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Ethanol
- Thread starter 6659
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braddog
Minnesota Nice!
2 airheads here...
Living in Minnesota, gasoline is 10% ethanol. My valve seats were replaced in both of my airheads some time ago so that there are no issues with unleaded gas. In fact, this was done prior to my owning either one of them. I have receipts from previous owners for the work done.
I go to the same gas station for my motorcycles and cars. I usually put in 92 octane. I will say that the only negative effect that I have noticed is a reduction in gas mileage. I was pleasantly surprised last summer when traveling through Wisconsin that I found stations that were selling 93 octane gas that was clearly marked "Pure gasoline, NO ethanol." My gas mileage increased significantly.
They seem to run fine, and from April through November, I commute on an airhead on average of 3 out of 5 days per week.
Living in Minnesota, gasoline is 10% ethanol. My valve seats were replaced in both of my airheads some time ago so that there are no issues with unleaded gas. In fact, this was done prior to my owning either one of them. I have receipts from previous owners for the work done.
I go to the same gas station for my motorcycles and cars. I usually put in 92 octane. I will say that the only negative effect that I have noticed is a reduction in gas mileage. I was pleasantly surprised last summer when traveling through Wisconsin that I found stations that were selling 93 octane gas that was clearly marked "Pure gasoline, NO ethanol." My gas mileage increased significantly.
They seem to run fine, and from April through November, I commute on an airhead on average of 3 out of 5 days per week.
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
Since ethanol has much less energy density than gasoline (i.e., less Btu's per gallon), it should be no surprise that you will get less miles per gallon with a 90%/10% gasoline/ethanol blend than you will with 100% gasoline. I think the difference is usually about 3 to 4% less mpg with 90/10.
But hey, those ethanol producers are happy, and you are "saving" the environment.
S
sumran
Guest
From the reading I have done on it, I anticipate lower gas mileage and shorter life on the rubber internals. I expect to rebuild the carbs a little more often than was required pre-ethanol. Not much I can do about the mileage, but understanding that it will be affected is helpful in evaluating whether the motorcycle is running properly.
I don't worry about the lead. My valves seem to tolerate the lead-free fuel fairly well. When that is no longer the case I will get a set of lead-free heads ready and swap them out. It is an expense, but I will know exactly what I've got. In my view, the time and money expense of additives or special gas is a certainty and the additional life gained from the process is questionable.
I don't worry about the lead. My valves seem to tolerate the lead-free fuel fairly well. When that is no longer the case I will get a set of lead-free heads ready and swap them out. It is an expense, but I will know exactly what I've got. In my view, the time and money expense of additives or special gas is a certainty and the additional life gained from the process is questionable.
F
FABIOX
Guest
Since ethanol has much less energy density than gasoline (i.e., less Btu's per gallon), it should be no surprise that you will get less miles per gallon with a 90%/10% gasoline/ethanol blend than you will with 100% gasoline. I think the difference is usually about 3 to 4% less mpg with 90/10.
But hey, those ethanol producers are happy, and you are "saving" the environment.
I will not say "saving the environment" i will say "starve the planet"
lkchris
Active member
EVERYONE is suffering from running gasoline with ethanol added.
HOWEVER, there is no need for lead in gasoline. There NEVER was.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000320/kitman
The two things are not related, BTW.
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
"The Nation". Now, THERE'S an unbiased source for your scientific and technical information. I did not read it all, but no apparent mention of the phase-out of lead in house paint . . . and kids eating the lead paint and increasing the lead content in their blood.
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
R
RIDERR1150GSADV
Guest
I tried Ethanol fuel and 10% Ethanol has resulted in 10% LESS fuel economy for my bike (oilhead), truck and boat...
Fortunately I can still find gas without that nonsense added to the fuel. I never bought into that hype as it takes more BTU's to make one gallon of ethanol, than that same gallon of ethanol returns when used. Meanwhile food prices are going up, because corn used for people food and livestock is getting scarce...Sounds like a stupid way to 'save' the planet...
Fortunately I can still find gas without that nonsense added to the fuel. I never bought into that hype as it takes more BTU's to make one gallon of ethanol, than that same gallon of ethanol returns when used. Meanwhile food prices are going up, because corn used for people food and livestock is getting scarce...Sounds like a stupid way to 'save'
the planet...BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
10% ethanol should not cause THAT much of a decrease. Afterall, ethanol does have SOME energy in it. Have you checked carefully back and forth (between the 90/10 blend and gasoline you mention) to determine the actual mileage difference?
I'm curious. What kind of gasoline are you finding without that nonsense added?
F
FABIOX
Guest
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
??? what is that ???
It's an expression . . . two ways of saying, or referring to, the same thing. In this case, two ways to pronounce "potato".
