Ethanol article by popular mechanics

[Matteo]

Clears up some questions I had.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a6244/e15-gasoline-damage-engine/

So drain those tanks for storage.

[Sheepdog]

We're filling up landfills with ruined equipment due to this goofy experiment. I can't believe that the government keeps pushing it on us...

[redrider]

Corn subsidies for votes.

[LowRyter]

That article is 6 years old. 

It would be nice to see an update. 

[canuguzzi]

Corn subsidies for votes.

 :1: the power of money and greed.

[jackson]

Fortunately, we have access to ethanol-free gasoline at several stations within a few miles from our home.  I had to take my Stihl lawn blower to be repaired recently and prominently displayed in the showroom (a large dealer for lawn & farm equipment) in several places and on very large signs, there were warnings about using ethanol gasoline in small engines.  I have been telling my friends for years not to use ethanol enhanced fuel in their lawn equipment and a couple of them said that it was an old wives tale.  They discovered, the hard way, within a couple of seasons that it WOULD destroy their carburetors and engines and had to buy or rebuild their riding mowers & other equipment.  My Husqvarna zero cut mower is over ten years old, has never had a drop of ethanol gas put in it and runs like it did when it was new.  I don't even put ethanol fuel in our cars.  If it weren't for the government subsidies to corn farmers, ethanol gas would go bye-bye..........fast.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've had zero ethanol related issues with any of my vehicles or lawn and garden equipment. <shrug>

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from jackson:

If it weren't for the government subsidies to corn farmers, ethanol gas would go bye-bye..........fast.

Just to keep things straight the farmer does not get the subsidies, it is the refiner of the corn turning it into ethanol that does.
GliderJohn

[drlapo]

I rebuild the carbs on my mower generator and snow blower every 2 years
At least the kits are cheap

[Vagrant]

Fortunately, we have access to ethanol-free gasoline at several stations within a few miles from our home.  I had to take my Stihl lawn blower to be repaired recently and prominently displayed in the showroom (a large dealer for lawn & farm equipment) in several places and on very large signs, there were warnings about using ethanol gasoline in small engines.  I have been telling my friends for years not to use ethanol enhanced fuel in their lawn equipment and a couple of them said that it was an old wives tale.  They discovered, the hard way, within a couple of seasons that it WOULD destroy their carburetors and engines and had to buy or rebuild their riding mowers & other equipment.  My Husqvarna zero cut mower is over ten years old, has never had a drop of ethanol gas put in it and runs like it did when it was new.  I don't even put ethanol fuel in our cars.  If it weren't for the government subsidies to corn farmers, ethanol gas would go bye-bye..........fast.


and we could all afford rib eyes again amongst other things.

[Wayne Orwig]

I've had zero ethanol related issues with any of my vehicles or lawn and garden equipment. <shrug>

:1:

But then I use the cheap gasoline, not the high test. That helps.

[canuguzzi]

I don't know how the ethanol is added to the gasoline, is there a way to filter it out or does it separate from gasoline?

We'll probably see higher concentrations of ethanol if certain lobby groups have their way.

[kingoffleece]

MCN had a multi page article on ethanol and how to get it out of your fuel.

[drlapo]

There is a British kit available to remove the ethanol
It consists of a series of plastic jugs and costs around $60
I'll post a link when I find it

[oldbike54]

 Throw a burning Zippo into your gas tank , the invisible flame will be the ethanol burning  . Wait , will that work, hmm , on second thought, never mind . The ethanol will have absorbed so much water the steam will obscure the visible flames 

  Dusty

[swordds]

I've had zero ethanol related issues with any of my vehicles or lawn and garden equipment. <shrug>

I also have had zero issues with any of my gasoline powered equipment including outboard motors and elderly cars (1972 Datsun). I recall during the switch to lead free gas all of the mostly speculative panic about how disastrous and unnecessary that would be, yet at the time I had been using lead free Amaco premium gas in my 1960 VW for years with no problems.

[56Pan]

Throw a burning Zippo into your gas tank , the invisible flame will be the ethanol burning  . Wait , will that work, hmm , on second thought, never mind . The ethanol will have absorbed so much water the steam will obscure the visible flames 

  Dusty

He lit a match,


To check his tank,


That's why they call him,


Skinless Frank.


Burma Shave

(Series of signs beside a cornfield in S. Illinois seen through from the back seat of Dad's '56 Pontiac.  Late '50's.)
I have no idea why I remember s&*t like this.

[Madtownguzzi]

I don't know how the ethanol is added to the gasoline, is there a way to filter it out or does it separate from gasoline?

We'll probably see higher concentrations of ethanol if certain lobby groups have their way.

