Ethanol free gas

[Whitecastle123]

Are there any benefits in using this gas over a 91 octane gas or not. The cost difference in my area is huge.  I use it in my lawn mower, snow blower etc.   

[Hook#3287]

The benefit is if your bike sits for some time, less chance of jet clogging.

Here's an article that explains some issues

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commentary/the-problem-with-ethanol-in-gasoline/article29103634/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&

[Jess from VA]

Corn polluted gas is OK in fuel injected things; my car seems to run good on it even when it still has corn polluted gas in it from 8 months ago.  I average under 2K miles a year in my car.  

Corn polluted gas seems to work OK in carburetors, so long as it is reasonably fresh, and not sitting in a can or a fuel tank in a hot shed/garage for weeks/months at a time.  Treating it with ethanol enzyme (Startron or Lucas), and Stabil, and either Berryman's B12/Seafoam/Techron (and I do it in combination) makes it last longer.   I have treated my bikes this way over the winters, with a full tank of corn polluted gas, and have never had a problem, but I am able to still run/ride my bikes in the winter.... not a lot, but some.  But it is still a good idea to get all corn polluted gas out of your carberated things before letting them sit for months and months without running (mowers, chippers, generators, whackers, powerwashers, blowers, yada).

Higher octane (premium) corn polluted gas is only marginally better than 87 corn polluted gas.  It is said the higher octane slows the ethonal from attracting water quite as fast as 87.  I don't know if that is really true.  If so, it is only marginally better.  91 has absolutely no other benefit over 87 than this in our Valks (or other carberated things that only require 87).

But finally this last year, I am able to get corn free gas 50 miles from my house, so now I am only putting that in my bikes, unless I am on an extended ride.  I know it is more expensive, but it is not hugely more expensive where I get it.  Truth be told, for winter storage, I would pay double/tripple for it if I had to.  I am completely without the skills to pull my Valk carb banks to rebuild or repair..... and I'm sure that would be much more expensive to have done than buying corn free gas.

One of our members, Big BF, travels all around the country fixing Valkyries.  He does a booming carb rebuild business, I think.

Look through these.
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1424&bih=652&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=ethanol+corrosion+on+carburetor&oq=ethanol+corrosion+on+carburetor&gs_l=psy-ab.12...55335.59030.0.61804.9.9.0.0.0.0.134.619.0j5.5.0.dummy_maps_web_fallback...0...1.1.64.psy-ab..4.0.0....0.H9ooEsz08QM 

[Whitecastle123]

Thanks guys.  I started using it in the 99' standard I bought back in July and my wife's  V-rod. 

[Hook#3287]

Dang Jess, them is some UGLY pictures 

We sure do need the 15% 

[Jess from VA]

Dang Jess, them is some UGLY pictures 

We sure do need the 15% 

The G that just keeps on giving.   

[John Schmidt]

Check this out, looks pretty simple and gets rid of the ethanol in the process.

http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14679

[oldsmokey]

When it gets to near to the end of the season I run it about dry then put in the good stuff with a stabilizer.
And that's all I use in any hand held equipment that's 2 cycle. Also put it in snowblower near the end of its seasonal use. "Fuel storage in small quantities should not exceed 30 days do to loss of volatility, absorption of moisture and so on."

[X Ring]

Put this site's app on your smart phone and you'll be able to find real gas near you.  https://www.pure-gas.org/

Marty

[Gideon]

Corn polluted gas is OK in fuel injected things; my car seems to run good on it even when it still has corn polluted gas in it from 8 months ago.  I average under 2K miles a year in my car.  

Corn polluted gas seems to work OK in carburetors, so long as it is reasonably fresh, and not sitting in a can or a fuel tank in a hot shed/garage for weeks/months at a time.  Treating it with ethanol enzyme (Startron or Lucas), and Stabil, and either Berryman's B12/Seafoam/Techron (and I do it in combination) makes it last longer.   I have treated my bikes this way over the winters, with a full tank of corn polluted gas, and have never had a problem, but I am able to still run/ride my bikes in the winter.... not a lot, but some.  But it is still a good idea to get all corn polluted gas out of your carberated things before letting them sit for months and months without running (mowers, chippers, generators, whackers, powerwashers, blowers, yada).

Higher octane (premium) corn polluted gas is only marginally better than 87 corn polluted gas.  It is said the higher octane slows the ethonal from attracting water quite as fast as 87.  I don't know if that is really true.  If so, it is only marginally better.  91 has absolutely no other benefit over 87 than this in our Valks (or other carberated things that only require 87).

But finally this last year, I am able to get corn free gas 50 miles from my house, so now I am only putting that in my bikes, unless I am on an extended ride.  I know it is more expensive, but it is not hugely more expensive where I get it.  Truth be told, for winter storage, I would pay double/tripple for it if I had to.  I am completely without the skills to pull my Valk carb banks to rebuild or repair..... and I'm sure that would be much more expensive to have done than buying corn free gas.

One of our members, Big BF, travels all around the country fixing Valkyries.  He does a booming carb rebuild business, I think.

