Ethanol Defense Strategies

[ANDYVH]

Keep in mind, if you buy E10 or E15 gas and simply run the tank volume through the bike in short order, no big deal. Like being on a trip where all you are doing is riding every day. Same for daily commuting, like a 15 minute or 1/2 hour or more ride to work and home daily. The bike will run just fine on it, though it is pretty well proved that you'll get lower fuel mileage.

The problem with E10 and E15 is when your bike sits for any length of time, and depending where you are in the country, the ambient conditions. Moisture and evaporation are the issues with degradation of ethanol blended fuels.

The single hose issue and the EPA's band-aid approach to an answer is typical. That means here in Green Bay I'll drive the few extra miles to the fuel vendors that sell two different octane grades of non-ethanol fuels (Fleet Farm is one) from pumps with multiple hoses. Kwik-Trip stores also sell non-ethanol premium from multi-hose pumps at many of their stores through the midwest.

Or, just ride a lot more and just use the E10 or E15 fuel as you buy it. Unfortunately, that just means it'll profit the ethanol marketers more yet. Dang it!

[henzilla]

What the heck is this?
Article said Arcadia ,Nebraska already has some...among others

[Mike_Philippens]

My '99 R1100RT w/EZS sidecar has been running 10% alcohol for the last four years with no ill effects at all.

Hear, hear! That's a report with meaning and value. No theorizing or resisting because you like to complain. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So, like I said before: the Beemer will run fine on it. No engines will burst into flames while riding.

Maybe it deteriorates faster, but 'modern' unleaded fuels all deteriorate quite quick. It's no problem when you know it; you can prepare. So it's not a problem typical to ethanol.

[arthurdent]

What the heck is this?
Article said Arcadia ,Nebraska already has some...among others

An unfortunate side-effect of living in a corn producing state. These have been around for about a year and are particularly annoying when you can't even get straight gas over 87 octane.

Yes, I live where these things have begun to appear. sigh.

[Roger 04 RT]

Not sure what I'd do if I were in Nebraska and didn't have an E10 Premium choice. What does the pump say about E20 and E30 Octane? I've read other places that E20 is 89 and E30 is 91--(RON + MON)/2.

If that were the case, the extra fuel needed to meet lambda=1 on the O2 sensor is about 13%. I'd run E30 I guess and add a BoosterPlug or 3.5 Bar fuel pressure regulator and check the hoses often.

To get a richer mixture like I run at lambda = 0.96 it would take both a BoosterPlug and increased fuel pressure. To completely meet the needs of E30 without counting on adaptation by the Motronic I'd want a BoosterPlug and about 55 PSI.

I wonder where this all goes over the next 10 years.

[jammess]

Hi Roger,
You wonder where all this is going? Lucky for me I'll be too old to ride much in another 10.

Just got back from a 600 miler on the '81RT and I have never felt so thrashed. Russell seat time or got to sell it! 600 miles wishing to God I was on my 1150RT with Russell. Had easy time finding non-ethanol premium. A station in Maupin, OR had an old 500 gallon heating oil tank sitting off to the side with a mechanical fuel metering gauge and hose dispenser connected which was kind of novel but got the job done.