Author Topic: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?  (Read 798 times)

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Offline grcamna2

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I'm considering adding some fuel treatment to my Ethanol gasoline.
I live in Ca. and I can't easily get to(or afford)a place which sells Ethanol free gasoline,so I run Chevron 91 octane.
I'm considering using Lucas safeguard brand in the green bottle.
Which brand have you used in your bike that keeps it from pinging ?

Edit:when I first fill-up,there isn't a pinging problem;I've already retarded the timing a few degrees from stock.
The fuel here seems to be such poor quality that it only takes about 3-4 days of sitting in my bike and it will just begin to ping under heavy load at high rpms,to repeat:there is no pinging under load at high rpm speed right after fill-up.
I imagine by now you know I hate any type of pinging in any engine,even a little bit  ::) :D
I think this local gasoline has more Ethanol in it than "up to 10%"  ::) as advertised at the pumps and I should treat the fuel with a good additive every time I fill up.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2022, 12:33:22 PM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Don R

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2022, 01:35:26 PM »
 A lot of folks like Startron in the blue bottle.
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
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Online newday777

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2022, 04:08:01 PM »
And marine(blue) grade Stabil.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2022, 04:12:15 PM »
I want to use the intended product at every fill-up,as I sometimes don't run the bike every day but possibly once a week.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline PeWe

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2022, 09:28:27 PM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2022, 10:20:18 PM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.

I have adjusted the jetting now to make it more rich;I had found that was initially part of the problem.
The degrading mix of Ethanol fuel 91 octane(they don't sell higher octane here)seems to be the problem.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline scottly

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2022, 10:51:15 PM »
Even ethanol gas shouldn't go bad nearly that fast, and when it does go bad, it doesn't want to burn easily. What bike are you talking about? Does it have a compression ratio of over 11:1? I haven't had any pinging on my high compression 836 on 91 octane except for one time on the dyno with an extremely lean mixture.
As far as treatments, I've been using Sta-bil, and the gas seems to keep for months.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
Helmets save brains. Always wear one and ride like everyone is trying to kill you....

Offline PeWe

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2022, 11:41:47 PM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.

I have adjusted the jetting now to make it more rich;I had found that was initially part of the problem.
The degrading mix of Ethanol fuel 91 octane(they don't sell higher octane here)seems to be the problem.
Forgot carb ventilation. If  blocked causing fuel issues.
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2022, 12:17:15 AM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.

I have adjusted the jetting now to make it more rich;I had found that was initially part of the problem.
The degrading mix of Ethanol fuel 91 octane(they don't sell higher octane here)seems to be the problem.
Forgot carb ventilation. If  blocked causing fuel issues.

My air filter box has a Uni-Filter element and the bottom of the Uni foam filter has had oil/condensate on it from a PVC tube system which I installed into the air box,similar to a 1978 CB750F.I set it up to work using a separator chamber with heavy liquids being dropped down a long catch tube which has a drain plug at the bottom which needs to be drained occasionally and the lighter PVC oil vapors being recycled through the air filter element with a rubber tube attached to the steel air filter element end cap.This is a single cylinder Honda not a sohc/4 motorcycle.
I'm curious if some of the PVC oil/condensate from the Uni foam air filter might be getting trapped into the PAJ and being sucked down through the carb. into the engine causing pre-ignition at high rpms on the Interstate hywy. ?  This pinging only seems to happen after 65MPH and above  ::)  I have emptied the drain tube plug every 2-weeks,although the air filter element still seems to get wet on the bottom of the foam,like a sponge..
 I imagine I could just remove the drain plug and let the PVC oil vapors/condensate mix just exit down the drain tube as I ride the bike.I wonder if it would be better for me to disconnect the PVC rubber tube from off the air filter element end cap,rather than using the engine vacuum to draw PVC condensate in through the air filter itself..
I have always been bothered by seeing my Uni air filter foam element wet on the bottom with that PVC oil/condensate mix.
« Last Edit: November 02, 2022, 12:25:49 AM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2022, 06:00:26 AM »
Even ethanol gas shouldn't go bad nearly that fast, and when it does go bad, it doesn't want to burn easily. What bike are you talking about? Does it have a compression ratio of over 11:1? I haven't had any pinging on my high compression 836 on 91 octane except for one time on the dyno with an extremely lean mixture.
As far as treatments, I've been using Sta-bil, and the gas seems to keep for months.

an XR185 dirtbike with the stock 10:1 piston.
I may need to raise the needle,it seems like mid-range ping.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2022, 11:38:30 AM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.

I have adjusted the jetting now to make it more rich;I had found that was initially part of the problem.
The degrading mix of Ethanol fuel 91 octane(they don't sell higher octane here)seems to be the problem.

Yeah, I dont really think the ethanol itself will cause pinging. And Hondaman doesnt recommend using the highest octane fuel for some reason.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2022, 08:50:58 PM »
It might run lean when pinging. Richer jetting for that area might help.

I have adjusted the jetting now to make it more rich;I had found that was initially part of the problem.
The degrading mix of Ethanol fuel 91 octane(they don't sell higher octane here)seems to be the problem.

Yeah, I dont really think the ethanol itself will cause pinging. And Hondaman doesnt recommend using the highest octane fuel for some reason.

I know Ethanol fuel somehow separates(phase separation?)and leaves quite a bit of water in the tank,carbs:fuel system.
I find when that happens:when the mix of separated Ethanol fuel and water are running through my bike,there is pinging. I can't explain how this happens;what I'm sure of is that ethanol fuel does this and I would rather dump that fuel and refill with fresh.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline scottly

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2022, 09:46:35 PM »
Ethanol is used to increase the octane of gas, and any phase separation takes much more than 4 days. We get the same "up to 10%" stuff here in AZ, and the gas in my Chevy truck has been in there since last February with no issues (or treatments). When water does separate, it goes straight to the lowest point in the system, and motors won't run on water, much less ping. ;) You have something else going on, like a poorly vented gas tank or partially clogged in-tank fuel screen.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: Ethanol gasoline fuel treatments:to keep the fuel from losing integrity?
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2022, 11:11:13 PM »
Ethanol is used to increase the octane of gas, and any phase separation takes much more than 4 days. We get the same "up to 10%" stuff here in AZ, and the gas in my Chevy truck has been in there since last February with no issues (or treatments). When water does separate, it goes straight to the lowest point in the system, and motors won't run on water, much less ping. ;) You have something else going on, like a poorly vented gas tank or partially clogged in-tank fuel screen.

The petcock in motorcycle tanks sits at the lowest point at the bottom of the base of the fuel tanks and water,dirt,etc. will gravity feed & enter the carb when it's in the tank.
The automobiles don't have a 'lowest point in the tank' /bottom or base mount but the fuel pick-up tube/sender is usually an inch or more from the base of the auto fuel tanks.I would enjoy if more automobiles had a drain plug built into the bottom of their fuel tanks,in case foreign matter needed to be drained completely.
I've 'dropped' a couple automobile fuel tanks in the past(a pain)to either fully drain all water,etc. or replace the tank because of rust.

I have set my carb. jetting and made sure the timing is where it should be.
I imagine the problem I have is 'fuel system related' and I'll keep checking.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2022, 11:15:54 PM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.