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564
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5/3/2013
Location
Fresno, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
10/29/2013 10:58am
Just curious, but do you guys know much about the ethanol they sell at the pumps in Iowa (and I'm assuming other places)? Does it work well for mx? What is the octane? Just curious.
"Ethanol can be good if the engine was origianlly designed for it (valves, fuel system).
No MX bike today is designed for more than ~10% (typical pumps today). The 15~20%E is what's next. Beware of this!!!
Ethanol has a higher octane rating and cools the charge more than gas. It means up the compression ratio for more power and better use of fuel.
The problem is the energy density is about 25% lower than gasoline at the same compression ratio (set by gasoline). Meaning...worse fuel economy.
So, if you can find E0 (no ethanol blended) than buy it."
The Shop
Also there is less BTU's in the stuff. We also are subsidizing this inferior fuel.
http://pure-gas.org/
This past spring i broke out a farm bike which had been sitting over the winter, about 4 or 5 months. Wouldnt start, took the float bowl off and in the bottom of the bowl and stuck in the jets was a clear/white jelly looking stuff. Ive never seen that before. I dont know if that was jelled ethanol or what.
The past 5 or 6 times Ive filled the tank on a couple of my pickups Ive been pumping the non ethanol 92 octane stuff. I might be getting 5% better gas mileage in one pu while the other is basically getting the same mileage. Neither runs any different. Ive concluded its not really worth the extra 60-75 cents per gallon.
I do run the non ethanol stuff in my boat as ethanol attracts moisture. I like to think it helps my mx bike perform better but I dont know. Also Ive switched over to non eth. in anything that might sit for awhile, like generators, motorcycles etc..
Within the past month my usual Missouri station have switched all pumps to ethanol blend only.
From Pure-gas:
5 Pure Gas Stations in California
September 2013
The US Department Of Energy (DOE) released a study conducted by Michigan Technological University which was designed to evaluate the effects of E-15 fuel on current and legacy snowmobile engines and vehicles. Three test scenarios were conducted to evaluate the impact of E-15 including cold-start performance and emissions; snowmobile drivability; and laboratory exhaust emissions over the useful life of the engine. Eight engines were tested over a two year period. The vehicles were tested in the laboratory and on the trail in real life driving conditions.
The conclusion of the testing by the DOE is that E-15 fuel is NOT approved for snowmobile use. Observations made during the study support the US EPA’s decision to NOT APPROVE E-15 fuel for snowmobiles.
The testing was conducted since E-15 fuel is being introduced into the marketplace and is viewed by some as an important fuel enabling the United States to achieve the goals of the Reformulated Fuel Standard passed by the US Congress.
Ethanol is being produced throughout the United States. Ethanol producers use corn, switch grass, and other related plant products in the production of ethanol. It is the directive of the present administration that 13.8 Billion Gallons of ethanol be produced and distributed in the marketplace. The goal is challenging because US Gasoline consumption is declining rapidly.
Since it appears the E-15 fuel will be made more readily available throughout the United States, it is important that owners of snowmobiles and of other gas-powered products realize that E-15 fuel may impact on the various engines.
The 69 page study highlights that one of the key issues related to snowmobiles is that exhaust gas temperatures and muffler exit temperature consistently increase with the use of E-15 fuel. The increased temperatures range from 15 to 40 percent, depending on the vehicle. This rise in temperature occurs because of the leaner air – fuel mixture.
Since it has been recommended that E-15 not be approved for snowmobile use by the EPA, there is concern in the marketplace that mis-fueling of snowmobiles can occur. Recent surveys show that approximately 50% of all Americans fill up their portable gas tank or vehicles that they are towing with the same fuel used to fill their tow vehicle (car or truck). Also approximately 2/3 of all Americans say that they assume that any gas sold at a gas station is safe for all of their vehicles – including snowmobiles, generators, boats, etc. Approximately 50% of Americans check the fuel pumps for warning labels when filling up their vehicles.
With various fuels entering the marketplace, it is more important than ever that customers carefully read any and all labels on gas dispensing pumps and understand the guidance messages placed on those pumps.
It should be noted that E-85 fuel has been available in the marketplace for many years. E-85 is a blend of fuel which is designed to be used in flex-fuel equipped cars and trucks only. E-85 is 85% ethanol. It should NOT be confused with E-15 which is 15% ethanol. E-10 fuel is 10% ethanol and has been available and used throughout the United States for years and is approved for snowmobile use.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE TESTING BY THE DOE IS THAT E-15 FUEL IS NOT APPROVED FOR SNOWMOBILE USE.
The complete study is available online at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/60115.pdf. f.
Last Wednesday the non ethanol 91 or 92 octane stuff was $4.18/gallon. If i remember right the blended gas was 3.44 or there-abouts. Pumping 15 gallons into my pu costs $11 more or 22% more....I'm not getting 22% better fuel economy with the straight gas
The fuel companies have quotas they have to meet each year in how much ethanol as a percentage of all fuel sold they have to meet. Last winter there were a few Conoco stations in town advertising non-ethanol gas and it was maybe 10 cents per gallon more if i remember right. They sold it for a couple/few months then it went away. When i would ask the clerks behind the counter inside the conoco gas/convenience store why they were not selling it anymore, they of course were clueless as to why.
I suppose once the gas companies meet their ethanol quota its a matter of figuring out whether its financially more profitable to sell straight gas or a gas/ethanol blend.
You people who hate the ethanol mandate should look no further then your farmer pals in the midwest. 40% of the corn acreage in this country goes in your gas tank.
21 gallons of Premium w/ ethanol = $73.29 and goes 336 miles.
21 gallons of Premium w/out ethanol = $77.49 to go 388 miles.
So it costs $4.20 to go an extra 52 miles.
To go the extra 52 miles at 16mpg on ethanol gas, I'd have to buy another 3.25 gallons at $3.49, which equals $11.34.
So, in short, I'm saving $7.14 each fill up by buying non-ethanol gas.
I doubt I'd buy it with the huge gap in cost you have though. $4.18 is ridiculous. What happened to the $0.99/gal days?? Oh yeah, that was the 90s. lol
If you are in northern states treat every ounce of gas you get from October- April on with Star-Tron, it's the only thing I've seen work well enough to recommend.
(sarcasm, just in case you didn't catch it) can't find "pure gas anywhere near us anymore so I now run a 50/50 on race fuel and 93. I tried to run one of our bikes on straight 93 on a long trip over the winter and it ran like crap. stopped at a local shop that had race fuel mixed it 50/50 and bike ran fine again.
Pit Row
Corn tears up your dog like it tears up your engine.
We always buy from the same station which is only a chip and putt away from my shop.
im sure others have had problems, but over here, ive yet to experience ANY of these claims.
to answer you thread topic question: i dont think its GOOD for engines, but i dont think its as evil as "internet experts" make it out to be.
also, i had a cr 250 last year that liked to knock and detonate when i was running ethanol gas. when i lived in PA i could find 100% gasoline, and when i did, it ran fine.
i was told that the 10%E mix has a harder time mixing with pre-mix... any truth to that?
in my harley, and my FE 450 i havent had any issues.
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