Best gas for an older bike?

Forum Sponsor
Ed In Misis wrongiissauga said:
Most bikes won't have any issues running with gas that contains ethanol as long as you use the appropriate octane recommendation which will usually be 87. If you find that it runs better on the Shell 91 that doesn't contain ethanol then by all means keep using that.

Where ethanol will be detrimental are cases where the gas sits for a while. Ethanol has a short shelf life and will start gumming up way before regular gas will. As a result, don't use gas that contains ethanol if that tank will sit around for anything longer than a few weeks. If you have a jerry can of gas for your lawn mower, snow blower or whatever... fill it up with the non-ethanol gas and use stabilizer. At the end of the season, run non-ethanol for the last couple of tank fulls and use stabilizer... especially if you don't drain your carbs.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but this is wrong. Ethanol blends attack older carb components, they were not designed for 10 percent ethanol, the octane rating is not relevant. Avoid ethanol blends.
 
Just to add...the problem with ethanol is that it can absorb water, and this will corrode any steel components. Also if the bike has cork gaskets, they will degrade. Avoid it for any storage or if the bike isnt used daily.
Ive seen carb issues on 80s to 90s era carbs from ethanol use, and most bikes just run better on pure gasoline.
 
CafeRay said:
Sorry, but this is wrong. Ethanol blends attack older carb components, they were not designed for 10 percent ethanol, the octane rating is not relevant. Avoid ethanol blends.
Click to expand...

So if you have an older bike, you can't use any other gas? Are you going to go somewhere and run out of gas, sit on the side of the road because you couldn't get to a Shell? Most people run their bikes just fine on ethanol blends. Ethanol can harden older rubber parts like gaskets and o-rings, but usually the parts are old enough that they would be due for replacement anyway. Your carbs are not going to melt down into a puddle of goo because the ethanol "attacked" your carbs. Temper what you read on the internet with some common sense.
 
CafeRay said:
Just to add...the problem with ethanol is that it can absorb water, and this will corrode any steel components. Also if the bike has cork gaskets, they will degrade. Avoid it for any storage or if the bike isnt used daily.
Ive seen carb issues on 80s to 90s era carbs from ethanol use, and most bikes just run better on pure gasoline.
Click to expand...

This part is correct and ethanol will absorb water which will cause issues when it just sits around for anything more than a few weeks.
 
I think the main problem is that I stored the bike with fuel with 10% ethanol. That is months of sitting. Next off season will be Shell 91 V-Power with no ethanol.

Just the same I filled up with Shell V-Power and am about half way through the tank. Not sure if it is the fuel or not but the bike sure seems to be running better. It starts easier and seems more responsive. Over the course of a season what is this going to cost me? $30-$40? Certainly not a deal breaker. If I had to fuel up elsewhere I would but I am going out of my way to use Shell V-Power 91 from now on.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom