Fuel Type - anyone use ethanol and any problems?

[ARtraveler]

When in doubt--follow the suggestions in the owners manual.

In real life--I have found that pretty much anything will work--and I have been forced to use pretty much anything a very few times.

When I have a choice--I use high test. In AK, that is 90 octane. The other choices are usually 87 and 88. I just prefer the 90 and IMO--my :ani29: is "peppier." This may just be a placebo effect for me. Others have stated theirs runs just fine on 87 or comparable.

Happy to say that AK is NOT a farming state where we have to support the corn grower. Our gas is ethanol free.

Now, what do you think about those oil choices? :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Just purchased a 2016 F3-t and the manual says high octane gas! My issue is I live in Minnesota and ALL gas here has ethanol in it at 10%. Does anyone use ethanol and any problems?

High octane does not mean no ethanol.

 

[papanorm]

I add a little Star Tron Enzyme Fuel treatment to every tank. Just a little extra peace of mind. Amazon carries it.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Denman]

Think about this for a moment...
Does your manual even BEGIN to mention ethanol?
Of course not!
The key component, is the octane rating, and nothing else.
Ethanol has been used in our fuel for a pretty long time, and it is probable that these bikes have been designed to handle it at the current 10% mix without issues.
Having said this: My bike gets almost a 10% increase in fuel economy, when I can find "pure" gas...
But I've never gone out of my way to look for it, and it has never been an issue.

 

[rustynail51]

ethanol does several things it helped eliminate lead, it provided a market for corn an abundant US product, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, and reduces emissions. Seems like a fairly go idea to me JMO.

 

[rcturner]

Just purchased a 2016 F3-t and the manual says high octane gas! My issue is I live in Minnesota and ALL gas here has ethanol in it at 10%. Does anyone use ethanol and any problems?

To a point, octane and ethanol are unrelated issues. Ethanol is OK except for storage times.

 

[dpetrick]

Non ethanol Gas

I live in Iowa, but ride a lot in Minnesota, since we are near the border. I have found Premium fuel with no alcohol at many stations. Some of the pumps have a label say this fuel is for off road vehicles and other vehicles not designed to run on ethanol such as classic and vintage cars, and motorcycles and ATVs and watercraft. BP station in Lakefield, MN has this fuel.
The 10% blend should not be a problem for any of the Spyders, unless not ridden for long enough periods to allow separation and water being absorbed. The manual for my 2009 RS indicates not to use fuel with more than 10% ethanol. We have run ethanol in cars for hundreds of thousands of miles, with no issues. Issues can occur when a vehicle is stored, or not used for weeks or months. Startron seems to be a good option in these cases.
Real issue is the newer blender pumps that are dispensing E10 and E15 (Some even E25) from the same hose, which can cause a higher ethanol content because of the remaining fuel in the hose.
Iowa subsidizes ethanol, so E10 is cheaper than regular. Stations in Spirit Lake offer E10, Regular and Premium non ethanol. Regular (non ethanol) is 20 to 30 cents higher than E10, per gallon.

 

[jaherbst]

Ethanol here in Arizona with no problemo's, however the exhaust smells a little bit like corn. :joke:

​Jack

 

[Michaelscs]

To a point, octane and ethanol are unrelated issues. Ethanol is OK except for storage times.

I agree with rcturner. As far as non-ethanol in MN goes, I've ridden my Syder, Cobra & snowmobiles all over MN and I can almost always find non-ethanol 91 octane. I will say the closest I've ridden to the OP is Marshal & New Ulm.

 

[kamper]

Gas

I live in Elkton SD and to get no ethenol you have to sneek over the border. High octain means more fun:yes::yes::yes:

 

[Highwayman2013]

ethanol does several things it helped eliminate lead, it provided a market for corn an abundant US product, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, and reduces emissions. Seems like a fairly go idea to me JMO.

Sorry, lead was eliminated from gasoline long before anyone thought of putting ethanol in. I also find that when I use non-ethanol gas my mpg's improve.

 

[2Paw]

Sorry, lead was eliminated from gasoline long before anyone thought of putting ethanol in. I also find that when I use non-ethanol gas my mpg's improve.

I have also found that my gas mileage improves when using non-ethanol gas. Last I checked I got an extra 25 miles a tank.

 

[WilderThomas]

Difference or Comparison

Farmers can sell there corn generally at a higher price to the Ethynol plant than at the elevator! My opinion of this law was to make the STOCK holder filthy rich!

Today, we have gas with ethanol. Some years ago we had a product called, gasahol. I'm wondering if there is any real difference?

 

[Bob Denman]

The difference?

Marketing! :thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

Just purchased a 2016 F3-t and the manual says high octane gas! My issue is I live in Minnesota and ALL gas here has ethanol in it at 10%. Does anyone use ethanol and any problems?

All vehicles that use Ethanol fuel have 'Issues'. You will get lower fuel mileage, less horse power, more water in your fuel, shorter storage time, it costs more (though you pay the difference in taxes instead of at the pump to hide the fact). Not to mention it takes more oil to make a gallon of ethanol than it takes to make a gallon of straight gasoline (the whole reason we are using Ethanol fuel in the 1st place).

To me, these are issues...

 

[Jeriatric]

Agree - Great Deal

No problems but I do add seafoam every other tankful...keeps things purring...hyea:

Me too, and anytime i'm not sure it's a top tier fuel that's going in the tank. Which happens often if you're not a freeway flyer.

 

[Firefly]

You can run it.. and also don't need to run the expensive higher octane.... it will run just fine on lower octane fuel.

 

[willey]

which gas should i use

if you were a new spyder owner and read these last 38 post you should be really confused.you should understand that a lot of guys have a big hat but no cattle.check out guys like firefly [ 100,000 k ]that is a lot of cattle or you could just read your manual.hope i didnt step on to meny toes.have a great day.

 

[Bob Denman]

You didn't... :thumbup:
"Read your manual", is always good advice. nojoke

The 1330s run a 12:1 compression ratio. They're designed to run on 91 octane,,,
But if it'll burn: they can use it!

 

[Jeriatric]

Beyond Starbucks - as Doug used to say

if you were a new spyder owner and read these last 38 post you should be really confused.you should understand that a lot of guys have a big hat but no cattle.check out guys like firefly [ 100,000 k ]that is a lot of cattle or you could just read your manual.hope i didnt step on to meny toes.have a great day.

You mean gallon riders?

:doorag:

You can only step on toes when they're not on pegs..........or boards. :roflblack: