10% alcohol or not?


Ran it for over 12,000 miles in my 02 Viper. Pulled the pistons and rings at 9500. Cylinders were perfect. Stock pistons and rings went right back in it. This is the only fuel we can get here in the Midwest. All my 2-stroke sled (9) have had nothing else run in them. I currently ride an Attak, and really like the 87 octane price compared to the premium I used to run.
 
If you run ethenol, you must increase in jet size, usually one size. You will notice a decrease in power and economy.
 
Here in washington state they sell 10% alcohol in the fuel for the winter to cut the emissions. In Idaho which is 30 minutes away they dont.
 
I can't find any stations around here this year that don't have ethanol, Lewiston, ID.

I've been on two rides this year running ethanol, no problems. Does lean out a little, but wasn't enough for me to have to re-jet. I would still make sure to check your plugs a couple of times to be safe.
 
I never had any issues running ethanol in my 02 viper. You should be aware that it will lean out the sled a little bit though. If it was -30F you would want to be careful running the ethanol but if it is 30F you might be looking for it to help lean it out a bit. my .02
 
There are no issues or concerns with running fuel that has a 10% ethanol blend. You dont need to rejet and its not going to cause your engine to grenade.
Here in Wisconsin, 93 octane fuel does not contain ethanol, so if you are really that worried about it, just run 93.
If you my '01 Polaris 600 hasnt grenaded yet after 7,500+ miles of running E-10, I dont think you guys have anything to worry about.
 
Hey Bakemono,, i could write PAGES AND PAGES of HORROR stories about ETHANOL,,, especially E85!!!!
 
Thanks for the info on jetting, I hate to see something mandated that causes the engines effiency to drop and fuel consumption to go up. A fella here mistakenly got some in his Rino and it about did the machine in, ate the fuel lines and all the carb gaskets it cost him $ 500 + to get the thing squared away again.
 
i work at a yamaha dealership and we see alot of needle/seat assemblys on atv's that are having problems from the ethanol. most of these problems are from extended periods of non-use/storage. i think that if you are running a performance/bigbore motor with pipes, porting etc, than one might be a bit carefull with the jetting issue as you are going to be more finicky than with a stock setup. my personal feeling is that if nonethanol premium is available run it otherwise run what you can get as long as you burn it up fairly quickly. i think an additive should be added for extended storage we sell a product called blendzall fuel oil and seems to work really well for the treatment of ethanol gasoline.
 
I have run e10 pretty much forever in all my toys. I have had not one issue, and I don't even flip the switch on the venture to use ethanol enhanced gas, and I have not ever rejetted to compensate for e10, Piston wash and plugs have always looked good as well.

ethanol has its good and bad points, but until we can make ethanol from non food sources cheaply, it won't ever really catch on... well unless oil goes to 4 dollars a gallon again... Some of my customers are ethanol plants.

Run it, you will be fine.
 
nosboy said:
Hey Bakemono,, i could write PAGES AND PAGES of HORROR stories about ETHANOL,,, especially E85!!!!
Click to expand...

In Colorado, nobody and I mean NOBODY, runs that stuff unless we get caught with our pants down and have no other option. Some guys fill up in Denver 5,280 feet , (Ethanol) to save $ and ride at 9,500. Most of us fill at 8,500 feet, no ethanol and smoke their butts all day long. E85 is even worse.
IMO
 
MSRXRider said:
I'll drive the extra miles to get the non alcohol fuel.
Click to expand...


Around here, you may not be able to even do that. It really isn't evil like some folks think.
 
horn said:
Around here, you may not be able to even do that. It really isn't evil like some folks think.
Click to expand...

I don't think it is evil, just not very efficient as far as power production or MPG .

Lets not start making comparisons to leaded fuel which polluted our air big time, but made everything run better with higher HP and MPG then they do today.
 
I never saw any MPG difference with the sleds, never and an issue either, even after the head gasket mod, reeds, reed spacers, MBRP trail can. I never changed from the stock jetting that came with the sled. Where ever i could get gas i did, never had a problem.
 
I remember driving to and from Colorado with my truck a few years ago. I could alway count on getting about 1 to 2 mpg less in Nebraska than I could get in Indiana, Illinois or Iowa. I should have always gotten better due to the extremly flat roads. But, having to use the Ethanol added fuel the engine ran poor and had to use more throttle. It is a standard to jet up when using ethenal, alcohol added fuels. Try to stay away if possible, never put in E85!!!!
 
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