fuel

[nmaineron]

What are you running for fuel? With the non ethanol fuel now, most of the stations are substituting the high octane with the non ethanol. I have always run the highest octane available at the pump. Here 93 is tops with most having 91 and with them both replaced with the non ethanol , leaves 89 or 90 available.

[RooDog]

What's the question here?
All pump gas was ethanol free until just a few years ago when some brain child figured he could save the world by cutting our fuel with alcohols up to about 15% when it begins to separate from the petro fuel bases. And then it was discovered that the crops grown to create the fuel additives were raping the soil, not to mention the energy, time, and money costs involved making the stuff. So now some other brain giants want to remove the alky from the fuel, while others want to increase the percentages. WTF?
In the meantime we, you and I are just tryin' to keep our machines running the best we can.
Snake oil fuel additives may be the answer, just add 'em to your tank with each fill-up and ride merrily down the road til the next brain storm comes along.....
I may be wrong about all this, but I ain't sweating it.....
....RooDog....

[awander]

I use the cheapest gas (I think it's 87 octane?) and it works fine.

These motors were developed when the available gasoline was really lousy.

[nmaineron]

I know the story, I'm just wondering which pump to pull up to.

[RooDog]

Let your cam and compression combination tell you what fuel to use....

[bobphd]

I too use the cheapest gas available except for the very high ethanol e85 blend in both 61 and 74 and even on occasion n my wife’s twin cam new bike and have never had a problem with it. I nor she is a “ hot rodder “ though and I do add stabil before winter storage.
Bob

[chop1543]

I was under the impression that ethanol-added fuel was not a good thing to have if using any kind of rubber as a gas line sealant. I'm thinking panhead gas lines here, when they were switched from flared tubes and compression fittings to rubber sleeves that went over the line and were compressed with a straight threaded nut. Where I live lots of stations offer non-ethanol 90 octane fuel, which is what I use in all my bikes, old and new. I do also used Sta-Bil in the winter and I occasionally throw about an ounce of Marvel Mystery Oil in the tank when I fill up, but that's just for added top-end lubrication.

[Mongrel505558]

What's the question here?
All pump gas was ethanol free until just a few years ago when some brain child figured he could save the world by cutting our fuel with alcohols up to about 15% when it begins to separate from the petro fuel bases. And then it was discovered that the crops grown to create the fuel additives were raping the soil, not to mention the energy, time, and money costs involved making the stuff. So now some other brain giants want to remove the alky from the fuel, while others want to increase the percentages. WTF?
In the meantime we, you and I are just tryin' to keep our machines running the best we can.
Snake oil fuel additives may be the answer, just add 'em to your tank with each fill-up and ride merrily down the road til the next brain storm comes along.....
I may be wrong about all this, but I ain't sweating it.....
....RooDog....

It also takes more BTU's to make ethanol than it provides as a fuel additive. So if anyone is worried about the net carbon footprint, ethanol is a losing proposition. I think compression ratio is the overall determining factor for what octane to use. Use whatever doesn't cause knock or preignition.

[awander]

My gas lines use the rubber seals, and I've never had a problem with them, using the E10 blend.

[Panacea]

The non ethanol fuel is supposed to remain stable for a much longer time without turning into the green gunk you see in gummed up carburetors. I think the ethanol eventually turns back into corn....

[chop1543]

My gas lines use the rubber seals, and I've never had a problem with them, using the E10 blend.

So I could be wrong about ethanol eating rubber....but I had to stop using it in stuff like garden equipment (chain saw, leaf blower, trimmer) because whatever was in the ethanol gas ate the fuel tubes in the gas tanks.

[Mongrel505558]

My gas lines use the rubber seals, and I've never had a problem with them, using the E10 blend.

So I could be wrong about ethanol eating rubber....but I had to stop using it in stuff like garden equipment (chain saw, leaf blower, trimmer) because whatever was in the ethanol gas ate the fuel tubes in the gas tanks.

I live near the coast so I know quite a few boat owners and they all hate the stuff. Especially the ones with fiberglass hulls with molded glass fuel tanks. Eats the resin or something and trashes the tank.

[RooDog]

My gas lines use the rubber seals, and I've never had a problem with them, using the E10 blend.

So I could be wrong about ethanol eating rubber....but I had to stop using it in stuff like garden equipment (chain saw, leaf blower, trimmer) because whatever was in the ethanol gas ate the fuel tubes in the gas tanks.

I live near the coast so I know quite a few boat owners and they all hate the stuff. Especially the ones with fiberglass hulls with molded glass fuel tanks. Eats the resin or something and trashes the tank.

I guess when you're buying fuel at the boat dock you have no choice. 'Round her, one can still buy "100% Pure Gasoline", but I wonder how long that will last. I buy that stuff for my lawn mower and emergency generator, and add Sta-Bil to both. So far no fuel related problems with either, but I use commercial pump gas, 93 octane, or what ever it is, in my scooters with no additives....

[RUBONE]

I run regular pump gas in all my old junk motorcycles (and the modern ones too) with zero issues. Perhaps our fuel is better out here, but I never have any issues. And my UL still has the original NOS cork float I put in it in 1977. I hate Seafoam and most of those other crappy additives. I spend more time cleaning shit up after people use those than any fuel issues.

[RooDog]

Amen to the SeaFoam.
But there is a big difference between a 7:1 flatty and 100 inch Evo, a small motor by today's standards, with 215 # cranking compression, no?