10% Ethanol - How do you deal?

coondog · August 8th, 2011, 10:13 AM

I myself was told, but it's been a bit, that Techron in Chevron gas helps negate. Others have said they add Stabil, but this would have to be done with every fill-up and your using the bike, it's not "in storage" does it make a difference? What are the "cures" you've heard or use to prevent the damage of Ethanol to small engines.

Alex · August 8th, 2011, 10:15 AM

I don't do anything special, other than making sure not to let any bike sit for an extended period (more than 3 or 4 weeks). Fuel with significant ethanol in it appears to be much less stable over long periods, so running it frequently enough seems to keep problems away.

ducducgooseit · August 8th, 2011, 10:31 AM

How do you deal? I don't buy gasoline with ethanol in it.

Racer x · August 8th, 2011, 10:33 AM

If you plan to let the bike sit I would definitly use Marine Stabil. Just for the fuel you plan to let sit. You don't need to use it all the time. Myself I drain the carbs.

The problem is alcohol atracts moisture the moisture causes the brass jets in the carb to close up. Particularly the pilot jet. That is why the bike will not idle or stalls when you open the throttle. You folks with FI do not have to worry .The parts in the FI system are stainless steel.

Alex · August 8th, 2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducducgooseit

How do you deal? I don't buy gasoline with ethanol in it.

Admirable goal, but almost impossible to succeed at, seeing as there are a grand total of 4 stations listed (link1, link2) in all of California that are purported to be still selling street-legal gasoline without any ethanol additives. It's certainly possible there are more, but not a whole bunch more. Do you live near one of these?

CC Cowboy · August 8th, 2011, 12:58 PM

We have a propane filling station that also carries "real" gas.

"A" · August 8th, 2011, 01:04 PM

Been using 10% ethanol for years on multiple motorcycles and cars never a problem.

Snake · August 8th, 2011, 02:34 PM

I don't do anything special as the fuel in my bike and cage do not sit long enough to cause problems.

bob706 · August 8th, 2011, 02:39 PM

I'm getting 60mpg. Snorkel delete, 2 shims on each needle, mgp growler. Ethanol Shmethanol.

johnjohn · August 8th, 2011, 02:43 PM

Don't do anything during riding season and Stabil it during the winter. 5 month layup. Start them up in the spring and ride the old gas out.

SSR · August 8th, 2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducducgooseit

How do you deal? I don't buy gasoline with ethanol in it.

You obviously don't live in Canada where I believe it's been federally mandated that all regular gas will have 10% ethanol. Unless you buy supreme/Gold, which is pure gas.

For winter time, I top up my tank with 93 octane (ethanol free) and add some sta-bil in it. No problems starting up (other than my battery charger dieing and taking the battery with it)

ducducgooseit · August 11th, 2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSR

You obviously don't live in Canada ...

This is completely correct. However, my assumptions may have led me to speak falsely. I do not live near Alex's limited non-ethanol sites. I will check into the petrol provided at my locals and determine the ethanol content.

- I may have to be a sad monkey.

Skippii · August 11th, 2011, 06:49 PM

How do I deal with Ethanol Gasoline?
Uh....by using it to fill up my tank?

kevheads · August 11th, 2011, 06:53 PM

Sta-Bil makes a stablizer specific for ethanol.(orange instead of red)

Jinx250 · August 12th, 2011, 07:41 AM

I've never kept gas in my bikes long enough for it to matter. Every station I've seen in CA so far has some percetnage of Ethanol.

As far as the "Techron" in Chevron gas, that's a cleaning agent. And don't let marketing fool you - all the major stations have some kind of cleaning agent in their gas, as required by "the man" to keep our air "clean".

muzkur · August 12th, 2011, 09:05 AM

Here in Brazil all gasoline have by law 20% ethanol.
I don't know if our engines have something unusual to accept that ethanol, but with 20% ethanol and 92 octanes, my bike works very well.
The cons: Our regular gasoline have just 85 octanes. Higher octanes are most expensive and rare. For my lucky, here in town have a couple gas stations with 92 and 95 octanes...

