Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Hazzard

Alert issued after investigation of the following observation:

Water dripping from Exhaust Silencer drains holes.

The possibility of fouling Carburators, Fuel Injectors and Fuel Pumps prompts this Bulletin for the XJ-Bikes.com Community.
06 JUNE 2007 -- Rick Massey for XJ-Bikes.com


ETHANOL SUPPLEMENTED FUEL LEADING TO POSSIBLE CARB PROBLEMS!

Generally goes UN-observed!
Related to Ethanol supplemented Fuel.

Gasoline currently being distributed is being supplemented with as much as 12-Percent Ethanol in No-Lead Regular.

The Ethanol supplemented fuel is highly susceptible to absorbing moisture when the fuels chemical structure is altered by the presence of alcohol molecules.

Humidity, rain, washing ... and condensation forming inside the tank will contribute to the amount of moisture absorbed by the Ethanol-added Fuel.

As the level of humidity absorbed by Ethanol-added fuel increases; the mixture becomes a very highly effective cleaning agent and will become discolored in older, metal, fuel tanks as scale and rust are dissolved and
suspended in the fuel mix.

Normally aspirated systems (Carbs) should install a Fuel Filter.
Marine systems and Personal watercraft should install or frequently change the filter in line before the fuel pump.

Problems:

* Ethanol-based fuels are not compatible with some fuel system components.
* Examples of extreme corrosion of ferrous components, and internal separation of portions of rubber fuel tanks have been observed in some vehicles using ethanol fuels.
* Formation of salt deposits, jelly-like deposits on fuel strainer screens
* Can negatively affect electric fuel pumps by increasing internal wear and undesirable spark generation.
* Is not compatible with capacitance fuel level gauging indicators and may cause erroneous fuel quantity indications in vehicles that employ that system.
* Not always compatible with marine craft, especially those that use fiberglass tanks.

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Massey
Technical Staff

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

Thanks for the heads up Rick!! Had some signs posted at my regular gas station about ethanol levels............didn't think too much about it, until now!

I have said it before and I'll say it again..............GOD I LOVE THIS SITE!

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

Those in the aviation community using Mogas in their planes have been dealing with the increasingly difficult to get gasoline with no alcohol in it.

It can do very bad things to the fuel systems in aircraft and is to be avoided. Modern vehicles fuel systems have been designed to be non (or less) effected by Ethonol in gasoline, but older vehicles (Like our XJs) were not designed with that in mind. I can screw up a carbuerator if any water is in it.

Hmmm sorta makes the idea of running on Avgas more appealing....

 

The brilliance of our legislators in action.

Of course we'll be less dependent on foreign oil. Our vehicles won't run.

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

I think this REALLY explains an issue I had a couple months ago with my 85 Maxim....... I thought I had gotten bad gas, but, from the sounds of it, it may have been moisture that was absorbed into the cheap gas that I was running.....

To quote Rick: As the level of humidity absorbed by Ethanol-added fuel increases; the mixture becomes a very highly effective cleaning agent and will become discolored in older, metal, fuel tanks as scale and rust are dissolved and
suspended in the fuel mix.

My inline filter had looked like hell, bike didn't run for crap......

Rick - THANKS for the info on this!!!!!!! It's great to know we have someone so knowledgable available to us and watching out for us!!!!!

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

What we REALLY need is a fuel filter that uses this stuff:
HiSorb Polymer

Pulls out water AND alcohol -- how's that for cool.

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

I have had to deal with gas containing 10% ethanol for the past 20 years. That's all you can buy around here during the winter.

I've found that adding Stabil to my tank solves any problems I might have. In the summer, I add about an ounce every other full tank. In the winter, since the bike may sit longer between rides, I add two ounces to every full tank.

 

Re: Technical Bulletin 060407 -- Ethynol in Fuel -- Carb Haz

Another good product to use if you suspect moisture in the fuel is Dry Gas. I'm not sure what is in it or how it works but I had a problem with water this past winter freezing in the fuel lines. I poured a bottle in the tank and it got rid of the water and no more freezing.

 

What I'd really like to try is a tank-full of Aviation Fuel. Just for the shids and grinz.

Back in the 60's ... my next door neighbor was my mentor and role model. He siphoned a little fuel out of another neighbors dragster. It was nitro-methane. When he put that stuff in his Norton ... the exhaust note was deafening.

 

Moisture problem with ethanol. Water is heavier then fuel. Incorperate a tap such as used on airplanes (Cessena 172 etc) to drain off the water before introducing the fuel to the carbs.
Maybe a valve behind the petcock to bleed out the water?.......Jim