Look through these.
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1424&bih=652&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=ethanol+corrosion+on+carburetor&oq=ethanol+corrosion+on+carburetor&gs_l=psy-ab.12...55335.59030.0.61804.9.9.0.0.0.0.134.619.0j5.5.0.dummy_maps_web_fallback...0...1.1.64.psy-ab..4.0.0....0.H9ooEsz08QM 

I am blessed , there is a Countrymark Gas Station 4 miles from my home that has ethanol-free gas.
As Whitecastle123 stated it is expensive. Today it was $2.96 a gal.

[oldsmokey]

"I am blessed , there is a Countrymark Gas Station 4 miles from my home that has ethanol-free gas.
As Whitecastle123 stated it is expensive. Today it was $2.96 a gal."

Indeed you are blessed.. My only option is Sunoco 110!! @ $10.00 a gallon.
It gets its treat once or twice a year. (End of season most definitely)

[John Schmidt]

I've found most of the WaWa stations in the Orlando area offer non-ethanol but as stated, it's a bit pricier. If you have a WaWa in your area you might want to check it out.

[Whitecastle123]

Not sure what WaWa is but  I filled up gas cans for the small engine machines yesterday and the price is around $3.40 per gallon.  Ethanol 87 octane is $235.00 per gallon.  The station is a 1 1/2 miles down the road fortunately.   
 When we fill up the bikes it's only $7-$8.00 more but well worth it.  The wife's  V-rod has a wimpy 3.5 gallon tank.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not sure what WaWa is but  I filled up gas cans for the small engine machines yesterday and the price is around $3.40 per gallon.  Ethanol 87 octane is $235.00 per gallon.  The station is a 1 1/2 miles down the road fortunately.   
 When we fill up the bikes it's only $7-$8.00 more but well worth it.  The wife's  V-rod has a wimpy 3.5 gallon tank.

$235 a gallon ? That seems like price gouging. 

[John Schmidt]

Not sure what WaWa is but  I filled up gas cans for the small engine machines yesterday and the price is around $3.40 per gallon.  Ethanol 87 octane is $235.00 per gallon.  The station is a 1 1/2 miles down the road fortunately.   
 When we fill up the bikes it's only $7-$8.00 more but well worth it.  The wife's  V-rod has a wimpy 3.5 gallon tank.

It's a rather large and growing gas station chain with a large food court inside. Contrary to many smaller stations of this type, WaWa is generally quite a nice place to grab a bite while traveling.
https://www.wawa.com/fuel

[Whitecastle123]

Sorry , $2.35   Per Gallon . 

[Gideon]

Regardless of brand the "Ethanol-Free" should be a separate pump, if not your first gallon will be whatever the previous customer purchased.

[Jess from VA]

Regardless of brand the "Ethanol-Free" should be a separate pump, if not your first gallon will be whatever the previous customer purchased.

In my area, it's always a separate pump.  The 3 grades of corn polluted gas come from two tanks, 87 and 91, the 89 is a blend of the two.  The corn free gas has to have it's own underground tank (and its own pump), and this is the reason so few stations have it around here.  Putting in a new underground tank is expensive.

I know the administration has it's hands full, but I would like to see more traction on the lets get corn out of all gasoline forever issue. 

I like farmers, and if they need some kind of help, do it without polluting all our gasoline.

[Houdini]

You guys are lucky, there is no food-free gas less than an hour from where I live.

[Paladin528]

I have run exclusively 10% ethanol fuel in my 99 IS.  When I pulled my carbs last winter they were SPOTLESS.  Not much to clean at all. Ended up being just a piece of mind thing.  The key is to RIDE.  Sitting still is what does it in.  Keep the fuel moving and you will never have an issue.
 

[cookiedough]

here in southern WI most gas stations even 91 octane have 10% ethanol, but can readily find 91 octane only with non-ethanol here and there easy enough.  I do that 91 octane non ethanols 2-3 tanks before winter is all just for peace of mind.

No under 91 octane around here that does not use 10% ethanol.

[Brian]

Ethanol attracts moisture, if the bike is not used all the time that water will collect in your carbs. If I have to use this crap I use "Liquid Performance" sold at my Honda dealer. It is an additive that I has not let me down. Ethanol storage is only 30 days before it starts to go stale, rebuilding these carbs are time consuming. I had to go thru mine many times. It's been 4 years since I did a total rebuild replacing the jets. Using this additive and trying to stay with non-ethanol gas is working for me. My Valk will sit for weeks between use. I have a trike now that I use more. Now that I like riding the trike I might just trike the valk. These engines spoil you with their smoothness. My trike is a Suzuki V-twin. Not a v-twin fan anymore.

[Tfrank59]

 I start using ethanol free gas for every tankful about this time of year because my bikes of course sit more during the rainy months. Unfortunately I have to buy 92 octane locally if I want ethanol free so it ends up costing me about four or five bucks more per tankful.  Using an additive that counteracts the ethanol is an option or simply riding year round is the best option in my opinion.

[George B]

The new Marathon station here at the lake has no-ethanol gas for the boaters at $3.39. I have a sidecar, so I ride all winter pretty much. Nice to have it for the colder, wet months  ......