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Message started by raydawg on 07/28/13 at 15:46:12

Title: Is it worth it?
Post by raydawg on 07/28/13 at 15:46:12

Was turned onto a local station (here on the island) where they have an ethanol free product at one pump. He said it made a BIG difference in his Harley....it's 420 a gallon, bout a buck more than the corn. I just tanked up, but I haven't ran far enuff to be sure I'm burning the real juice yet.... anybody have any input into this fuel in our bikes, pro or con?
On a different note, I have about 300 miles on my Rottella dino, I am pretty sure my bike is quieter, like it coats the metal better, and it seems to run cooler if the "after ticking" (when you shut the bike off) is any indicator. It shifts fine and sure with absolutely no clutch slip. I give this oil a BIG thumbs up!

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by WD on 07/28/13 at 15:52:46

Yes, real fuel is worth it. Only a few cents higher where I live, worth every penny in bikes, small engines, my Ranger, the C10, the C60 bucket truck and the old John Deere 1020UL gas burner.

My 98 Ranger with over 208K miles on it gets 21-23 mpg on blended gas, well over 30 on straight gas. I got close to 160 miles out of a 5 gallon can.

My Savage on blended fuel, pre-apehangers, got in the high 50s, on straight gas it got in the mid 70s miles per gallon. With the apehangers, 36 mpg on blended, 42 on straight gas.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by Charon on 07/28/13 at 16:34:18

I have tried to measure the difference between E-10 and "pure gas." I have been unable to measure a difference. If anyone wants to play with the numbers, click on my signature. I have marked the fuel "E-10" when I have been sure it is indeed E-10. When the pump is marked something like "May contain up to 10% ethanol" I leave the tag line blank. If the Notes say I fuelled pretty much anywhere in Nebraska, and the tag line is blank, it is "pure gas." Bear in mind that the tag is for the present fuel-up. The next fuel-up will show the results with E-10 or "pure gas." Also bear in mind that a tank with one fuel type will be a blend of the last fuel-up and the present one. Lotsa luck trying to find a statistically meaningful difference.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by ToesNose on 07/28/13 at 16:34:37

I've read that in smaller engines it can make a big difference in the longevity of the engine with fewer problems, but first hand I can't say either way. :-/

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by apache snow on 07/28/13 at 17:01:30

Since ethanol is 75% less energy than pure gas and there is only 10% added the most you would see drop in mpg would maybe be 3%.

And you will vary 3% with difference in temps and more or less stops and slow downs due to traffic.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by HondaLavis on 07/28/13 at 22:19:43

Here's a good read: http://zfacts.com/p/436.html

Basically, gallon for gallon ethanol has 2/3 the amount of energy as pure gasoline. Also, ethanol holds up to 22% of it's weight in water. Between the energy reduction and the potential added water, you can see your fuel efficiency drop an easy couple of MPG.

If I had pure dino juice around here, I'd buy it every chance I got.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by Pine on 07/29/13 at 11:33:50

I use to hunt down "pure' gas.. but not anymore. Yes the bike runs better with it, but the really big difference is just CLEAN fresh gas. The local station near me, got sold and re-opened. Officials made them drain the tanks... man fresh gas don't stink like crap dirty old watered down gas. Plus I got burned on a "pure" gas station when they sold me a tank of something bad.

Sooner or later this station will be like all the others. Then I suspect I will look for "busy" gas station where the tanks are turning over their contents more quickly... as long as its not a Walmart.

Other odd ball thing... ethanol is not always cheap... If I were willing to drive about 20 miles one way I could get pure gas and pay the same or LESS than blended stuff.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/29/13 at 12:08:30

Then GO,, fill up & Haul some home...

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by Steve H on 07/29/13 at 15:43:24

I guess we're lucky around here. About half of the stations have pure gas. Not hard to find at all. It does seem to run better with it and doesn't seem to run quite as hot either. Although I really haven't checked the mileage, it does seeem to go farther on pure dino juice.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by chiguy on 07/29/13 at 16:28:30

Quote:

In the same marketing region, I would expect that both gasoline labelled as E-10 or "may contain up to 10% ethanol" are likely to contain ethanol. So that might be why you don't see a difference. The tax credit for ethanol (among other legislative reasons, Google "renewable fuel standard") provide a good incentive generally to put ethanol into the final fuel. There has been much talk of late of increasing ethanol in gasoline to 15%, despite data that shows damage to some cars and small engines at the higher levels.

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by raydawg on 07/29/13 at 16:29:59

Ok....the skinny of my burn. I can say without a doubt my bike runs better. I can go 65 with a lot of twist still in reserve, and my mileage has jumped considerably. I had clocked a 100 since yesterday, my normal refueling stop, went back to the real burn pump, and much to my surprise I could only squeeze in a gallon :o
That is a normal 1.7 or so fill up. Not sure whats up, but it seems the BF'ing is not as much....
I think I'll keep with it and report my exact MPG after a few more fills.
BTW, got my new Metzler on the rear, WOW is all I can say, what a better feel :)

Title: Re: Is it worth it?
Post by Boofer on 07/29/13 at 21:24:09

I've been dodging ethanol gas for awhile, now. I haul mower, chainsaw, and weed eater gas from non-ethanol stations. But I run anything in the Savage as long as it's good stuff with the exceotion of times when it will be parked a while. At most places around here the difference in price is supposed to be a wash between the low price of ethanol and the better mileage of non-ethanol. I messed up and put in some ethanol Shell from my usual place before surgery. After about six weeks with a half tank I took her out and got some actual carb backfire. I knew immediately what it was and tooled on home. I can see my fuel filter while riding, and it was completely black for the first time in two years. New filter, new fuel line (5/16') and fresh gas set her right. Took her up to 85 just for fun. She's baaack. (I put the bad gas in my truck)