E10

[AussieValk]

I have been experiencing a flat spot in the acceleration at around 3800 rpm, since December 08. Put a petcock kit through a couple of months ago as the thing had split, and this took much of the problem away. There was still a flat spot at around 4000 rpm, but you could accelerate through it if you didn't mind the hesitation. Bit of a nuisance when overtaking though. The weather has started to get colder here and I left the bike sitting for two nights uncovered, and with less than quarter of a tank of gas (enclosed carport). Went out for some errands Tuesday late and it coughed and spluttered and died while still showing quarter tank of gas. It wouldn't run on reserve, so I figured I had water in the fuel. Managed to get someone to bring a litre of gas to me, but it was E10, which I would not normally run in the bike. It got me started and the couple of klms to a station where I fill with 91 unleaded.
Yesterday I went out for a blast, and lo and behold, no more flat spot. Acceleration had returned to how it was six months ago. I had a ball racing with the sports bikes, overtaking traffic at speed knowing there would be no hesitation. Just to make sure, I went out again today, fantastic!!!

Question. Would or should the E10 act as a carb cleaner? I have run various cleaners through over the last few months but none have helped. We don't have Seafoam down here, so I was surprised at the change in performance. Maybe the occassional litre of E10 won't hurt, sure as hell beats pulling the carbs apart. 

[MP]

Well, if you had some water in the system, the ethanol would have cleaned it out.  That is one plus for ethanol, it will keep the water out of the system. Since using it up north here, we no longer have any problems with frozen gas lines in the winter in our vehicles.

[Jay]

Well, if you had some water in the system, the ethanol would have cleaned it out.  That is one plus for ethanol, it will keep the water out of the system. Since using it up north here, we no longer have any problems with frozen gas lines in the winter in our vehicles.

Ethanol is hygroscopic, that is it attracts moisture.  Not a big deal if you run a lot of miles.  However if it sits long enough as in tanks for boats, it will absorb enough water to separate it from the gasoline, which will float on the water.  If your fuel is delivered from the bottom of the tank, you will be drawing mostly water into the carb.  Engines don't run well on water.  Do a google search on this topic, interesting info!