Non ethenol is always preferred

 

I have a 2013 XCT with the stage one upgrade and have tried both 87 and 89 octane ethanol. When running itmy lower left leg and foot were feel like theyare going to catch on fire.When I run93 octane ethanol or non-ethanolit is still warm but definitelycooler. Iput non-ethanol in when I can. Luckily I have a station close by that carries non-ethanol in all 3 octanes and that is where I fill up whenI can, Irun only non-ethanol in my lawn equipment and boat.

Idefinitely believe it is worth it to run non-ethanolwhen possible.

 

Well if it means anything, i had work done at the vic shop by rylan, he stated that i should run the lowest octane without getting any pinging, now the lowest octane being 87 or 89, i know the manual says run 91 or more but rylan stated you should run the lowest, he would know, he is probally 1 of the 4 top vic mech in us, a performance geek he is, well if that is the case i could never run NON ETHANOL because they are all 91 and up, i get no pinging running 87 and will not encounter as many probs down the road with carbon build up and etc by using 91 and above, now i will say i did get better gas mileage running non ethanol, but not enough to warrant running it and possibly having trouble down the road, just my 2 cents

 

First off, we don't run small engines in our Vics. Our bikes were designed with the necessary rubber compound soft parts to handle E10 blends. That being said, if you can find non ethanol that's just as fresh and clean as the ethanol alternative I would buy it. If I had to go out of my way to find a hole in the wall mom and pop that has 30 year old tanks and hasn't got a new pump or filter in 15 years...if they're far enough out of the way and expensive enough that said tank hasn't been close to empty in years...I would not buy that gas. Fresh and clean to fresh and clean non ethanol is better. Fresh ethanol out of a clean tank with a good filter beats old and dirty non ethanol. Now, 93 will run cooler than 87. Because it's not burning. Higher octane = harder to ignite. That's why the lowest octane without ping = the best performance and mileage. And getting a more complete burn makes more heat than an incomplete burn which creates carbon buildup on your piston crowns and valves further diminishing performance.

 

Non ethenol is always preferred

Agree. My XC has had non-ethanol gas in it since I got it from the dealer. I HATE that $hit. Has trashed three carbs in my saws and blowers. Been off that crap since September last year. My carbed KLR and Polaris ATV love the good juice.

I can get 89 and 93 non-ethanol here in NC

link to find the good stuff: http://www.pure-gas.org/

 

Agree. My XC has had non-ethanol gas in it since I got it from the dealer. I HATE that $hit. Has trashed three carbs in my saws and blowers. Been off that crap since September last year. My carbed KLR and Polaris ATV love the good juice.

Most of our small engine machines are not designed or built to epa standards. They have carbs that are susceptible to build up and rubber parts not designed for use with alcohol. They will react much worse to ethanol than our fuel injected cars and bikes do.

 

Short answer...NO. Long answer.. "because these bikes were DESIGNED from the start to accomodate the ethenol and the ONLY risk with it is (potential separation over long term storage) and since none of us plans on filling it up and leaving it there, you can be confident buying 87 octane 10% ethenol with the knowledge that it will work "just as well" as the higher priced alternatives.

 

I never run ethenol in anything with a carb, this has cost me a boat engine. I had a 3 cyclinder outboart with 3 carbs; twice I ran ethenol into it and both times I had to get the carbs redone. After I went ethenol free my dad and stepbrother used the boat when I wasn't in and filled it up with ethenol. I took if fishing a few weeks later and it wouldn't give full power, figured it was the high jets cloaged up and continued to my destination. Then all at once I heard a nasty shrink and the engine stopped dead, it wouldn't crank, frozen solid. In one of the carbs the needle had frozen so that cylinder wasn't getting any fuel and the oil that came with that fuel.

TheVictorys surely are designed forethenol use, but if you can easily get non ethenol, do it, like I can, do it. In my area a lot ofpeople have boats, probably more families have boats than second cars, for this reason the placesthat dont' have ethenol advertise it, there are several off brand places that don't have it, butluckily every Conoco in this area alsodoesn't have it.

The problems with ethenol, 1, it eatsregular rubber fuel lines, so the line comes apart and gets into you gas. 2. It causes carbs to screw up, they've offered ethenol kits for carbs, but I don't find they work. All if really isis nylon tips at the ends ofthecarb's needles. 3. It draws water. in the olden days you were told to never leave a tank empty because it would condensate, not it's just the opposite, only pump what you're going to use for that trip. Modern fuel tanks are designed with avent system that closes when not in use to prevent moisture build up. You can actually take a jar of gas with ethenol, place it in front of afan and see the water come into it. 4.It'sdoesn't make the energy thatgasonline does. 5. It's corrosive,meaning sooner or later it's going to hurt an engine in the long run. The crap can't even be put into pipelines like gasoline& diesel. (Side noteipingthis productsis far more cheaper and safer than trucking it,therefore ethenol adds to the costat the pump even beyondthe higher prices the refiners are payingfor it at the time of purchase and it's making our highways more dangerous)6.It's a dumb idea, despite all of it's short comings it's still mandated to be used andwill be mandated to be usedin an even higher percentagesoon.

It's such a dumb idea and so expensive to make thegovernment subsidizes itthree ways. 1. Farmers refiners gets dicrect payments for produce it. 2. They're also protected by large trade tariffs preventing it's importation and 3. We're mandated to use weather we like it or not.

