Bottom Line: Ethanol a real danger? - Ducati.ms

OKCDuc · Nov 16th, 2011, 12:52 pm

Id like to get some feedback. But let's all concede that non-ethanol is ideal. On my new MTS it states it wants 95 Octane too! I live in two areas - one I can get non-ethanol but only 91 octane, the other is near impossible and has 93. I do have one station that sells 95 and 100+ but its $5-10/gal. Performance is certainly ideal with non-ethanol higher octane. And I am tired of stations that dont clearly disclose until you give the pump a thorough examination after you stop.

But....

Is ethanol a real danger to the MECHANICS of the bike?

A. No harm - Ethanol is fine.
B. Minimal Harm, best to avoid, but quit sweating it if not available.
C. Moderate Harm - Make serious effort to not use.
D. In an emergency, pump 1/2 gallon and get to another station.
E. Never use it.

VTGPDUC · Nov 16th, 2011, 12:59 pm

European 95 octane is US 87 or 89 octane. Use Seaform and 87 octane, 89 if running high comp pistons. Check Hall of Wisdom.

OKCDuc · Nov 16th, 2011, 1:04 pm

Thanks VTGPDUC. You would think the US Version of the owners manual would be more clear on this topic....but then again, I still have to convert bars to psi when reading.

**Chuckracer** · Nov 16th, 2011, 1:09 pm

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Ethanol sucks. If I can get Ethanol-Free I use it. If I can't, I won't lose sleep over it, but I'm lucky to have a station close to me that carries 91 octane for about a dollar more a gallon than the regular shit.

That link I posted is user-maintained, so do your part...

As far as octane, that's a different thing altogether and VTGPDUC has the answer covered.

stryder · Nov 16th, 2011, 1:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKCDuc

...But....Is ethanol a real danger to the MECHANICS of the bike?...

As long as there's no direct skin contact for extended periods of time, and as long as they work in well ventilated areas, they should be okay.

VTGPDUC · Nov 16th, 2011, 2:11 pm

BTW I prefer my ethanol cold with some olives.

ncgt1000 · Nov 16th, 2011, 2:25 pm

I try not to support the ethanol industry. I believe it is the worst possible use for available oil and farmland in the US.

davy.j · Nov 16th, 2011, 3:44 pm

Brisbane motorists have voted with their wallets:

Queensland motorists dudded as fuel retailers pull ethanol blend petrol from service stations | Courier Mail

Bob Katter is a maverick north Queensland independent MP who represents a rural area, where I also live (read largly sugar cane farming electorate) so his comments are not really balanced.

The pumps are really being pulled because no-one wants to buy the bloody stuff.

.

**Chuckracer** · Nov 16th, 2011, 3:58 pm

What mean-um "Dudded"?

SS904 · Nov 16th, 2011, 4:06 pm

I voted "B", only because I don't know for sure and nothing else fit my situation. If I had the option not to use it where I live, I wouldn't. Although I have to admit that fact is probably based on my ideology more than the knowledge of any damage it may cause. My Duc has a metal tank, however!

I will say this much. I recently started using Star Tron in every fill up. I keep a 4oz measured bottle under the seat now. The bike just runs better than it has in recent memory with the juice. Maybe it ran this way back in 06-07 when the E10 crap first came out in South East VA where I was living at the time, but I don’t know...