Topic: There IS a difference in gasolines

[grumburg]

Last Saturday, decided to take my S90 for last ride of the season. Needed gas and the only station was a Speedway (owned by Marathon). Filled up and rode about 50 miles. Last evening I went to the barn and had a puddle of gas on the floor under it. Appeared to be leaking from petcock. WTF? Removed the tank and when I unscrewed the sediment bowl the rubber o-ring came out in several, sticky pieces. Had been in bike for 2 years. My brother-in-law (who is an ASC certified mechanic) stopped over and when I showed it to him, he asked if I had recently filled tank. Had just been at a tech school on fuel and E85 damage. Said Speedway uses up to 15% alcohol and that was the problem. Have used BP exclusively for years with no problem. Said to put 1 pint of fuel in a glass jar (not plastic)and add a small amount of water. Wait about an hour and the alcohol will settle to the bottom. Sure enough, the bottom 15% was clear alcohol. Alcohol eats rubber carb parts in a matter of hours. Thank God I learned this from the S90 and not the 550!

[Inigo Montoya]

Strange, I just fill with whatever here as virtually everything has ethanol in it, but only 10%.
I have never had that happen. Not saying it didn't to you but I just wonder if it was solely the alcohol.

[myhondas]

BP uses ethanol.

The only main brand that I know that doesn't is Shell. So that is what I use in the bike and cage. Never had a problem. In Ohio, there used to be a law that the stations had to mark their pumps with what was in the gas. But our wonderful(cough a$$holes cough) lawmakers knocked that one off the books.(payoff cough)

[333]

Ethanol doesn't eat all rubber.  And if you've done complete overhauls on carbs with new parts in the last 15 or 20 years, it should be okay.  And it is my understanding that all gas nationwide has 10% ethanol.  Not much we can do about it.

Not to turn this political, but I choose my gas based on where the oil comes from.

http://www.terrorfreeoil.org/

[tramp]

never knew that

[cookindaddy]

When you say "rubber" do you mean neoprene? I thought that neoprene (which is what most modern black o-rings are made of which are intended for automotive use) was safe with ethanol.

"Neoprene: offers a high level of protection from oxidizing agents, alcohols, oils, fuels, alkalines, benzene, ethanol, hexane, isopropanol, and various acids;"

http://www.rencogloves.com/mat4.htm

[bucky katt]

BP uses ethanol.

The only main brand that I know that doesn't is Shell. So that is what I use in the bike and cage. Never had a problem. In Ohio, there used to be a law that the stations had to mark their pumps with what was in the gas. But our wonderful(cough a$$holes cough) lawmakers knocked that one off the books.(payoff cough)

shell uses ethanol too, at all my local stations up to 10% however i use only shell as to me anyways, it seems to be the cleanest gas out there.

[Really?]

Shell uses 5 times the EPA minumum of detergent.  I think Racetrack gas uses the EPA minimum.

I used to use Racetrack gas in my XVZ12DN.  I got tired of having to clean the cards every 4 to 6 months.  I switched to Shell and have not had to do that anymore.  That has been about 2 or three years now.

On the 750, I switched it to Shell and it looked to melt the liner that the PO put in it.  Go figure.

[grumburg]

The oring was NOS Honda. Not enough left to tell what type of material.   No probelms with BP in 10-15K miles on my 550 and other old bikes.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I've always been a Shell fan. My neighbor is a territory manager for Valero. He tells me that Shell here in Colorado buys their gas.

[333]

It was in the news a month or so ago that Shell just signed an exclusive deal with Iran.

When you say "rubber" do you mean neoprene? I thought that neoprene (which is what most modern black o-rings are made of which are intended for automotive use) was safe with ethanol.

"Neoprene: offers a high level of protection from oxidizing agents, alcohols, oils, fuels, alkalines, benzene, ethanol, hexane, isopropanol, and various acids;"

http://www.rencogloves.com/mat4.htm

Yes, I meant neoprene.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yep, Marathon uses a lot of ethanol in their petrol.

[myhondas]

BP uses ethanol.

The only main brand that I know that doesn't is Shell. So that is what I use in the bike and cage. Never had a problem. In Ohio, there used to be a law that the stations had to mark their pumps with what was in the gas. But our wonderful(cough a$$holes cough) lawmakers knocked that one off the books.(payoff cough)

shell uses ethanol too, at all my local stations up to 10% however i use only shell as to me anyways, it seems to be the cleanest gas out there.

Shell's V-power  has N O  ethanol in it !  Some of their 87 regular gas can have it but according to shell, they do not blend ethanol in their high test fuels. Depends on the distribution area that serves you whether or not your fuel will have ethanol in it. Even some of their mid range fuels can contain ethanol, but it again depends on your area.

[Bodi]

Hmm.
I'll use any gas... except Shell. Their gas just fouls up the bike or car, whenever I'm running dry and the only station in sight is Shell... I buy it but know to expect stalling, misfires, hesitation, hard starting.
For a while Shell gas supposedly destroyed Ford or Chrysler fuel pumps, with a "secret" replacement plan. This did not happen to me and is probably an urban myth, not sure.
I definitely notice problems with the stuff though.
I prefer Sunoco for the bike (Canada) but use whatever's cheapest for the cage - except Shell.

[333]

Now that's something I don't get.  Anything I own that runs on gas gets the same gas.