Ethanol in gas

8982 Views 35 Replies 21 Participants Last post by okbear, Jul 27, 2018

Hanover123

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2017

Just purchased 2007 grizzly 700. Plan on running 93 octane gas but was curious if anyone has had problems with ethanol in gas. I have replaced a lot of carbs on 4 cycle equipment due to gas setting in carb and ethanol deteriorating seals etc. Any issues with fuel injection? Any one run fuel stabilizer like Ethanol Shield?

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

OpDawg

· #2 · Dec 31, 2017

I’ve never had any issues and I make 2-4 runs a year. Start them maybe every other month...

-Opie

Ridgway81432

· #3 · Dec 31, 2017

Stock Grizzly engines don't need high octane as they are low compression engines, there are many threads on this subject.
As for corn, there are many factors important to that part of your question.
I live in a dry (low humidity) area so moisture in the gas after sitting isn't a problem. I use injector cleaner in the gas every now and then, but have not use fuel stabilizer.

Reactions: 1

okbear

· #4 · Dec 31, 2017

We have readily available real gas here so I don’t run any corn in anything at all. In fact, when we go on a trip I haul our gas. Along with full tanks on the machines, we leave with around 50 gallons. Corn gas is cheaper here so some do buy it. Small engine shops love the stuff. Keeps them busy.:wink2:

Reactions: 2

Grizzcrazy

· #5 · Dec 31, 2017

Maybe ruin the o-rings on the injector. I would say to run it till warm every month. Using some fuel stabilizer sounds like a good idea. I can get regular gas with no octane here as well so it is not a big deal for me. However it seems to be a rare privilege.

Fireman2

· #6 · Dec 31, 2017

Not a problem with in 20 yrs in the ATV's owned in the past however I use the machine all year and it sits very little. Other gas machines get Stabil or drained if they set for a season. The ATV would if it set for a season.

thrashingcows

· #7 · Dec 31, 2017

I am a commercial fuel hauler, and for the most part the Premium fuels have very little to no ethanol in them....so if you want to keep that out of your motor then that is a good way to go. As for the reg eth fuel, I run Marine Sta-bil fuel stabilizer in all my fuel regardless if what it's going in. This stuff works great at keep the negative side of ethanol from ruining carbs, seals and fuel systems.

This stuff...

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RobPt

· #8 · Jan 1, 2018

In the EU we have these fuels, all unleaded (see picture). As far as I know you have other ones in the US and Canada.

Petrol stations in Germany, France and Belgium are obliged to offer petrol E10 with bio-ethanol. In France and Belgium E10 is often the replacement for Euro 95. In Germany, E10 is often offered in addition to Euro 95.

What is E10?

E10 is a mixture of 90 % fossil fuel and 10 % (bio-)ethanol. Bio-ethanol is an alcohol made by fermentation from sugar, corn or wheat. Ethanol is more aggressive than gasoline for both metals and plastics and can therefore affect engine parts such as gaskets and seals.

Suitable for E10

All Yamaha models from model year 1990 are suitable for E10 fuel. (data provided by Yamaha) And there is, next to the fueltank-cap, a sticker on my Grizzly 700 EPS MY18, that confirms that I can use E10.

But again, I'm talking about the EU. Really have no idea if "our engines" are different than the ones used for the US/Canadian market.

Note: "sans plomb" that you can read on the picture is French for "unleaded"

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Hanover123

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 1, 2018

Do you know where i can buy this? I think its very similar to ethanol shield product i have.

Hanover123

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 1, 2018

So is 89 octane ok?

mainehunter

· #11 · Jan 1, 2018 (Edited)

Hanover123 said:
Just purchased 2007 grizzly 700. Plan on running 93 octane gas but was curious if anyone has had problems with ethanol in gas. I have replaced a lot of carbs on 4 cycle equipment due to gas setting in carb and ethanol deteriorating seals etc. Any issues with fuel injection? Any one run fuel stabilizer like Ethanol Shield?

