Ethanol

[shooter64]

I see a lot of posts about problems relating to ethanol in fuel. I always use Shell middle grade. I says "no ethanol" over the middle grade and the premium. Is that not the case in every area? Citgo gas has no ethanol but there are not many Citgo's in my area. Shell stations are everywhere. In fact I use Shell middle grade in my 3 cars, Valk, riding mower, chain saw, blower, weed eater etc.

[fudgie]

We dont have any E-10 around me but once we get near the mississippi rvr i see alot. I always get it. My valk seems to run better on it.

[R J MILES]

Living in Iowa, we have had ethanol fuel for years. I own 3 Valks plus 2 other bikes and have never had any fuel related problems with any of them.  Use it in car and truck also. Use a fuel additive in the winter cold to solve any water you might pick up. Fuel up and ride!!    Fuzzy

[gordonv]

There has been ethanol in our fuel for over a decade, infact, before I heard of these problems I went out of my way to buy fuel with ethanol in it, figuring I was cutting done the amount of dino fuel I was using.

But I've only been riding MC for the last 5 years, but daily rides to work, and only putting 5-10K kms on my bike annually, and I live in a rain forest, the west coast of BC. The only thing we don't have that the US has, is a bunch of little gas stations. They have about 99.9% major corps, and the little guys buy their fuel from the same refinary.

I have had NO known problems with this fuel, in any of my vehicles, including long term storage (w/ & w/o stabilizer).

[Brian]

In this area around Charlotte I have never seen a gas tanker for anyone brand of fuel. We have a large tank farm that I believe is supplied by a pipeline coming up from New Orleans. Makes me believe all gas in this area is generic. I maybe wrong, just an observation thru the local newsmedia during the aftermath from Katrinia as our supply of gas was threatened.

[Hoser]

Only draw back is a small difference in mileage,  I use whatever is cheapest at the pump, regular or E10.  Never use E85, for flex fuel vehicles only!  Of course in Wisconsin and Iowa E10 is by far the most common fuel.  I spend a lot of time in both states, no ill effects in the 98000 miles I've ridden.  Hoser

[Chiefy]

Here is a link to a site that lists stations that sell ethanol free gas: http://pure-gas.org/

No, it's not the case everywhere.  We have a ton of major and independent stations here in town, and only 1 of the majors and 2 of the indies sell ethanol free.

[macdoesit]

No ethanol, not even in my weed eater.
Gas 87 in autos
Gas 91 in Valks
Period.

[R J]

I'm like R J Miles.  I'm also from Iowa and ethanol is all MGM has ever had in her throat if it was available.    My bikes, the Chevy Trike, Lawn tractors, lawn mowers, leaf blower, and anything else I might have with a gas engine on it gets nothing but ethanol.

My neighbor, he will not buy anything other than all gas for his weed eater, lawn mower and snow blower.

I laugh like hell every spring or winter when he brings one of these items up to have me get it started.   When he does, I pull the bottom off the carbs and give them a good dose of carb cleaner, wipe out the bowl, wipe off the float blow air through the carb and put it back together.    Usually on the 3rd pull it will start.   This year he thought he'd be smart and tear the carb apart himself and clean it up.   Still couldn't get it to start, so he tore it apart again, brought it up and in the process, he lost the float pin and 1/2 of the needle and seat.   Lucky for him I had a pin in my spare parts and we bought a new needle and seat.  3rd pull it started.     He just scowled and left.    Putting my tools away, I found a $20 bill he had stuck under my vise grips.    Mailed it back to him and he hasn't spoke to me since.

[GreenLantern57]

In this area around Charlotte I have never seen a gas tanker for anyone brand of fuel. We have a large tank farm that I believe is supplied by a pipeline coming up from New Orleans. Makes me believe all gas in this area is generic. I maybe wrong, just an observation thru the local newsmedia during the aftermath from Katrinia as our supply of gas was threatened.

That is truer than you think.  Most gas in the tank farm is a generic blend. If the delivery is for a SHELL blend, then the trucker and tank atttendeant push a little button and the required additives are mixed into the delivery line. It was always funny watching all the Wholesaler trucks at the Phillips refinery in Borger. Alsups, Bell, among others, all getting thier gas at the same tank farm. Most terminals are shared by several companies. That is why you can see a Star delivery truck at Shell as well as Citgo, Texaco, Phillips, BP.