Topic: Need some fuel advice

[bjatwood]

Well the shift to 87 ethanol has finally made it to Nebraska! How much Seafoam do you guys add to the 87 octane fuel to help the bike from running like crap? Or would I be better off going with the 93 octane fuel that doesn't have any ethanol in it? Thanks

[BobbyR]

OMG here we go again. Popcorn time. No offense to you but Gas is always good for a real punchup. You can do a search.

[bjatwood]

Ok I did search before posting and half the posts were FOR 93 octane use, and about half were for ethanol is OK to use with a bit of Seafoam, or Techron, OR some people have used ethanol blends with no problems at all. So, if you wanna go OMG another post,  just skip over this post and go and eat your damn Popcorn!

[crazypj]

You would be better off increasing main jet size slightly and don't let gas sit for weeks at a time

[bjatwood]

So, increasing my main jets size would help compensate for the premium fuel and help get the most out of it.  Would/will/should I have to do any adjustments to my timing?
Bike is all stock K3 750.

[Stev-o]

Simple, avoid ethanol at all costs. 

[crazypj]

There is nothing 'wrong' with the gas but the Ethanol makes bike run slightly lean (correct mixture for alcohol is around 6~8:1 instead of 14.7:1)
E10 doesn't mean you'll need 10% jet increase though, one size will probably be plenty (maybe even half size?)
Ethanol fuel is probably the biggest con on the public in the last few years, it doesn't save any money and you need more to get same performance
The ONLY people who benefit are corn farmers and oil companies, they can now sell water for the same price as gas 
 Stev-o, it isn't possible in Florida and the rest of the US is slowly following the 'E10 is good for you' BS

[Retro Rocket]

There is nothing 'wrong' with the gas but the Ethanol makes bike run slightly lean (correct mixture for alcohol is around 6~8:1 instead of 14.7:1)
E10 doesn't mean you'll need 10% jet increase though, one size will probably be plenty (maybe even half size?)
Ethanol fuel is probably the biggest con on the public in the last few years, it doesn't save any money and you need more to get same performance
The ONLY people who benefit are corn farmers and oil companies, they can now sell water for the same price as gas 
 Stev-o, it isn't possible in Florida and the rest of the US is slowly following the 'E10 is good for you' BS

Go to your local marina to fill up PJ, ethanol is still a big no no in boats due to fuel always sitting in tanks for extended periods of time.... Its actually not allowed in boats here in AUS, there are warning stickers on the pumps where i live...

[Stev-o]

PJ - the OP can get ethanol free 93 octane, my response was directed to him. I wish I had that choice.

Mick - I have a boat and the last time I fueled up I checked the pump, the fuel at the marina has ethanol too. Luckily, my boat has fuel injection and no bad fuel issues even after sitting for three months last winter.

[nccb]

Just put in the Stabil Marine version.  I will say I have tried using both non-ethonal and 10% (or at least the  "May contain 10%" which probably does) and I couldn't tell a difference except for one time.  It was at a Marathon station and the pump did say it WAS 10% ethonal.  The bike didn't run well.  Every other time it has been fine though so I may have just gotten some bad gas. . .

[TwoTired]

The ONLY people who benefit are corn farmers and oil companies, they can now sell water for the same price as gas 

You forgot the state and federal governments.   They tax per gallon.   Averaging ~$0.50/gal. for the US states + Fed.  Most states tax at a higher rate (Denser populations), and a few lower.
 In California with Fed combined it is $0.72 per gallon.  Is it any wonder why the mandate for ethanol fuel, where the public must use more gallonage and pay government more for the privilege?

http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-overview/industry-economics/fuel-taxes

[acollin]

+1 Steveo

If the choice is 87 with ethenol or
93 without ethenol as stated in the initial post----- without question
go 93 without.

[crazypj]

The problem with using 93 octane is it burns slower than 87 so unless you bump compression there is a possibility the exhaust valves can overheat.
 Could always run around at redline 

[bjbuchanan]

You don't need 93, but if you don't mind bending over and handing the wallet go for it

[Deltarider]

The problem with using 93 octane is it burns slower than 87 so unless you bump compression there is a possibility the exhaust valves can overheat

I've never heard of this except in this forum. Not in my entire life. Can't help having the feeling that if it was true, I should have heard of it before through other media. I mean, at least once.
BTW, over the last past 34 years, I've run both regular and premium gasoline and have never experienced this 'slow burning'. Ofcourse not: burning and knocking (exploding) are different things.
Here is some comfort for the taxwhiners among you, just to put things a little bit in perspective if you allow me: where I live, of the total gazprice at the pump 63% is tax. Do people complain? People complain everywhere. Do I complain? Not at all. I'm one of those idiots that would like to see it even higher. I only have to look at how irrational mobility still is consumed. The automobile for sure was the greatest toy mankind has presented itself in the past century. Because people like the toyside so much, it has lead to enormous bad concepts. 
Another reason I don't complain: we have excellent roads I can't construct myself.
Here's my 'fuel' advice: look at the condition of your secundary roads and the rest of the infrastructure like bridges, then look at the numbers of unemployment and the dangerous state the economy, although cleverly camouflaged, still is in. Got the picture? See what a bit of taxrise could achieve, how it could 'fuel' the economy? Hey, it's no Big Deal.

