Mixed fuel? (10% ethanol or more?)

[Clark Kent]

Anyone have any problems running ethanol blended fuel in their bikes?

How about lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws etc?

Thanks, CK

 

[jasonhc73]

Anyone have any problems running ethanol blended fuel in their bikes?
How about lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws etc?

Thanks, CK

I just ran a tank full on the freeway, works fine. Also works fine in my lawn mower.

 

[Crash Cash]

I had it ruin the carburetor seals on an older chainsaw.

 

[TriggerT]

Here in IL, ALL fuel is a 10% mix, and has been for as long as I can remember. I have never had any problems with any cars, bikes, or tools.

 

[madmike2]

Here on IL, ALL fuel is a 10% mix, and has been for as long as I can remember. I have never had any problems with any cars, bikes, or tools.

Same in CA.

 

[FLHX]

Here on IL, ALL fuel is a 10% mix, and has been for as long as I can remember. I have never had any problems with any cars, bikes, or tools.

Same in CA.

It's reaking havoc on Marine fuel tanks and outboard motors though

 

[lnewlf]

Gradually ate the hoses on my Homelite and Wheel Horse- both 20 yrs old..The FJR runs fine on it but average mpg is about 2 lower..

 

[Bungie]

One thing I have noticed with blended fuels is that hard on throttle results in some detonation. Up here in Canada, theirs no price difference between blended and straight fuels, so the choice is obvious.

 

[HaulinAshe]

In race bikes the major side effect of Ethanol is reduced lubrication. Gasoline has some inherit lubrication qualities that alcohol does not. So we started adding roughly 1/2 oz. of two-stroke premix oil to each gallon of fuel. It has greatly reduced valve guide wear and top end failures.

 

[ShawnKing]

Here on IL, ALL fuel is a 10% mix, and has been for as long as I can remember. I have never had any problems with any cars, bikes, or tools.

Same in CA.

And here in New England/New York area.

 

[S76]

The worst thing I have heard about blended fuels is they are hard on 2 stroke motors in that they reduce the lubrication in the oil mix. Some manufacturers recomend using 89 octane because 87 has too much of one chemical and 91 has do much of another. This applies to oil/gas mix 2 sstroke machines.

For the regular 4 strokes while it does run leaner the biggest problem is storage. The gas turns to crap pretty fast and will either gunk up a carb over the winter months or it just won't start. I have installed plastic fuel line shut off valves on all of my power equipment. When I'm done using it I just shut off the valve and let the carb run out of fuel so it's empty, almost. No more headaches. Never had a problem in the bike. Fuel injection seems more forgiving.