From Goldwingdocs How to make your own ethanol free gas
http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14679

[jetmechmarty]

I don't know how the ethanol is added to the gasoline, is there a way to filter it out or does it separate from gasoline?

We'll probably see higher concentrations of ethanol if certain lobby groups have their way.

The short answer is that you add water to the gasoline.  The water will settle to the bottom and take the ethanol with it.  You then sump out all of the water.  You lose octane points when you take out the ethanol as well.  I didn't read up at the GoldWing site, but I assume this is what it will tell you to do.

Fortunately, I have a few places near enough to me that sell the Rec 90 E0 or 87 and 93 E0.  The recreational stuff is usually very expensive and the seller closest to me told me his fuel tested at 91 octane.  For sure, my yard equipment does not get fed any ethanol.  My bikes don't get put away with it in the tank either.

[Mike Tashjian]

Ethanol has never been good, ever.  Read back as long as you can and there will be no evidence, that it will be a good fuel for cars or anything else.  It was proposed to be an alternative fuel when we were being squeezed by oil shortages.   Small engines will always have more issues, so avoiding Ethanol should be a priority for good service life.  Just because you have not had issues with something does not mean it is good to use.  If you have access to fuel without Ethanol I suggest you use it . If your particular engine has been rated to use Ethanol,  do not exceed it's recommendations(usually no more than 10%).  I have not personally had issues using Ethanol in the bikes, but I try to use Ethanol free fuel whenever possible. I do understand it is not the best fuel and may harm the engines at some point. Leaving the bike tanks full and using a stabilizer for long term storage(30 days or more) is probably the easiest way to combat water in your tanks. Draining completely is usually much harder to do, but safer for really long storage(more than 6 months).  Mike

[Wayne Orwig]

My small engines for my model airplanes require ethanol. No idea why 'small engines' would be thought to be more damaged by it.

[jetmechmarty]

My small engines for my model airplanes require ethanol. No idea why 'small engines' would be thought to be more damaged by it.

I used to be in that hobby and seem to remember the fuel being a blend of ethanol and castor oil.  We used to prime them with lead free gasoline when it was extremely cold outside.  Do the modern four stroke engines burn the same fuel?

[Wayne Orwig]

I used to be in that hobby and seem to remember the fuel being a blend of ethanol and castor oil.  We used to prime them with lead free gasoline when it was extremely cold outside.  Do the modern four stroke engines burn the same fuel?

Most model airplane 2 and 4 cycles run on the same ethanol with oil blend. Some nitro tossed in to boost power.

[Sheepdog]

We operate a small farm and have a great deal of equipment. I ruined a bunch of stuff before I figured out what was happening. Fortunately, three nearby fuel outlets sell ethanol-free gas...two have premium available. The aluminum oxide no longer clogs my carbs and plastic floats and filters are no longer reduced to formless blobs.

The Guzzi, Triumph, and Piaggio like the pure stuff, too. Apparently, 10% Ethanol fuel has the effect of causing a machine to run 3-4% leaner...

[Mike Tashjian]

Small engines(chainsaw,weed wacker and mowers) with fixed jetting is set to run as lean as possible to not pollute the air.  So when you lean the mixture even more with Ethanol blends how can that not be bad?  If your car or bike has a oxygen sensor and can compensate for that leanness, you are in pretty good shape.  It will not help your fuel system or tank though. Model engines when I was kid did not have fixed jets and you had to adjust them by sound and hope for the best.  Castor oil if I remember right is a great lubricant for them.  The smell of Nitro-Methane and Castor oil brings back good childhood memories.  Mike 

[Wayne Orwig]

  Castor oil if I remember right is a great lubricant for them.  The smell of Nitro-Methane and Castor oil brings back good childhood memories.

Most fuels now use synthetic lubes. I used to add a bit of castor oil to help reduce the rust when the engine would sit. And honestly, I liked the smell.

[Xlratr]

Thanks for the link. It's an interesting article.
Around 5 years ago the German government forced the mineral oil companies to introduce E10 over here, with the intention of reducing emissions. The target was for E10 to become the primary fuel type with 80% share of the gasoline market. 5 years on, and it's been pretty much a flop, and although oil companies are still required to offer the product, the share is now 14% and falling. Most people were concerned about compatibility issues and the environmental gains were never really proven and could be even negative (the cost and environmental effect of planting, cultivating and transporting the product outweigh any gain).
Having said that, the standard 95 octane fuel also contains up to 5% alcohol, although that's not common knowledge.
Luckily, most oil companies offer a "performance" fuel with 98 or 100 octane rating with no ethanol.

John