I am not sure about what the law suit was about, but from what I read about the class action suits for boaters was because most boats have fiberglass tanks and the ethanol was damaging the tanks.

 

Yea its been here in Iowa for a few years now. I believe we had the first ethanol plants. All the bike shops tell me its not good for small engines or motorcycles. If you can avoid it, do so.

 

the ethanol in gas also damages carbs if it sits in there too long. working in the lawn and garden business it is a common problem.

 

ok, so here is what i know/think i know


i was oringinally called gas-a-hal (spelling)

i rember that from watching "children of the corn" (movies are not a reliable source, but came out in the 70s i think, so it is a pop culture reference)

from what i have read, ethanol packs less energy per gram since its already partially oxidized. (the OH group)

it has a higher octane rating (higher flash point) so they can use it to bring up the octane rating of ****ty gas, thus gas previously unfit for our vehicals is now boosted to 87 or what ever octane rating and is now usable.

i am pretty sure race fuel is a form of ethanol. (additives?)

it is water soluble.

someone said it pulls in moisture, it sounded like BS to me, but if it can mix with water that is bad, because then you would be pumping water through you engine.


about 2 months ago some guy i was riding with had bike trouble on a long ride (200 miles or so) and the bike kept dieing, seemed like fuel troubles or pump troubles, so we limped it to a yamaha dealer and they told him the ethanol was reacting with the sealant in his tank and making a slug that choked the engine.

I dont know how true that answer is, but the bike troubles were very real.

with all that said, they have had it here for almost a year and my bike is still running fine. i dont even know where to find normal gas anymore.

 

Sucks cause my vehicle can only take 5% of that crap. Yes it is liquid crap. I'd rather run diarrhea through my engine than ****hanol.

 

wow and i've filled the RR up twice there now......i guess that will stop.

 

I wouldnt think it would be as bad for a carb engine than an efi engine. My bike goes only "name" gas stations. I'm sure everyone else gets the same stuff but I filled up at a walmart and my bike ran like crap going 2 miles home and wouldnt start the next day.

 

So if they're putting 10% ethanol in at the pump, are getting gas 10% cheaper/gal than the stations who don't use it?

 

Pissing in your tank would probably get your better mileage than ethanol.

 

Been running it here for years, never an issue.