[bjatwood]

Thanks for the replies guys. I did notice today that the local Shell station has 91 premium with no ethanol in it (no ethanol sticker above the price on the pump) think I will definitely be using this as my "new" fuel of choice.

[70CB750]

The problem with using 93 octane is it burns slower than 87 so unless you bump compression there is a possibility the exhaust valves can overheat

I've never heard of this except in this forum. Not in my entire life. Can't help having the feeling that if it was true, I should have heard of it before through other media. I mean, at least once.
BTW, over the last past 34 years, I've run both regular and premium gasoline and have never experienced this 'slow burning'. Ofcourse not: burning and knocking (exploding) are different things.
Here is some comfort for the taxwhiners among you, just to put things a little bit in perspective if you allow me: where I live, of the total gazprice at the pump 63% is tax. Do people complain? People complain everywhere. Do I complain? Not at all. I'm one of those idiots that would like to see it even higher. I only have to look at how irrational mobility still is consumed. The automobile for sure was the greatest toy mankind has presented itself in the past century. Because people like the toyside so much, it has lead to enormous bad concepts. 
Another reason I don't complain: we have excellent roads.
Here's my 'fuel' advice: look at the condition of your secundary roads and the rest of the infrastructure like bridges, then look at the numbers of unemployment and the dangerous state the economy, although cleverly camouflaged, still is in. Got the picture? See what a bit of taxrise could achieve, how it could 'fuel' the economy? Hey, it's no Big Deal.

LOL!!

[BobbyR]

So, as you can see asking the same question over again elicits the same result. People who ride bikes are normally thick skinned and can take a joke.

The real answer is that no one knows for sure. We do not have any long term data. We are talking about 35-40 yr old engines designed to run on leaded gasoline, later modified somewhat to burn unleaded. We know that ethanol absorbs water so long term storage is not a good idea.

It is unclear how Seafoam, Techtron or anything mitigates the effects of ethanol. If you choose to use a higher Octane fuel, you can increase your timing and not have knock which is really destructive. Personally I am overjetted, and was before ethanol since the bike runs better, a side effect may be it offsets some lean condition the ethanol creates.

Like TT I live in a "progressive" State so I have no choice. I pay my money and hope for the best. So far nothing bad has happened, which does not mean something bad I cannot see yet is happening.

Ride on, and relax a bit, a joke is a joke.

[lucky]

So, increasing my main jets size would help compensate for the premium fuel and help get the most out of it.  Would/will/should I have to do any adjustments to my timing?
Bike is all stock K3 750.

The main jet is not the problem.
The idle jets can get clogged if the bike sits for weeks.
During the winter drain the float bowls.

[lucky]

So, as you can see asking the same question over again elicits the same result. People who ride bikes are normally thick skinned and can take a joke.

The real answer is that no one knows for sure. We do not have any long term data. We are talking about 35-40 yr old engines designed to run on leaded gasoline, later modified somewhat to burn unleaded. We know that ethanol absorbs water so long term storage is not a good idea.

It is unclear how Seafoam, Techtron or anything mitigates the effects of ethanol. If you choose to use a higher Octane fuel, you can increase your timing and not have knock which is really destructive. Personally I am overjetted, and was before ethanol since the bike runs better, a side effect may be it offsets some lean condition the ethanol creates.

Like TT I live in a "progressive" State so I have no choice. I pay my money and hope for the best. So far nothing bad has happened, which does not mean something bad I cannot see yet is happening.

Ride on, and relax a bit, a joke is a joke.

Seafoam and other fuel additives help keep the water
 in the fuel(attracted) by ethanol, in suspension.

[ekpent]

Why do Europeans and other people around the World always think they are better than Americans 

[crazypj]

Because we have less money so have to think 

[Deltarider]

Why do Europeans and other people around the World always think they are better than Americans 

Irrelevant. Would you like to see gaz for the rest of the world as cheap as it is for you? 

[Bob Wessner]

Seafoam and other fuel additives help keep the water
 in the fuel(attracted) by ethanol, in suspension.

Doesn't alcohol do that all by itself?

[70CB750]

Why do Europeans and other people around the World always think they are better than Americans 

That's simple, saving their sorry a$$ess twice in one century can not be forgiven.  They are carrying heavy minderwertigkeitskomplexe.