Ethanol IN Fuel

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Tuesday, December 29th 2009, 6:53am

Ethanol IN Fuel

Here in the US, Ethanol is being used increasingly. Supposedly, it is mandated to no more than 10% but several sations in my area are showing levels above 30%!!! Once incident had a car that had received 58%, needless to say it destroyed the engine. Ethanol eats aluminum. Seems that ethanol is not staying blended which allows for one to get dangerously high levels i their tanks. I know the performance of my bike has been hampered by this fuel, but we have no choice at our pumps!!!

Take care to watch for it. Pumps that have it are suppose to be labelled, but older ones are not always labelled. Need to find a way to test the fuel before we contaminate our system 8-)

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

Peter

Candyman

Posts: 1,060

Motorbike: R1200GS-07

Mileage: 47,000 km

Location: Singapore

Thanks: 1439

Wednesday, December 30th 2009, 12:23am

I am a bit stunned about this. The GS is, as most other vehicles, prepared for use of E10. I sure would worry at levels of 30 % and more. What do these fuel sellers say? It's safe?

Briefly googling the subject I found not a few scientists seem to doubt the use of ethanol as ecological alternative.

Peter .PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISIONS SHOULD GO TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Thursday, December 31st 2009, 12:35am

Evidently it is not safe. I know of 2 people now that have messed up vehicles from the Ethanol. The stations are denying responsibility sine it is government mandate for the fuel. On one of the vehicles, the dealer is denying warranty due to the ethanol in the tank exceding 10%. Now this guy, will have to sue to get recourse

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

johnofchar

V-Strom Representative

Posts: 48

Motorbike: SV-Strom

Mileage: 108,000 miles

Location: Charleston SC USA

Thanks: 34

Thursday, December 31st 2009, 4:37am

http://www.fuel-testers.com/expiration_of_ethanol_gas.html

http://www.fuel-testers.com/order.html

2 registered users thanked already.

Users who thanked for this post:

Peter, ghostrider1964

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Thursday, December 31st 2009, 5:00am

John, That was great info!!! How are things in your neck of the woods :thumbup:

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Thursday, December 31st 2009, 5:04am

John, have you used these tests?

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

johnofchar

V-Strom Representative

Posts: 48

Motorbike: SV-Strom

Mileage: 108,000 miles

Location: Charleston SC USA

Thanks: 34

Thursday, December 31st 2009, 1:17pm

All is great. No, but thinking maybe I should start.

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Tuesday, January 5th 2010, 1:30am

I sent an email to that company to see if that test identified how much Ethanol percent but no response yet. I want to know how much ethanol I am getting. I know all our fuel has it.

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

def

Intermediate

Posts: 17

Motorbike: R1150GS-01

Location: The woods and mountains of Alabama

Thanks: 57

Saturday, May 15th 2010, 10:39am

Ethanol in motor fuel is blended with an oxygenate. In the case of the USA, the oxygenate is ethanol. It used to be MTBE but it was determined that the MTBE was getting into the groundwater due to leaking tanks at stations.

Ethanol blended into gasoline must be done with a co-solvent to keep the ethanol and gasoline mixed. Some blenders are a bit sloppy and don't add enough co-solvent.

Here in the USA, it is best to fuel at a truck stop. Their fuel is turned over frequently and the risk of a missfuel is minimal.

Modern fuel systems in motor vehicles will tolerate ethanol. If you are having problems, use a bit of Techron at your next fill up.

An old man with new ideas...
I know what I am talking about.

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Monday, May 17th 2010, 9:50pm

I had heard Techron helped and then someone else was telling be to just SeaFoam additive all the time. I usually buy at Walmart Murphy Stations now. Seems Walmart has instituted or had in place a policy regularily check their fuel for Ethanol. Found this out by watching the guy test the pumps. I ran into the guy a couple of times now. He checks to make sure pump is calibrated correctly and then pulls sample to check ethanol. I think he said thy were doing it quarterly.

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

def

Intermediate

Posts: 17

Motorbike: R1150GS-01

Location: The woods and mountains of Alabama

Thanks: 57

Thursday, May 20th 2010, 9:08am

Quoted from "ghostrider1964"

I had heard Techron helped and then someone else was telling be to just SeaFoam additive all the time.

Not necessary to add a fuel system cleaner at every fillup. It is costly and can soot your engine oil. Quality fuel brands add detergents to keep fuel systems clean. If you are nearby a Chevron station, use their fuel. It is blended with enough techron to keep your fuel system clean and operating optimally.

An old man with new ideas...
I know what I am talking about.

ghostrider1964

Edumacated Redneck Adventurer

Posts: 244

Motorbike: R1200GSA-08 and 01 ATK 605 Enduro

Mileage: 45,000 miles

Location: CORYELL CITY, TEXAS

Thanks: 402

Monday, November 22nd 2010, 11:21pm

A friend of mine this past weekend got fuel at a Valero in Waco Texas. He made it about a mile before his truck stalled. I towed him home and we dropped the tank and drained it. We separated the fuel into 5 gallon clear water bottles. It stacked up in 3 layers....water, ethanol, and gas. Out of 26 gallons in his tank, he had about 7 gallons of water and between 2-3 gallons of ethanol

2008 R1200 GSA
2001 ATK 605 Enduro
Many others that are gone 8-)

http://www.rollthebonesrally.com/

Peter

Candyman

Posts: 1,060

Motorbike: R1200GS-07

Mileage: 47,000 km

Location: Singapore

Thanks: 1439

Monday, November 22nd 2010, 11:40pm

Quoted

Out of 26 gallons in his tank = 100 litres, he had about 7 gallons = 26,5 litres of water and between 2-3 gallons = around 10 litres of ethanol

Peter .PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISIONS SHOULD GO TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR

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Ethanol IN Fuel

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