Skippii · August 12th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muzkur

Here in Brazil all gasoline have by law 20% ethanol.
I don't know if our engines have something unusual to accept that ethanol, but with 20% ethanol and 92 octanes, my bike works very well.
The cons: Our regular gasoline have just 85 octanes. Higher octanes are most expensive and rare. For my lucky, here in town have a couple gas stations with 92 and 95 octanes...

Is that Research octane, or Motor octane, or an average of the two?

muzkur · August 13th, 2011, 04:07 AM

I don't know.
I just know that don't have Lead and are almot zero sulfur.

More details here:
http://www.br.com.br/wps/portal/!ut/...odium+de+a+a+z
In portuguese.

CC Cowboy · August 13th, 2011, 11:57 AM

pure-gas.org

Clearlynotstefan · August 14th, 2011, 11:35 PM

How do I deal with ethanol gas? I put it in my tank and proceed to ride my bike.

n4mwd · August 15th, 2011, 03:44 AM

Around here, they have had signs on the pumps for years saying "Contains UP TO 10% ethanol". Before about March of this year, it wasn't so bad, but recently its been noticeable with the gas mileage. Before, I was getting 70 mpg pretty regular. Now its around 58. It dropped to 55 when I put the luggage rack and trunk on, but that's understandable.

I tried to get the manager at the gas station to tell me exactly how much is in there, and he basically said that he didn't know. One of these days I'm going to buy one of those ethanol testing kits to see for myself.

There are several places around here that sell sober gas, but it costs about a dollar more per gallon and there is usually a long ride involved to get there. Apparently they still use the good stuff in boats. So they have it at boat fueling stations. Occasionally, you can find a small airport selling "mogas" which is also sober. Around the corner from me is Moroso Racetrack and they sell the good stuff too.

n4mwd · August 15th, 2011, 03:57 AM

The FAA isn't happy about ethanol in fuel either. Here is what they had to say about it....

August 8th, 2011, 10:13 AM	#1
coondog ninjette.org sage Name: john Location: Palm Beach County, Fl Sligo County, Eire Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ninja 250 street fighter, 2008 street fighter ninja 500, 2001 nsr 125 Posts: 812	10% Ethanol - How do you deal? I myself was told, but it's been a bit, that Techron in Chevron gas helps negate. Others have said they add Stabil, but this would have to be done with every fill-up and your using the bike, it's not "in storage" does it make a difference? What are the "cures" you've heard or use to prevent the damage of Ethanol to small engines.

August 8th, 2011, 10:15 AM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I don't do anything special, other than making sure not to let any bike sit for an extended period (more than 3 or 4 weeks). Fuel with significant ethanol in it appears to be much less stable over long periods, so running it frequently enough seems to keep problems away. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 8th, 2011, 12:58 PM	#6
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	We have a propane filling station that also carries "real" gas. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

August 8th, 2011, 02:39 PM	#9
bob706 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sean Location: Mary Esther, FL Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 1998 HD Road King Posts: A lot.	I'm getting 60mpg. Snorkel delete, 2 shims on each needle, mgp growler. Ethanol Shmethanol. __________________________________________________ http://sandollarmotorcycleclub.com/

August 11th, 2011, 06:49 PM	#13
Skippii Milkshake Drinker Name: Skippii Location: Richmond, Va Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Orange DRZ400-S, 2005 Ninja 250 & Custom Thundercunt Dirt Chopper Posts: A lot.	How do I deal with Ethanol Gasoline? Uh....by using it to fill up my tank? __________________________________________________ "What a sweetheart."- ninja_sleeper to me

August 8th, 2011, 10:31 AM	#3
ducducgooseit Name: ... Location: ... Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): ... Posts: 999	How do you deal? I don't buy gasoline with ethanol in it.