Welcome to GC from Maine. Myself and most of the guys I know run regular 87 octane E10 gas from the pump, ALWAYS with Highway 95, or Sta-Bil ethanol blend additive. We have zero problems as long as we keep the fuel fixer in the gas. All of my small engines whether they are two stroke or four stroke, carburator or injected run smoother, start easier, and run cleaner with the Highway 95 from Castle in the gas. High performance two strokes in the snowmobiles are a different story. They want high test, hate ethanol. It's a pain. It is very humid around here, so we have to be careful.

mainehunter

· #12 · Jan 1, 2018

thrashingcows said:
I am a commercial fuel hauler, and for the most part the Premium fuels have very little to no ethanol in them....so if you want to keep that out of your motor then that is a good way to go. As for the reg eth fuel, I run Marine Sta-bil fuel stabilizer in all my fuel regardless if what it's going in. This stuff works great at keep the negative side of ethanol from ruining carbs, seals and fuel systems.

This stuff...

Yup, that stuff works well.

possume22

· #13 · Jan 1, 2018

Yes my 550 actually runs better on 85 by the time slips at the local race track. but can only get 87 and up around here. If your machine is going to set. I would use non ethanol or fuel treatment. I use ethanol but my stuff hardly sets for any longer than a week or so before ridden.

rwreuter

· #14 · Jan 1, 2018

87 Octane, No Ethanol and you will be golden year around and at elevations.

mainehunter

· #15 · Jan 1, 2018

okbear said:
We have readily available real gas here so I don’t run any corn in anything at all. In fact, when we go on a trip I haul our gas. Along with full tanks on the machines, we leave with around 50 gallons. Corn gas is cheaper here so some do buy it. Small engine shops love the stuff. Keeps them busy.:wink2:

@okbear, so what the heck is up with that? You guys are either in the middle of corn country, or pretty close to it, and you can easily buy real gas. We are 2000 miles from corn country and it is a MAJOR expedition to find/buy real gas. I know of two places, TWO! One is here in Ellsworth, it's not even a regular gas station, it's one of the wholesale fuel suppliers in the industrial park. You have to drive out there, go in the office, sign a paper that says it's for off road use, drive down to the pumps, fill up, get a slip, drive back up to the office and pay. Good lord! And, they are only open from like 7 to 3 M-F! The only other place I know of is a 3 hour drive north, a little place that sells a LOT of high test real gas in the winter to the snowmobilers. I suspect it has to do with state law, and all the bliss ninny moonbat lefty wackos that have overtaken our state and got themselves elected to the state legislature! They think they are helping the environment.

Reactions: 1

Grizzcrazy

· #16 · Jan 1, 2018

Baa haaa ha! They ship the corn out and get better stuff there. Lol. I don't get it either. But it's true.

Reactions: 1

mainehunter

· #17 · Jan 2, 2018

Yup! Of course the real answer, as it ALWAYS is, some useless politico on the take somewhere!

OpDawg

· #18 · Jan 2, 2018

mainehunter said:
I know of two places, TWO! ... The only other place I know of is a 3 hour drive north, a little place that sells a LOT of high test real gas in the winter to the snowmobilers.

Corner Store in Howland has it.

-Opie

Reactions: 1

mainehunter

· #19 · Jan 2, 2018

OpDawg said:
Corner Store in Howland has it.

-Opie

Thanks, that's 1-1/2 hours north of me, so still quite a trip for gas!

NormB

· #20 · Jul 8, 2018

thrashingcows said:
I am a commercial fuel hauler, and for the most part the Premium fuels have very little to no ethanol in them....so if you want to keep that out of your motor then that is a good way to go. As for the reg eth fuel, I run Marine Sta-bil fuel stabilizer in all my fuel regardless if what it's going in. This stuff works great at keep the negative side of ethanol from ruining carbs, seals and fuel systems.

This stuff...

Luck o’ the irish, I guess.

I’ve used this for years in all my gas. I DRAIN engines/tanks before winter sets in, burning what’s in the carburetors several times until the engine won’t fire at all.

In the past year I’ve replaced carburetors in a Mantis Tiller, Stihl weed whacker, and torn down and rebuilt a carburetor in a Honda engine generator.

All of these have filters (of sorts), and the only connection I can make is I’ve been using E10 fuel.

By accident.

I’ve BEEN ethanol-free fuel, it’s really a PITA to find around here - and I’ve used the ethanol-free station finder. turns out the one place I’d been buying it that was local? It’s NOT ethanol-free, just not labeled at the pump as E10.

I’ve taken to carrying a couple of empty jerry cans (NATO style) in my truck so - as I did last month outside of Richmond, VA - buy the stuff when I can.

On the advice of many, I’m going to try some of the Star-tron for a while.

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