Ethanol E10 Fuel

Tanabuso Posts : 80 Join date : 2016-08-29 Age : 37

Im sure the European folk here will have seen the news that in September this year, the standard petrol offered will be E10 fuel (currently E5), which as I understand will contain more ethanol than previous in the region of 5.5% - 10% content. Forecourts can still offer E5, but only where they can i.e. if they have the enough pumps. The guidance suggests that newer bikes will be unaffected, however, I am conscious of the plastic tank on the GRiSO. Moto Guzzi/Piaggio have thus far not completed the vehicle check in the link below, therefore I am wondering if this new blend of fuel is going to play havoc with the GRiSO?

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GRiSO Capo Posts : 449 Join date : 2016-12-20

That has been the situation in the Netherland for a while now. The solution: get the 'super' grade gas, particularly from brands that use 0% ethanol. The largest and most commonly available of these in the Western EU are BP Euro 98 and Shell V-power, both which currently contain 0% ethanol (these may contain up to 5%, but currently they don't). Don't know about the UK.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 889 Join date : 2014-06-05

In the US we’ve been dealing with this problem for a few years. Try to avoid ethanol fuel as much as possible. When you can’t avoid it, don’t let your bike sit idle for more than a few days, or the plastic will begin to deform/swell. Drain the tank if the bike must sit idle for longer than a week.
Some people have reported success with epoxy tank linings like the one linked below. I haven’t found it necessary yet. There are also people who have reported failures of these linings.

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GRiSO Capo Posts : 726 Join date : 2014-10-07 Age : 67

I always get the premium grade.

Don Abbondio Posts : 5143 Join date : 2014-03-13 Age : 66

Premium for the bike, whatever for the tin top (usually no ethanol, who knows how long that lasts).

Carlotto Posts : 40 Join date : 2020-06-13

This is interesting, because these days my most required petrol station, Esso, is no longer offering E10. The petrol station belongs to Audi/Volkswagen/Porsche and they had so much problems with the cars refering to Ethanol.
The best petrol in Germany is ARAL ultimate 102 Oktan, the company belongs to BP and also TOTAL excellium.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 428 Join date : 2015-01-13 Age : 64

My tank swelled in the first year in Texas. Couldn’t find non ethanol anywhere. I am a weekend rider so the bike would sit all week. Ended up coating a new to me, used tank, with the expoxy that LBC posted.
Stay away from e10 if you can.

Grignapoco Posts : 172 Join date : 2016-09-09

In most parts of the UK Esso Super/ Supreme has zero ethanol.

Tanabuso Posts : 82 Join date : 2019-02-17 Age : 43

Keeping the fuel level low, evacuating the tank completely if it's going to sit for any length of time, and allowing the tank to sit over the winter empty will greatly mitigate the issue. You'll still have some minor distortion, but shouldn't have issues removing/reinstalling the tank. A properly applied coating would seem to be the best overall option.

Carlotto Posts : 40 Join date : 2020-06-13

I also keep the level low, when i'm not driving.

Maybe someone are an expert in chemics - the ARAL ultimate 102 has got (data sheet) nearly no Ethanol (0,26 %), but 12,9% Ethyl-Tertiär-Butyl-Ether. What is this?

GRiSO Capo Posts : 726 Join date : 2014-10-07 Age : 67

eeyore wrote:: In most parts of the UK Esso Super/ Supreme has zero ethanol.

Thank you for contacting Esso Customer Care.

In certain regions of the UK, fuel terminals that are owned and operated by third parties may choose to blend ethanol in UL97 or UL99 grades in order to meet their own biofuel obligations.

In those regions it makes sense for us to source fuel from the third party terminals, rather than transport fuel hundreds of miles from our own terminals. Our own special blend of additives is added to the fuel to ensure it performs to Esso’s high standards, but it would not be practical or economic to remove the biofuel content.

Currently, where terminals are wholly owned and operated by Esso, Supreme+ Unleaded grades remain ethanol free.

etc etc

GRiSO Capo Posts : 306 Join date : 2019-08-17 Age : 67

BigTime wrote:: I also keep the level low, when i'm not driving.

Maybe someone are an expert in chemics - the ARAL ultimate 102 has got (data sheet) nearly no Ethanol (0,26 %), but 12,9% Ethyl-Tertiär-Butyl-Ether. What is this?

MTBE is what we had before ethanol. It's a know carcinogen and doesn't bring as much oxygen to the party, so it meeting emission requirements is harder.

What I don't understand, is that we've had ethanol in the USA since the mid 1970's. Why did MG bring in bikes with fuel tanks that react to it? Not a good idea IMO.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 889 Join date : 2014-06-05

It’s the same crackerjack team that gave us DLC tappets. I hope they have learned from these mistakes, but I wouldn’t bet on it. To be fair though I’ve heard some of the Ducati tanks are even worse.