I can't even find a gas pump in my area without a sticker similar to the one you described, so all my fuel "may contain up to 10% ethanol".  I'm no expert but my gut feeling (and from what I've seen so far) is that if it's operated regularly, it's not going to be too much of an issue.  I just wish they would tell us exactly what the percentage is so we could make informed decisions and also to enable us to gauge fuel mileage better.  In any case, fuel stabilizers like Sta-Bil (the marine formulation is better) and Star-Tron are designed to help with this but add cost and are not convenient to carry around.  I add a fuel stabilizer to my 5-gallon gas can's contents because that's used for lawn equipment and may sit for longer periods.  I think/feel/hope that running my bike often enough will keep me from having any such issues with it.  If you anticipate going for an extended period without riding, I'd suggest adding fuel stabilizer to your tank and riding it around the block a couple times before parking it.  That way you have treated fuel throughout the system.

Yeah, like we're all using an additive in all our E10 burners !
Be serious,.....I hope you don't fall for that BS.

The old "HEET" fuel aditive was alcohol, and adding 10% ethanol adds 2 octane points to your gas.  The real problem with alcohol is when you add it to a fuel tank that has old gas or varnish.  It does a great job of breaking it loose, just to plug the fuel filter and carb down stream.

I believe that the ethanol causes most of its damage when it sit in fuel for any amount of time.

I have been an active anti-ethanol guy for years.  The 10% ethanol fuel is not a problem in cars or motorcyles that are driven regularly and the fuel is used up frequently.  In equipment that sits for extended periods it can be very destructive.  Chain saws, tillers, generators or anything that could sit for months without using up the fuel has the potential for damage.  How fast the fuel goes bad is open for debate and would depend on the humidity, temperature swings, inside/outside storage, etc.  My Stihl chainsaw manual recommends that you drain the tank and run the engine out of fuel if it will be stored for more than 2 months.

Bottom line for me is......my regular drivers get ethanol tainted pump gas at every fill up and it doesn't cause any problems.  My lawn equipment gets ethanol free fuel that I drive an hour to get and buy in a 55 gallon drum that lasts me all year.  I also use ethanol free fuel in my Trials motorcycle, as the ethanol fuel swells the nylon fuel tank and makes it soft and squishy!

Quote:
In equipment that sits for extended periods it can be very destructive.  Chain saws, tillers, generators or anything that could sit for months without using up the fuel has the potential for damage.
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Prove it !
I have proved just the opposite,....posted pics here of the inside of a carb bowl that has been burning E10 for 4 yrs, and that sets all winter long, and it was spotless.

I've just been using a small 2 stroke tiller that not only set every winter, but is now running on last years 40:1 E10,......it still start on the 2nd pull and runs perfect.
But, believe what you want to, and do whatever work I guess.

Drifter wrote on 07/14/12 at 07:27:29:



+1, I've done 3 tank MPG comparisons (E10 -vs- clear 92) and have gotten 10% (or more) better MPG EVERY time with clear gas on 3 different bikes. I usually run E10 all summer because clear gas costs more than 10% more $$$ than E10 here. But I start filling with clear gas when winter starts so I don't have to worry about adding stabilizers, I still ride most of the winter, just not as much.

For anyone interested, do a search for "clear gas" in your area, you'll probably be able to find more than you think. Here, the law says it's only for watercraft, off road vehicles, etc, but the actual attendants have no problem putting it in your car or MC.