The problem is with the Ethanol being added to all pump gasoline. Ethanol is Alcohol from Corn and it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere which in time will settle at the bottom of your tank and get sucked in by the fuel pump. Since it's heavier than gas, it stays in your tank & pump and some water is always present unless you can get it to mix and burn with the fuel. With the water present, the bike won't start or it will run like crap. RXP mixes with the water & fuel and burns it. It only costs $7 at our local Auto Parts store and is the best stuff out there. It's has fixed 90% of the driveability problems that I have recommended people to. Try it; it won't hurt I promise.

 

Have also heard that ethanol may have an effect on "O" rings but don't know if this is true or not.

gammac

 

Yeah, I absolutely will not use gas with ethanol in my 14. I hope they never start putting it in all gasolines, that would suck.

 

everything that comes in conctact with that fuel has to be compatible for etanol and gasoline... these genius's that are using etanol in thier cars that are not capable of running it... its messing up all fuel lines, o rings, and various fuel injection parts.... dont do it!!! they better not put that crap in all gasoline.

 

+1....

 

don't know about your area - but essentiall ALL gasolene has ethonal in it now - they eliminated the use of the previous stabilizer because it was leaching in to ground water and is highly toxic. ethonal is the new standard and it was a year or so ago that all the gas statiosn had to empty tanks and clean em out for thw switch over because the ethonal would strip the scum off the walls of the tanks and feed it into the cars.

"fuel line antifreeze" is ethonal

running pure ethonal requires a very specific setup fuel system because ethonal by itself is highly corrosive, does not lubricate the fuel pump and disolves some rubbers (o-rings) but when combined in small quantities with gasoline it is almost harmless and infact helps with condensation in the fuel tank by combining with the moisture to make it actually burn (think rubbing alchohal whic is usually 70% water)

the problem with it comes when the gasolene gets too old and the ethonal in it has obsorbed too much water -

 

Most of the premium blends around here are still ethanol free. I dont run it typically because ethanol itself only has 60% of the available btu's unleaded gasoline has...Loss of power! Looking at a 10% ethanol blend you're down to 96% available power.

As far as the corrosion properties go, ethanol by itself is extremely corrosive to rubbers and some metals. However the additives and inhibitors the industry used in the "Gasohol" from the 70's and 80's are the ones to blame for the bad press regarding ethanol blended fuels. The modern inhibitors and additives have virtually negated the corrosive nature of ethanol when blended with fuels.

As long as the fuel is fairly fresh you should have no issues other than loss of power. As mentioned by previous posters "old" ethanol fuel will absorb moisture and the additives/inhibitors do degrade over time as well.
Regards,
Bert

 

Well at some servos here we still have a choice Premium 98 octane Premium 10% ethanol 95 and Unleaded 10% ethanol.

I use 98 whenever possible.

gammac

 

Lol ethanol .. that's moonshine!

 

Never had a problem with it.

If by some mischance you do have issues with enough water pooling in your tank to cause problems, it's because you don't ride enough. lol

Rob