alcohol can "burn" but of course there's more H20 as vapour and I'd suppose the flame is not as hot.

 

[limeex2]

fning junk. The only people who like it make money on it

 

[sharpy]

and fuel lines. lots of issues with rubber over here in Oz Plus.... http://e360.yale.edu/features/the_case_against_ethanol_bad_for_environment

 

[salty_monk]

15% Is not tested as safe for motorcycle use says the AMA (american motorcycle association).

UK has 5% currently which they are hoping to move to 10% but it didn't get put into the last budget (in fact the mandated usage went down by a tiny amount).

Using a food source as fuel seems crazy to me... It's not eco friendly & only exists because of the subsidies in all countries....

 

[wymple]

I am 68 years old, and the 50's & 60's cars are what I could get my hands on back in the day. Long before ethanol rotting fuel lines & pumps were common, along with clogged up and leaky carburetors. A lot of people have short memories. I live in Iowa where we have the lowest average annual cost of repair per vehicle in the entire country, and almost all our gas is ethanol blended. Ethanol has been the scapegoat for all these maladies since the day it landed. Everything made in the last 3 or 4 decades is ethanol tolerant. Like I said, just don't leave it set 4 months at a time.

 

[Guest]

I am 68 years old, and the 50's & 60's cars are what I could get my hands on back in the day. Long before ethanol rotting fuel lines & pumps were common, along with clogged up and leaky carburetors. A lot of people have short memories. I live in Iowa where we have the lowest average annual cost of repair per vehicle in the entire country, and almost all our gas is ethanol blended. Ethanol has been the scapegoat for all these maladies since the day it landed. Everything made in the last 3 or 4 decades is ethanol tolerant. Like I said, just don't leave it set 4 months at a time.

Just not true; wish it were tho.

 

[limeex2]

This going the direction of a Sea-Foam thread... I was a service Manager at a multi line major metropolitan dealership for 20 years 1979-1999. All bikes from the 80"s run lean running due to EPA and poor fueling from the Mfg's. Period. Oxy-fuel makes them run leaner. They run so are they tolerant? I give you a piston,cylinder and a crankshaft from my Husky chain saw. Dock your boat in the water? I'll give you Kenny's number. He's making a fortune fixing fuel systems on boats. See the cloud of black smoke from your car when you hit passing gear? Sugar from Oxy-fuel. Sometimes twice a year when they don't listen to him. Its not worth a dollar a tank to me after what I spent getting mine to run properly

Im with Chuck and Salty. If your running cross country use it. Do not let it sit. As Salty mentioned its not eco friendly. Farmers are plowing up the run off barriers in order to be more productive. Herbicide laden water runs off into the streams and places its not supposed to be. Out west,their pouring water into corn fields that wont even grow a weed without it.

 

[Gorminrider]

Using a food source as fuel seems crazy to me

yes, corn that went to animal feed now goes to fuel so Food prices rise. (increased food prices caused demos in middle east and maybe kicked off Arab Spring, I've read) ....whether it's the same price increase that more expensive or politically-volatile oil causes is a question....

Iowa farmers are happier though- isn't that better than geopolitics torturing the middle east? I give up-bring on the windmills,geothermal and tidal power! I'm thinking it'll be pretty easy to fit an electric motor into one of my old bikes when a better battery is available.