10% Ethanol? I've been hearing my classmates gossiping about Ethanol and how horrible it is today. I also just noticed that my local gas station posted the notice. I've been reading that it's harmful for engines. My friend said it's bogus...at the same time the AMA says its' "potentially" hazardous. I asked the gas station manager and he said that ethanol has been blended in gasoline for quite some time. I JUST noticed now! However, I see absolutely no difference in engine performance... Anyone here experienced catastrophic failure due to Ethanol? lol seriously, what's the big commotion with Ethanol?

 

As I've understood it, at least in Sweden there has been rumours about an increased part of ethanol in the gas which is said to be potentially harmful for older engines in terms of "attacking" (corroding and dissolving) parts that weren't meant to be carrying ethanol, for example fuel lines, seals and such. My driving school taught us to always use the cleanest gas possible due this fact and the fact that the higher energy content would provide us with a smoother effect curve over time and actually reduce the fuel cost. No idea if this is true or not though.

 

Here in Canada I believe it's been legislated for a couple of years that gasoline be blended with up to 10% ethanol to improve fuel emissions. I don't think you would notice any power difference from regular gasoline. It's supposed to burn cleaner with the ethanol present to reduce green house gases. There does seem to be a bit of concern about fuel lines, like Migge noted, and also older engines from the 80's and earlier.

 

Here in Louisiana it's been in the gas for a while, but now possibly up to 15% in some cases. (E15 can only be used in 2001 or newer vehicles - which tells you that E10 must not be that great for older engines)

One issue with ethanol is Ethanol doesn't yield as much energy as regular gas. The difference is almost a third less energy output. that means if you filled your tank with nothing but ethanol, you'd lose in the neighborhood of 30% of your horsepower. When in a 10% mix, you can see up to 3% less MPG. That's why in some MPG testing - you have to pay attention to the fine print to know what fuel the vehicle was tested on.

In more modern vehicles, they tend to have been tuned and designed for these fuels slightly higher compression ratios, advanced knock-sensing and engine management controls.

Powersports equipment, lawn mowers, motorcycles and ATV's can benefit from not having the ethanol in the fuel - especially as these tend to be left sitting for longer periods. Actually a lot of small-engine manufacturer specifically recommend agains using any ethanol-based fuel in their engines. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel, and aggressively attracts moisture. Left sitting alone, that moisture will get into fuel and begin to separate out. I've seen reports that shelf life for Ethanol-based gas is about 3 months. This creates acids that can react with certain types of plastics and rubber. That means the lines, o-rings, gaskets, diaphragms and seals in your engine.

Locally I know of 2 stations that sell ethanol-free. Luckily one is only about half a mile farther than the nearest station to me. For my lawnmowers and stuff I fill my plastic tank there, and I try to fill my motorcycle up there when I know I'm not going to be riding for a while.

 

I live in Minnesota (USA), and our pump gas has been E10 for as long as I can remember, at 30. E85 is also common, my roommate's 2JZ Supra is an E85 engine.

The biggest issue with E10, or E15, is that the fuel "MAY CONTAIN UP TO" 10%(15%) ethanol. This means it may be E0, E5, E7, E10 (E15) with no notice or change in posting. And the winter vs summer blends DO have different ethanol content here. We have a local station that gets the same E85 mix all summer long, and they post "winter blend" on the pump any time the blend is not pure E85, due to a couple of local alcoholic race cars in the area. Most make no such notification.

As far as E10 in the CBR, mine is a 93 that has lived here its whole life, I think, and has no issues from it as far as I know. I've owned mine for going on 4 years now.

 

I see, so as long as I don't leave my bike sitting, the fuel is fine to use. I probably should dump the fuel tank on my Rebel because it's been sitting for 2 months. Maybe that explains the gas leaks from the carb bowls. The gaskes are shot from the gasoline perhaps? AdrenalnJunky,do you live in the states? I can't find anywhere that sells pure gasoline with no Ethanol! Rumor is that they passed a law where gas sold at gas stations MUST have Ethanol mixed. Not sure if this is actually true though...Super60Daytona, the 2JZ is my all time favorite engine other than the RB25. Friend had a 2JZ swap on his Toyota Cressida.

 

Yes, I'm in northern Louisiana, and to my knowledge there is no Federal mandate on stations having to sell Ethanol. It might be possible you state doesn't allow it. Seeing that you live in Cali - that wouldn't surprise me.

This website : Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada shows almost 6000 stations that are supposed to be ethanol free in the USA. Unfortunately it only shows 5 stations in all of Cali. It shows the 2 I knew about in my town, and 2 the town across the river, 1 which is on my drive to work, which I didn't know about before.

 

I'm in Duluth, MN as well, middle part of the state, and everything around here is also that same way. I run middle grade gas in my car always and don't seem to have any problems.

 

I live in Cloquet. About 15 miles south of you then.

 

Ha. I actually live in Cloquet. Most people don't know where that is so I just say Duluth.

Awesome!