ethanol question

[big blue]

Hi guys,I'm pretty close to buying a1983 1100. Will there be a fuel system(hoses,gaskets,jets. etc) problem with this 10% ethanol crap in the the gas on these older bikes? Thanks

 

[dan filipi]

I haven't noticed any problems after 20k miles on mine in the last 2-3 years.

I rebuilt the carbs with new seals shortly after I bought it but problems I found were mostly due to heat and age hardening the seals.

I'm not an expert on the subject but I think there is a lot of myth flying around about ethanol doing more harm than it actually does. 10% anyway.

 

[AApple]

Welcome to the CGW Forums, big blue!! :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:
I haven't had an issues that I'm aware of either. I do know that ethanol will eventually damage the rubber fuel lines, unless they have already been replaced. I've replaced mine, due to one of them being old, and dry rotted, but I couldn't say it was 100% related to the fuel....just mostly old.
I haven't done anything to my carbs...yet. :mrgreen:

 

[big blue]

Thanks guys for the replies. The man that I'm buying the wing from says he stays away from ethanol laced gas and buys from Shell.

 

[joedrum]

well hes smart to do that if you can ....a lot of people have no choice it there ....i'd run atf in the gas 8oz per tank to combat the alcohol crap from screwing the carbs up and boosting its power per gallon :mrgreen:

 

[sledge]

I try to only use the Ammoco High Test , well it's BP now ...but anyway it's the Clear Gas . I have been running it in every bike I have had for many years with no problem at all.

 

[slabghost]

Ethanol is an extender in gas kind of like watering down the booze. It reduces the power output of the fuel and the mileage of the machine. No real damage to seals and lines though until the percentage of ethanol approaches 50% I've read. racing motors running near pure alcohol with the big bang additives will absolutely eat up hoses and seals.

 

[big blue]

well hes smart to do that if you can ....a lot of people have no choice it there ....i'd run atf in the gas 8oz per tank to combat the alcohol crap from screwing the carbs up and boosting its power per gallon :mrgreen:

Joe....the "atf" that you referring to,is that automatic trans. fluid ?

 

[joedrum]

yes :mrgreen:

 

[mcgovern61]

well hes smart to do that if you can ....a lot of people have no choice it there ....i'd run atf in the gas 8oz per tank to combat the alcohol crap from screwing the carbs up and boosting its power per gallon :mrgreen:

Joe....the "atf" that you referring to,is that automatic trans. fluid ?

Here we go again Joe! You are going to have to do a single simple write up on the ATF and we have to make it a sticky!

 

[joedrum]

well gerry iguess im not sure what all that means but lately ive had my hands into the carb racks from 1000 and 1100 and sure easy to see how they can be such a problem with the gas today ....the outcome of carbs leaking down into the motor is proably the worst thig that happens to these almost bullet proof motors ...it dosnt matter what one use to replace the heavy oil content has been taken out of the gas let alone the ethanol and its discounts and it might be true that in almost all situlations its not much of a theat .....that dosnt include wings as i think this is the biggest threat to old wings health ...and over the years its only gotten bigger as they keep making the gas less and less a decent product for old wings.... :mrgreen:

 

[OldWrench]

Hi guys,I'm pretty close to buying a1983 1100.

Welcome, go for it they are great bikes. I have an 83 and just love it. Mine only had 192000 on it and still has good compression, just getting broke in. :grin:

 

[Dave]

It might be worth checking what the definition of petrol is in your country, in Oz it's '100 % hydrocarbons derived primarally from dististilled crude oil and containing not more than 15% prepsol, 15% ethanol, 10% kerosene, 5% benzine and thats just the big ones. There is a lot more on the list which if all combined add up to well over 100%. We have basic ULP (Un Leaded Petrol) of 91 octaine which would be 89 if measured the US way and we have 10% Ethanol 91 ULP which pulls 2c less tax, of course we also have 95 and 98 as well all containing up to 15% Ethanol that they don't have to tell us about making the E10 ULP in reality as high as 25% Ethanol.
When you buy new fuel hose off the roll at a specialist hose supplier they should ask "petrol or deisel" if they don't it is the old stuff and will not handle more than 10% Ethanol.
The cars that we export to Mexico (Chev Lumina) and the US (Chev Monaro???) and Germany (Opal Monaro) have a differant part number for the fuel lines than the local market GM Holden Commodore and Monaro with the same engines and I don't belive it has anything to do with the steering wheel being on the other side or the speedo being MPH instead of KPH ours don't have cig lighters either but I think the Mexico cars do :!: