European Ethanol in Gas?

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by James Bond, Aug 25, 2020.

  1. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Just wondered if you Brits and Euro guys have to put up with ethanol in your gasoline. My bikes run MUCH better with MUCH more power on pure gasoline. which I can get if I keep my eyes open.
     
  2. Egg on Leggs

    Egg on Leggs New Member

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    It is rather rubbish and it is only 5% at the moment. The VFR is good for 10% but there is talk of it ending up at 15% plus.

    At the moment the only noticeable disadvantage is the after market fuel filters I use on my commuter bike melt after 2 years.

    Getting the ethanol out of the petrol is as easy as mixing it with water, giving it a good shake and letting it settle overnight. The water absorbs the ethanol and settles to the bottom of the container leaving the good stuff floating on top.
     
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  3. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/ethanol.html

    I use ethanol free gas in my two vfrs' and all my lawn equipment, I mix it with VP100 to cut the octane for my yrs50 two stroke. Its not that inconvenient to get the stuff around here with all the marine use we get. If you can get it you should use it, its called REC Fuel here, short for recreation fuel. Since I have used it in my two stroke small lawn equipment I have had zero issues with starting etc, its just a prudent thing to do in my opinion. PEacE oh when I was in Germany over x-mas they had lots of different blends and choices at the pump regarding octane and percentage of ethanol.
     
  4. TIM AULT

    TIM AULT New Member

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    I work for a township and had a talk with our fuel delivery guy and the boat docks he delivers fuel to ethanol fuel. He said they have had no problems. I add fuel treatment almost every tank on my bikes , lawn equipment as well as my cars. I don't like the ethanol, even with stabilizer in the fuel over winter it takes a couple tanks of fuel to clean out.
     
  5. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Boat docks where? I can not understand someone pulling up to a marina and using gas that has up to 10% ethanol in it - It would never happen here in Ft. Lauderdale or any other marina for that matter, its called REC FUEL (short for recreation) here and does not have that cheap corn crap added to it. If it was in the gas it would kill the jell coats in the gas tank and wreak havoc with other parts of the boats fuel systems. Boaters want to avoid that regular stuff like the corona virus yah know:facts:
     
  6. TIM AULT

    TIM AULT New Member

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    Ohio river, not wanting to stir up arguments,it's just what he told me. The conversation started out where to get ethanol free fuel for my bikes and lawn equipment. He said nearest spot that he knew was about 45 minutes from me. I'll just keep adding additives.
     
  7. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Never want to create turbulence or risk being called an agent provocateur heavens forbid LOL. Just surprised is all, I am not in the marine industry mind you, but have been listening to boat people (they are all over South FL) wax on about ethanol gas.

    I used to have a truck stop down the road about 5 minutes from my house that sold the rec fuel, they stopped. WAWA sells it and its about 10 minutes from my house, 8 miles - so thats what I fill up my bikes and power equipment with. My lawn mower is 20 years old and I never had the carb off or even had to drop the fuel bowl. Anyway - have a sweet rest of the holiday weekend :mech:
     
  8. TIM AULT

    TIM AULT New Member

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    No problem,wish there was a station close to me.
     
  9. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    :usa: You know I was in Germany during x-mas 2019/2020 and at the gas stations they must have had 6 or more variations of gas with varying octanes as well as gases with different percentages of ethanol. They are no longer going to sell diesel cars there (EU?) just trucks. Its an E-ffed up place let me tell you. Walking around the town centre (Dusseldorf) you scratch your head and say, "people must being doing ok, there are new cars all over the place." come to learn that zee germans have stringent emission standards that the cars have to meet. If you do not have a green tag on your windshield you can't park in the city, there are yellow and red tags as well. There are incentives to buy new cars and the government subsidizes purchases. They also have a cash for clunkers program to a degree and alot of other absurd requirements to drive your car there. We are so so lucky in this country you can't imagine.
    Had to edit, you know what the price of a gallon cost? about 8 bucks per/gallon OUCH and you still see people driving WTF? its amazing really. so so expensive to drive, a 5 quart of Mobil One oil cost around 75 dollars. Can't imagine what tires cost. Anyway. PEacE
    Take care and ride em don't hide em
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2020
  10. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I am no tech and have little technical knowledge of ethanol. Here, we can get ethanol free gasolines, but you need to know which company and what grade. Unfortunately, the ethanol free grades are always the higher octane gasolines. The owner's manual tells me to use 87 in my VFR. I have run the higher octanes, I have run ethanol free gasolines, and I have to say, I have not noticed any difference in performance.

    I use the same 87 ethanol blends in my yard machines, the lawn mower, now somewhere around 20 years give or take. It has been serviced once that I remember for a new air filter and spark plug (just because It was clean). The carb has never been looked at. It starts with one pull after the whole winter being idle, most times without stabilizer. But hey, its a Honda. Same with my leaf blower. Never an issue.

    On my VFR, nothing has been done to it along any lines of fuel delivery and ignition. The tank to my knowledge is clear and clean. The bike has 222,720 km (138,392 miles) on the clock. So I just don't know you guys. If ethanol is so bad for our bikes, why can I get that kind of mileage out of my bike? Again, I have no technical skills when it comes to these bikes.
     
  11. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Fuel injection vs carburetor bikes, don't know. I know that my bikes are the latter and they work better with the gas I buy. I know before I switched to the rec fuel gas, my two stroke yard tools were constantly destroying their primer bulbs and had issues with the carburetors - rec fuel eliminated this end of story. My generator I had since 2006 and had a slightly gummed up main jet - bear in mind, that unit gets run maybe 8 times a year for 5 minutes - if there are no hurricanes so I give it a pass. Its a crappy fuel additive and the farmers that grow the corn don't wana lose their free teete so there.

    Maybe I am superstitious, I like what I like - no crime. Your results may vary
    https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/ethanol.html
     
  12. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    So I wonder, in your situation, the ethanol is reacting to your two stroke oil then. My garden machinery all have carburetors but are not two stroke. My first leaf blower was two stroke. It ran like shit from day one and I was never so happy when it wouldn't start at all after only two or three years. I think part of it is a Lada now.
     
  13. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    When I was Berlin they had those cars all over, have you ever seen one before? Jeez, what a pile of poop. Yeh, maybe there was a reaction between the alcohol and plastic parts of the primer bulb/internal parts of carburetor. I have a two stroke motorcycle that I use VP100 octane on, I do the pre-mix and never drain the bowl or tank. Bike starts first kick every time, regardless of time off, last time it must have been 5 months of no-run. I have taken this carburetor off in the past due to not running a fuel filter in favour of a quick break gas line (MISTAKE) anyway, that bowl was super clean, must have had a tiny bit of debris due to no fuel filter. PEacE & LoVe
     
  14. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    WHen I was posted in Campbell River, one of our Auxiliary Officers (volunteer non peace officer status) had one. He actually bought it brand new. Even shiny, they are fukken ugly.
     
  15. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    The ethanol free gas I use is 87 octane. All three VFR's I've owned ran like crap on higher octane. Honda means what they say on octane.
     
  16. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    And they buy most all of their natural gas from Russia. They learn slow.
     
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