Ethanol destroying small engines

[Armor]

"Al Gore (biggest fraud of all time), himself just spoke out against ethanol and stated that it was a mistake. The world has been lied to long enough about the danger of man made global climate change. We need to push back. Follow the $$ trails, it leads back to to the same suspects everytime. This is not going to go away unless we fight back. Biofuels are just one part of the big lie that's been forced on us to make someone truckloads of $$. Enough is enough. "

I can't sit back and listen to this.  I am an engineer and you don't know what you are talking about.  The money leads back to the petroleum industry.  A motor can run on ethanol with no problems.  Older designs have to change.  Lets talk about motorcycles.
 
 

[ducatiz]

I can't sit back and listen to this.  I am an engineer and you don't know what you are talking about.  The money leads back to the petroleum industry.  A motor can run on ethanol with no problems.  Older designs have to change.  Lets talk about motorcycles.

Moreover, Algore wasn't apologising for ethanol, he was apologising for pushing "first generation corn-based ethanol" because it drove food prices up.  That's all.

Plenty of other sources of ethanol don't affect food sources (or are made from secondary foods with a surplus, such as Cane as in Brasil)

And it's a fine fuel for engines and systems designed for it.  It doesn't have as much energy as pure gasoline or diesel, but if you're driving a small car, that shouldn't matter, especially if the cost per unit is much lower and the production of it isn't more pollutive than other forms of energy.

I know they've had alcohol carbs for ages for bikes, anyone run a bike on pure alcohol?

[Howie]

I have no problem with alcohol or any bio fuel as long as it does not compete with food supply.  Lost BTU content of alcohol can be more than compensated for with increased compression and timing advance.  Pure ethanol is 113 RON.  I do have a big problem with E10 and E15, it just doesn't work.  Yeah, you do have the inefficiency of distillation, but that is another discussion.

[WetDuc]

I just want my Ducati tank to stop swelling for the time being.  I go with marine StaBil, but I have not been using it long enough to make an assessment of whether or not it is working.

[Drunken Monkey]

<mod hat>
First a reminder to all that there's a "no politics" rule around here.
</mod hat>

2nd, I'm just old enough to remember the debates around lead in gasoline. It sucked for a while, but eventually everyone adapted to gasoline formulated without it.

Merits / Problems with Ethanol aside, this all seems eerily familiar.

I suspect they will eventually figure this out, and most likely from an engine engineering standpoint as the Ethanol lobby is stronger than the "small engine" lobby 

[redxblack]

I was chatting with the techs at the local Duc shop today and we were talking about brine on the roads (I'm one of those cold weather riding types) and how they have seen bikes completely eaten up by the stuff. Obviously that led to a discussion of ethanol and the new tanks, etc. They're recommending a fuel additive (like sta-bil) at the shop to help w/ these sorts of issues. It makes me wonder if everyone ends up adding stabilizer to E10 if the service stations will just start selling gas already "sta-bilized."

[Drunken Monkey]

See my previous comment about engine designers probably being on the hook rather than gasoline refiners.

Still, it'd be nice if they could stop make the beast with two backsing up our motors and tanks 

[fastwin]

I was chatting with the techs at the local Duc shop today and we were talking about brine on the roads (I'm one of those cold weather riding types) and how they have seen bikes completely eaten up by the stuff. Obviously that led to a discussion of ethanol and the new tanks, etc. They're recommending a fuel additive (like sta-bil) at the shop to help w/ these sorts of issues. It makes me wonder if everyone ends up adding stabilizer to E10 if the service stations will just start selling gas already "sta-bilized."

I use Sta-Bil in all my bike gas, as well as my gas powered farm equipment. After every long ride I top off at the gas station near my house and add the Sta-Bil when I get home... and yes, I bounce and rock the bike to get it mixed up. I started adding it because of my "carbed" bikes to help when they sat for a while and the fuel would evaporate in the float bowls. It certainly helps keep the jets and airways free and clear but it's still not perfect. I have had my Kawi ZRX1200R "go bad" on me using Sta-Bil when it sat too long and needed open heart carb work. Now I even use it in my EFI bikes. Still, even using Sta-Bil did not prevent the dreaded plastic tank swell on my S2R1000 or Sport 1000. The swelling isn't as bad as some have reported but Sta-Bil did not prevent it completely. And I use the Sta-Bil recommended long term storage "double dose" in all my bikes and farm equipment. I'm sure it helps but it's no silver bullet.

[redxblack]

Good to know! I'm fortunate to have a metal tank and fuel injection, but I still am interested in this issue. The tech said Seafoam would do just about the same as stabil. I've used that product a lot in trying to get an old carb running again without actually doing the grunt work of tearing it apart. I love seafoam, but I doubt it's a magical solution either.

[fastwin]

Yep, I've used Seafoam too. Nothing against it at all, just went with Sta-Bil and have stuck with it. Just wish it was the Holy Grail of additives... tank swell eliminator, magic octane booster and riding talent improver!! Turbo kit/Rossi in a bottle! [moto]

[redxblack]

If you ever do discover an additive with those attributes in exactly the opposite order you have them listed, I'd like 11ty billion cases, please.

[fastwin]

You and me both brother!

[Grappa]

Article on Al Gore and ethanol...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703572404575634753486416076.html?KEYWORDS=al+gore

[redxblack]

A lot of "i told you so" attitude from one of Rupert Murdoch's media outlets.

[swampduc]

Dismissing the conclusions of the column because of its source is just as dangerous as when right wingers dismiss all criticism by the "left wing media." it's hard to disagree with the actual facts as laid out.