Ethanol Gas Problems?

[Prospect]

I'd like to start a discussion about using ethanol gas. It is harder and harder to find ethanol free gas and wondering if anyone would shared their ideas on what they are doing (if anything at all) to help alleviate problems. I was thinking of adding Sea Foam to each tank when the bike is sitting around and of course draining the carbs before each winter. I've heard that some people have starting issues with ethanol gas because of how quickly it deteriorates.

What kind of problems have you experienced from using ethanol gas and what did you do about it?

[gltriker]

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[CYBORG]

I use it all the time...and have no problems

[CYBORG]

In fact, engine masters did some testing, and found that it actually made a bit more power then "dino" fuel

[redglbx]

Ethanol fuel should keep things cleaner and I have had no real issues using it. The only issue that I think ethanol fuel should present is in storage the alcohol will absorb moisture out of the air and cause rust, possibly.

One other thing is that I have had issues with storing my stuff with seafoam in the tank, very caustic, I don’t use it, I prefer Lucas but that’s just me. I make up storage “pickle juice” which insists of the Lucas fuel treatment, Marvel mystery oil & Stabil. I run the bike long enough to circulate the pickle juice through out the system and then shut the petcock off and run things dry. Haven’t had any issues since I’ve been doing that. Everyone seems to have their own process .

[Shadowjack]

It's the times we live in. Too much trouble to run around looking for ethanol-free gas, or to be lucky enough to find some while on the road. Just run it through pretty fast, and drain it and/or treat it with your favorite brew in the off-season. I think you'll find that with all the other chemistry in modern gas, even ethanol-free goes off fast. Just put a little of each in a bottle and watch it over the winter. They'll both look like what you find in those plastic bottles by the highway in a couple of months.

[Fred Camper]

I use Stabil Marine during storage, but just run regular pump gas during the season. No issues so far in 14 years.

[CYBORG]

I do not "store" my bikes during the long off season. Instead, I start them and bring them up to temp once a week. Keep the tanks full of gas, and wait for good weather. They always start, run well, and are ready for a ride. Even if I'm not. They also have battery tenders hooked up whn ever not being used. Have done this for years, and have not had to rebuild any carbs for years. I consider ethanel fuel problem a myth. At least in my case

[Whiskerfish]

My nearest ethanol free gas is 45 miles each way. The 1800 does not care. I think it would run on water. On the 1200 I have been making that run just as an excuse to exercise it. So far it has had nothing but E Free from me. The 75 only gets ridden monthly or so and because of that I try to keep it on a E Free diet. The 78/9 bike sat too long with regular pump gas (E-15) last fall and has been sitting with gummed up carbs since.

The rule I try to live by is if the bike is not ridden weekly then it gets E Free gas and stabil. Yes it is a hassle

[Dirty Dave]

Chickanic online has good storage results with Ethanol Shield fuel stabilizer.

Will try it this winter although I haven't had bad results with Seafoam & Stabil EXCEPT
with my Wing. I prefer the Cyborg method of running until warm every coupla weeks
during the winter months. Only spring I had nada carb problems ........

I make sure my exhaust is hot and dry.

[CYBORG]

And itsnice to hear the sound of the engines in the dead of winter. And with two of them running at idle, it's almost like they are talking about the spring rides to come, just around the corner

[Sidecar Bob]

Re ethanol: https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=69205

Re starting during storage:
I was taught that starting an engine just to warm it up is one of the worst things you can do to it because if you don't use it under load enough to thoroughly warm it up the moisture that enters the crankcase from that cold start doesn't evaporate so you actually increase the amount of water in the crankcase, not to mention wasting fuel and causing pollution.
It is the mechanical equivalent of someone waking you up every hour when you're trying to get a good night's sleep.

And then there's the issue of storing with a full tank. Here are 3 good reasons for not leaving the tank & carbs full, with or without stabilizer:
1) Have you ever seen what happens to gasoline if it is left in a tank for several years? Even the best fuel stabilizer is only good for a few months before the fuel starts to evaporate. First the fuel turns to jelly, then it hardens. It's not pretty and not easy to clean out. Good intentions aside, there is no guarantee that something won't happen to prevent you from taking the machine out of storage again in 6 months or less.
Mr.H's original owner had a workplace injury during the winter that ended motorcycling for him and the bike ended up "stored" for 10 years (6 of them outside) before I got it and I stored it in my garage for 2 more before I put it on the road. I looked inside the tank before filling it and it was as clean as when it came off the line in Marysville in '83. It has been drained every winter since then and it was still clean & shiny inside the last time I looked.
The parts bike the "new" engine came from was stored with the tank full (+ stabilizer) for 2 or 3 years; The stuff that came out of it smelled rank and the tank would have need a lot of effort to make it usable.

2) During normal use a certain amount of moisture finds it's way into a fuel tank from filling up in the rain, condensation from moist air entering the tank when driving on a rainy/humid day, &c. Water is heavier than gasoline so it collects at the lowest point. If you leave the tank full that water can never evaporate. If it can't evaporate it will eventually find another way out (this is why tanks always rust out at the lowest point).

3) I don't need to tell you how dangerous the fumes from a vented fuel tank can be if your garage is also your shop. Not to mention the spill if it gets knocked over or the tank rusts out & starts to leak.

[robin1731]

Just like oil and tires. Lots of opinions.

[CYBORG]

People should do what they like...I just do what has worked for me, for several years.

[dontwantapickle]

My 79 has been sitting unmoved on the centerstand for the last week and a half.
I started thinking about this thread while messing around with it this morning.

This is what I came up with:

.Since gas absorbs water from the air, there will always be a little bit of water in the tank.
.Since alcohol (ethanol) is hydroscopic, the ethanol will bind to the water in the tank.
.Water and gas will separate and the water (with the ethanol) will settle to the bottom of the tank.

I figured,
why not just run the bike on reserve for a bit and suck all of the water/ethanol out of the tank that way.
So... that's what I did.
I'm not exactly sure how effective this is, but it makes sense that it should work.

Removing ethanol from gasoline using water is a pretty simple process, I've done it a few times over the years.