S
sumran
Guest
Interesting article. Thinking and vetting to do, but it is thought provoking. The lubricating properties of lead in valve guides seems to be the primary concern about lead-free fuel now, for airheads. The octane issue can be dealt with in other ways.
Since I spent my childhood in the leaded gas era, I am going to use this information as an excuse when my children think they are smarter than me.
They are 14 and 12, so that may come in to play often in the next few years.
ccolwell
Active member
I have been warned my a mechanic I respect to drain the float bowls after every ride on the R90S (particularly as I don't ride it that much). His dealership (multi Japanese franchise) saw a large number of problems with the intro of ethanol, largley with vehicles that sit for periods of time without running (dirt bikes and ATV's left at mountain cabins). Besides the seals, ethanol will absorb water more than gasoline and then settle out (a real problem if you have a two stroke).
W
wsteinborn
Guest
In Missouri, Premium gas is not required to have 10% Ethanol, nor Avgas, nor gas used for farm equipment.
However, Missouri also did away with the requirement to label E10 gas on the pumps, so you never know.
I do know that Casey's in KS has always used E10 for their premium, and I believe QuikTrip in MO does the same.
(I saw my MPG go from 50-52 to 45-47 MPG.)
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
Well, they MAY not be REQUIRED to use ethanol (like you say, no requirement to label E10) but if they took the MTBE out of the gasoline, then they substituted something, and ethanol is the likely substitute. Both MTBE and ethanol are octane boosters AND oxygenates. The problem with going to a place like a Casey's and a QuickTrip is you cannot really know what gasoline you are getting during any visit, so the content could change from one tank to the next.
BeemerMike
Republic of Texas
Yes, ethanol absorbs water and gasoline does not. This is why ethanol cannot be added at the gasoline refinery and then be transported in the pipeline with the gasoline, but must be shipped separately to the distribution point and added to the gasoline there.
R
RIDERR1150GSADV
Guest
It does and I am not the only one that found that out.
Down here Chevron and Shell and 'unknown cheaper' brands of fuel.
Seen the price of wheat?? it is up 170 % since 2006 and all because the 'treehuggers' want to save the planet for the children
, not thinking about the huge food (hunger) problems we are facing worldwide.. Corn is now a huge subidized crop, at the expense of wheat and other crops, and not used to feed people anymore. That is why I call BS on Ethanol.. I don't want to get political ,as it will be doghoused faster than the speed of light, but please do some research and you will see what I mean..
Gasahol
RBOB regular gasoline to be blended with alcohol ships as 83.7 octane and is sold as 87 octane after the alcohol is added. So the alcohol does have a higher octane number, but doesn't mean it is nearly as efficient as gasoline,
Finally some people are looking beyond the enviromaniacs propaganda and amazingly are pointing out some of the warts that goes along with growing fuel rather than food.
We are going to pay much more for all food, but people in the third world nations that have been depending on the USA excess food production are likely to starve.
So called global warming isn't going to mean much when their belly's are empty.
We already have a water shortage in this nation and growing corn and turning it into alcohol for fuel requires, GUESS WHAT, a lot of water. Where is it coming from?
The increase in fertilizers used to grow fuel rather than food is going to increase the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico from the excess nutrients dumped into the Gulf and eaten by algae and other microorganism thus depleting the oxygen content in the Gulf of Mexico. I have already seen the effects first hand, fishing off of Cameron LA last year there were days when you couldn't even catch a spade fish.
Once again we have been sold a crock of **** and the rich conglomerations have paid their politicians well and they will take their profits while we all suffer.
oh well, There really is nothing new under the sun!
RBOB regular gasoline to be blended with alcohol ships as 83.7 octane and is sold as 87 octane after the alcohol is added. So the alcohol does have a higher octane number, but doesn't mean it is nearly as efficient as gasoline,
Finally some people are looking beyond the enviromaniacs propaganda and amazingly are pointing out some of the warts that goes along with growing fuel rather than food.
We are going to pay much more for all food, but people in the third world nations that have been depending on the USA excess food production are likely to starve.
So called global warming isn't going to mean much when their belly's are empty.
We already have a water shortage in this nation and growing corn and turning it into alcohol for fuel requires, GUESS WHAT, a lot of water. Where is it coming from?
The increase in fertilizers used to grow fuel rather than food is going to increase the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico from the excess nutrients dumped into the Gulf and eaten by algae and other microorganism thus depleting the oxygen content in the Gulf of Mexico. I have already seen the effects first hand, fishing off of Cameron LA last year there were days when you couldn't even catch a spade fish.
Once again we have been sold a crock of **** and the rich conglomerations have paid their politicians well and they will take their profits while we all suffer.
oh well, There really is nothing new under the sun!
R
RIDERR1150GSADV
Guest
Thanks!!
Spot on!
Spot on!