In conclusion, as long as I possibly can do it,I will not spend my money onaninferior product that cost me moreat the pumpwhilealso causing me more to use it becauseyou have to burn more therefore by more and cost me mechanic repairs down the line also.

Only the government can look ata product that's less safe, cost more, nobody wants, and destroys equipment andconfidently say, "Sign me up!"

 

I never run ethenol in anything with a carb, this has cost me a boat engine. I had a 3 cyclinder outboart with 3 carbs; twice I ran ethenol into it and both times I had to get the carbs redone. After I went ethenol free my dad and stepbrother used the boat when I wasn't in and filled it up with ethenol. I took if fishing a few weeks later and it wouldn't give full power, figured it was the high jets cloaged up and continued to my destination. Then all at once I heard a nasty shrink and the engine stopped dead, it wouldn't crank, frozen solid. In one of the carbs the needle had frozen so that cylinder wasn't getting any fuel and the oil that came with that fuel.

gosh, you've sure had a "boatload" of problems.

You are obviously convinced that it's the ethanol and nothing, absolutely nothing else contributed to any of that.

What I find strange about your statements is that we here in Can Nuh Duh have 10% ethanol fuel and there are carb fed engines all over the place that seemingly have no troubles at all. All of the bikes I've had before this CCT and my Wing were carburated ... and never had to rebuild any carbs on them. Mind you, I have had to rebuild two carbs on two bikes belonging to family members because they left the bikes sitting for well over a year without putting any fuel stabilizer into them ... or for that matter, draining them completely after a good mix of stabilizer.

Have you ever heard of SeaFoam? If not, check it out. It works wonders on gummed up carbs, etc and stabilizes the fuel as well.

 

I know a lot of stuff, but gasoline isn't one of my specialties. Why does the factory tell us to use hi-octane and everyone else is saying 87? I'm confused, which isn't really that hard to do.

 

I know a lot of stuff, but gasoline isn't one of my specialties. Why does the factory tell us to use hi-octane and everyone else is saying 87? I'm confused, which isn't really that hard to do.

As I understand it from days of old, higher octane gas is intended for engines with a higher compression ratio because the lower octane would cause "pinging". As I also understand it, our engines are in that category of "higher compression ratio" so therefor, a higher octane is recommended.

Nothing wrong with using a lower octane as long as your engine doesn't start pinging ... as I understand it.

Disclamer:
This is all IMHO

Personally, I will continue to use what is recommended.

 

I know a lot of stuff, but gasoline isn't one of my specialties. Why does the factory tell us to use hi-octane and everyone else is saying 87? I'm confused, which isn't really that hard to do.

Because it is the safe bet for across the world...

 

I use the middle grade unless I am on a long trip..Then I just use regular!

 

I know a lot of stuff, but gasoline isn't one of my specialties. Why does the factory tell us to use hi-octane and everyone else is saying 87? I'm confused, which isn't really that hard to do.

High octane fuel prevents detonation. I run 87 or 89 depending on conditions there is no reason to run 91 or 93 in a engine with 9.4:1 compression ratio. Give it a try you might be surprised the engine will be a little more responsive.

 

Short answer...NO. Long answer.. "because these bikes were DESIGNED from the start to accomodate the ethenol and the ONLY risk with it is (potential separation over long term storage) and since none of us plans on filling it up and leaving it there, you can be confident buying 87 octane 10% ethenol with the knowledge that it will work "just as well" as the higher priced alternatives.

I would have to disagree with it working just as well. It may not harm the motor but it definetely doesnt run as well. With stock pipes I dont notice the difference but with every after market set I have had on 8 Victory's I have experience 100% more popping through the exhaust with and without processors.

 

Non ethenol is always preferred
I run Shell 91, no ethenol in it up here yet, Last year I kept a close watch on the different brands I put in my bike best was Shell 91, Second best Ultr-Mar, worst was Esso (popped alot) and Petro-can I got 50 KMS less per tank of fuel
Regards

 

No such thing as non-ethanol gas around the greater Chicagoland area. I've been running Premium (91 octane) but will certainly try Regular (87 octane) and see how it goes.

 

Non ethenol is always preferred
I run Shell 91, no ethenol in it up here yet, Last year I kept a close watch on the different brands I put in my bike best was Shell 91, Second best Ultr-Mar, worst was Esso (popped alot) and Petro-can I got 50 KMS less per tank of fuel
Regards

I've been a Chevron guy for years and they have ethanol in their 91 .. I'll have to check out the Shell pumps. Thanks for posting this info.

 

thanks guys you have been a lot of help. at lleast I think so.

 

Here in Wi the Cenex stations offer 87 octane with no ethanol. Premium (91) "recreation" gas is common without ethanol. When I asked why they offered in low octane thy said that the farmers will not use ethanol in their machinery. I find that quite ironic seeing hey are subsidized to grow the corn to make it.

 

When you live up here in the northeast, non ethanol gas is next to impossible to find. I've always run Sunoco Ultra 93 in my '10 Vegas LE without a speck of trouble in 14,000 miles...

 

The modern enguines will run fine on ethanol or non-ethanol. If both types have the asme octane rating, they will equally resist pre-detonation. There is a difference though, ethanol itself contains less energy per gallon or per liter than gasoline. The difference will be noticeable as 1 or 2 MPG difference.