August 8th, 2011, 10:33 AM	#4
Racer x ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Eric Location: Iowa City Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 54 MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16	If you plan to let the bike sit I would definitly use Marine Stabil. Just for the fuel you plan to let sit. You don't need to use it all the time. Myself I drain the carbs. The problem is alcohol atracts moisture the moisture causes the brass jets in the carb to close up. Particularly the pilot jet. That is why the bike will not idle or stalls when you open the throttle. You folks with FI do not have to worry .The parts in the FI system are stainless steel.

August 8th, 2011, 01:04 PM	#7
"A" vampire Name: A Location: IT Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.	Been using 10% ethanol for years on multiple motorcycles and cars never a problem.

August 8th, 2011, 02:34 PM	#8
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	I don't do anything special as the fuel in my bike and cage do not sit long enough to cause problems.

August 8th, 2011, 02:43 PM	#10
johnjohn ninjette.org member Name: John Location: Caledonia, Ontario, Canada Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): Honda, Buell, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha Posts: 170	Don't do anything during riding season and Stabil it during the winter. 5 month layup. Start them up in the spring and ride the old gas out.

August 11th, 2011, 06:53 PM	#14
kevheads ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: central Illinois Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Green 250R Posts: 346	Sta-Bil makes a stablizer specific for ethanol.(orange instead of red)

August 12th, 2011, 07:41 AM	#15
Jinx250 Smoker Name: Bob Location: SoCal Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556	I've never kept gas in my bikes long enough for it to matter. Every station I've seen in CA so far has some percetnage of Ethanol. As far as the "Techron" in Chevron gas, that's a cleaning agent. And don't let marketing fool you - all the major stations have some kind of cleaning agent in their gas, as required by "the man" to keep our air "clean".

August 12th, 2011, 09:05 AM	#16
muzkur ninjette.org member Name: Fred Location: Brazil Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 10' Ninja 250R Posts: 164	Here in Brazil all gasoline have by law 20% ethanol. I don't know if our engines have something unusual to accept that ethanol, but with 20% ethanol and 92 octanes, my bike works very well. The cons: Our regular gasoline have just 85 octanes. Higher octanes are most expensive and rare. For my lucky, here in town have a couple gas stations with 92 and 95 octanes... __________________________________________________

August 13th, 2011, 04:07 AM	#18
muzkur ninjette.org member Name: Fred Location: Brazil Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 10' Ninja 250R Posts: 164	I don't know. I just know that don't have Lead and are almot zero sulfur. More details here: http://www.br.com.br/wps/portal/!ut/...odium+de+a+a+z In portuguese. __________________________________________________

August 13th, 2011, 11:57 AM	#19
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	pure-gas.org __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

August 14th, 2011, 11:35 PM	#20
Clearlynotstefan ninjette.org member Name: Stefan Location: Riverhead, Long Island, New York Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2000 Ninja 250, Totally black. Gsxr 600 Red. Posts: 179	How do I deal with ethanol gas? I put it in my tank and proceed to ride my bike.

August 15th, 2011, 03:44 AM	#21
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Around here, they have had signs on the pumps for years saying "Contains UP TO 10% ethanol". Before about March of this year, it wasn't so bad, but recently its been noticeable with the gas mileage. Before, I was getting 70 mpg pretty regular. Now its around 58. It dropped to 55 when I put the luggage rack and trunk on, but that's understandable. I tried to get the manager at the gas station to tell me exactly how much is in there, and he basically said that he didn't know. One of these days I'm going to buy one of those ethanol testing kits to see for myself. There are several places around here that sell sober gas, but it costs about a dollar more per gallon and there is usually a long ride involved to get there. Apparently they still use the good stuff in boats. So they have it at boat fueling stations. Occasionally, you can find a small airport selling "mogas" which is also sober. Around the corner from me is Moroso Racetrack and they sell the good stuff too. __________________________________________________ My Ninja Blog Proud member of ABATE.My NYC Road Rage documentary - CENSORED!

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