Gasoline thread........

[Tom]

Okay,  I fuel up at Costco since it's 4 miles from the house and they have the best prices.  We have a choice of 87, 89 and 92 octane rating.  At least that is what is on the pump.  I use the 92 but it's the gasohol blend.  It's $.25 less per gallon than the 87 octane rated non-alcohol gas.  I'd rather have the higher octane rated gas than running a lower rated gas.

Is it better to run the higher octane rated gas? or is it better to run non-alcohol gas?  We don't have the option of 92 non alcohol gas.  I'm soooooo confused.          

[Nic in Western NYS]

Okay,  I fuel up at Costco since it's 4 miles from the house and they have the best prices.  We have a choice of 87, 89 and 92 octane rating.  At least that is what is on the pump.  I use the 92 but it's the gasohol blend.  It's $.25 less per gallon than the 87 octane rated non-alcohol gas.  I'd rather have the higher octane rated gas than running a lower rated gas.

Is it better to run the higher octane rated gas? or is it better to run non-alcohol gas?  We don't have the option of 92 non alcohol gas.          

I'm in the same boat.  Wondered about whether to go for the non-ethanol 87 and add an octane booster. Chemists?

[oldbike54]

 OK , sorry . Short answer , if your engine need the octane , run the higher octane ethanol blend , if not , burn the straight stuff . Modern cars aren't effected by ethanol in any real way , older motorbikes are a different story .

 Dusty

[elvisboy77]

Read up on the difference in maintenance intervals for E10 and E85.  If that doesn't convince you to minimize your ethanol usage then go for it and save the money.

[Tom]

Okay.  Thanks for the non-answers.  E85 never heard of it.  You mean E15 Vs. E10.  I'll back up and add that for the older Tonti's.  SP1000, Strada and other carb bikes.  I go for the octane rating.  Not sure on a FI bike but I go for the octane rating too.   

[oldbike54]

 Thought we did answer .

 Dusty

[Tom]

Whatever........ 

[Gliderjohn]

E85 is 85% ethanol. Many cages in the last ten years or so can run it but it is not common at most gas stations. Don't try it in your Guzzi.
GliderJohn

[Tom]

E10 out here. 

[oldbike54]

OK , sorry . Short answer , if your engine need the octane , run the higher octane ethanol blend , if not , burn the straight stuff . Modern cars aren't effected by ethanol in any real way , older motorbikes are a different story .

 Dusty

 And I quote ...

 Dusty

[Idontwantapickle]

Okay,  I fuel up at Costco since it's 4 miles from the house and they have the best prices.  We have a choice of 87, 89 and 92 octane rating.  At least that is what is on the pump.  I use the 92 but it's the gasohol blend.  It's $.25 less per gallon than the 87 octane rated non-alcohol gas.  I'd rather have the higher octane rated gas than running a lower rated gas.

Is it better to run the higher octane rated gas? or is it better to run non-alcohol gas?  We don't have the option of 92 non alcohol gas.  I'm soooooo confused.          

Our Costco has no mid, only low and high both with ethanol. The straight gas sold near me is 90 octane. I use it in all the bikes and small engines, my new cars could care less about E10 or high octane so they get the cheap at Costco.
I have no issues with the 90 octane but if the only straight gas you can get is 87 then use the higher grade E10 gas.
Hunter

[Hymes Inc.]

I run ethanol blend in everything I have. As long as it doesn't sit for more then a few months I've never had an issue.

[Dofin]

In my Guzzi I run 91oct or higher E10 or pure and I always put StarTron in the tank.  Great stuff, I have been using it for 6 years, 1oz in 6 gals stabilizes E10 fuel or pure for 2 years.  It is not petroleum based some sort of enzyme concoction, cleans valves, carbs, fuel injectors etc.  If you shop around you can find if for about $6.50 for an 8 oz bottle up to $13 if you dont want to shop.

In my PC800 honda I can run 87oct (Carbs, 9.5-1 compression) but still run highest oct I can get at each stop with StarTron of course.

I store 50 gal of premium gas (with StarTron) a year at a time because I am in a hurricane zone.  Keep it for a year then use it over the winter, replacing it at the start of the spring.  I run it in all my stuff and have had no issues.

Just update the cost of StarTron, the 8 oz bottle that treats 48 gals can be had for around $6.50 but there is an 8 oz bottle that treats 125 gals for around $13.53.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ok, Tom.. your Centauro can run 87 without issue. The two valvers need higher octane.

[Nic in Western NYS]

In my Guzzi I run 91oct or higher E10 or pure and I always put StarTron in the tank.  Great stuff, I have been using it for 6 years, 1oz in 6 gals stabilizes E10 fuel or pure for 2 years.  It is not petroleum based some sort of enzyme concoction, cleans valves, carbs, fuel injectors etc.  If you shop around you can find if for about $6.50 for an 8 oz bottle up to $13 if you dont want to shop.

In my PC800 honda I can run 87oct (Carbs, 9.5-1 compression) but still run highest oct I can get at each stop with StarTron of course.

I store 50 gal of premium gas (with StarTron) a year at a time because I am in a hurricane zone.  Keep it for a year then use it over the winter, replacing it at the start of the spring.  I run it in all my stuff and have had no issues.

Just update the cost of StarTron, the 8 oz bottle that treats 48 gals can be had for around $6.50 but there is an 8 oz bottle that treats 125 gals for around $13.53.

Also using E10 premium.  I was turned on to StarTron by a true believer in it and have used it but without enough evidence to know if it works. I also use StaBil for winter storage.  From your post, the StaBil might be a waste.

[Sheepdog]

I'm no fan of ethanol laced fuels, but it seems to work somewhat okay with fuel injected machines that have a steel tank. However, if you use it with a carbureted machine, be certain to close your fuel tap whenever you turn it off (run the fuel out of the float bowl, too...if you have time). You will eventually have to replace or rebuild the tap, but at least it will minimize damage.

Also, be aware that that ethanol fuels don't have as much volatility as pure gasoline. The effect is that E10 runs about 3% leaner...E15 about 5%. If your machine is borderline lean, you may wish to enrichen your fuel system accordingly. On carburetor-equipped motors, turning in the air/fuel mixture screw a tad and raising the needle with a small washer will generally restore smooth running.

Pay particular attention to aluminum parts that come in contact with ethanol fuels (like carburetor bodies and float bowls). Ethanol is hygroscopic and the water that is absorbed will cause the aluminum to corrode, leaving an aluminum oxide residue. Aluminum oxide is the same substance that is used to make sandpaper abrasive...not a good thing for the passages in a precise fuel metering device.

[Tom]

Now that's some answers that make sense.  I use StarTron, Marvel Mystery Oil, Techron,  and Stabil also highest octane gas available.  I'm more concerned with the carb bikes.  The FI bikes seem to be okay.  Good answers guys.   

[Stevex]

We have a choice of 87, 89 and 92 octane rating.

Hmmm, is that what's available at most petrol stations in the US?
In UK we have either basic unleaded at 95 octane or super unleaded at 97-98 octane...or Shell's
V-Power Nitro+ at 99 octane.
Wouldn't like to run my Guzzi on the OP's available horse piss, although I guess you pay peanuts for
it compared to us.

[oldbike54]

Hmmm, is that what's available at most petrol stations in the US?
In UK we have either basic unleaded at 95 octane or super unleaded at 97-98 octane...or Shell's
V-Power Nitro+ at 99 octane.
Wouldn't like to run my Guzzi on the OP's available horse piss, although I guess you pay peanuts for
it compared to us.

 Different rating system . Your 95 would be about 88 here .

 Dusty

[redrider]

And because there is less energy per unit, it takes more units to do the same work. Another way of thinking is that it takes X amount of pure gasoline to do, say, 70 mph. Gasoline diluted 10% with ethanol now cannot maintain 70mph without increasing the amount of fuel delivered. You end up with about 20% less fuel mileage. E15 and 85 are even worse. 10% means 12.8 floz of ethanol in the total of 128 floz in a gallon. How is this saving anything? 

[Tom]

As per the original post, I'm looking for what is best for the engine.  Non-alcohol or gasohol.  Basically, octane rating vs. non-alcohol gas usage.  Octane rated gasoline in Hawaii is formulated for us out here vs. formulated for the other states.  Maybe a chemical engineer can delve into that. 

[redrider]

What octane does the manual suggest? The engine does not care from whence it comes. Some one else pointed out that ethanol actually raises octane rating. Makes sense if it is less volatile therefore burns slower than 87. Very handy with those big roomy hemi heads.

[Tom]

The older Guzzi's are recommended to have 95 or 97 octane premium gas. IIRC.  That was before the gas in the U.S. got reformulated/re-categorized to their current octane ratings.  Anyone can correct.

[oldbike54]

The older Guzzi's are recommended to have 95 or 97 octane premium gas. IIRC.  That was before the gas in the U.S. got reformulated/re-categorized to their current octane ratings.  Anyone can correct.

 Yes , and that is where the confusion lies . The old RON system , still used in Europe , gives a higher rating than the RON/MON average we use in the States , and Australia I think .
 Tom , don't overthink this , if your engines need the octane , run ethanol , just keep it fresh .

 Oh , and higher octane fuel doesn't burn slower , it is just harder to ignite . Actually , lower octane will make the same power in an engine that doesn't need higher octane .

 Dusty

[Tom]

So far the answers confirm what I was thinking with the exception of storage.  Thanks.

[derek533]

This may be just me, but I've never run ethanol blended fuels through any of my bikes. 

You can't beat the physics and math of non-ethanol vs. ethanol.  Ethanol mixed gas is not as good as non-ethanol period.  Octane rating and ethanol blend are mutually exclusive i.e. 91 ethanol is still not as quality gasoline as non-ethanol 87. 

My advice, run non-ethanol if you are able to do so in whatever octane is recommended for your engine.  It's not like it's cost prohibitive to do so either, as right here in OKC, non-ethanol is about $2.25/gallon while 10% ethanol blend is about $1.99.  Over a five gallon tank, that's a $1.25 difference so it's not going to break the bank to make sure you're running the absolute best you can.   Also, some of that small cost difference is actually reduced by the better mileage you'll get from non-ethanol. 

Watch this and think about your precious Guzzi and what you feed it.  I know he's pushing a product but the advice on ethanol itself is spot-on. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akAuevcHk-c

[oldbike54]

 Non ethanol in anything other than 87 is unavailable to Tom , thus the question . Better to deal with some side effects of ethanol than the effects of pre ignition .

 Dusty

[derek533]

Non ethanol in anything other than 87 is unavailable to Tom , thus the question . Better to deal with some side effects of ethanol than the effects of pre ignition .

 Dusty

Reading fail on my part.   

[oldbike54]

Reading fail on my part.   

 It's alright , I attended Oklahoma public schools also 

 Dusty

[Tom]

Yeah.....thanks Dusty.  If the option of non-alcohol 92 octane premium was available, I'd run that.