E10 is coming

[Greybeard]

At some time soon we'll have salt on our roads;  during that time my bike will not get used for months. After reading about modern 'petrol' absorbing water I thought that I'd ask you guys if sealing the tank is a good idea.

[BigJim]

Can do no harm i reckon. Keeping it topped right up and adding some snake oil (other additives are available) is my technique. When you can get petrol that is! Local garage was dry for 6 days, did manage to keep riding though. The best method is to keep riding GB, lots of time before salt and then there's the Santas on a bike ride which is always a laugh. I can't stop riding mine, even when i really should for maintenance or whatever. I took my other bike (BMW) out the other day as it needed a run having been parked up for over a month. Gosh, it was boring compared to the beezer!
 

[Greybeard]

When you can get petrol that is!

I have not needed to fill up since before the fuel 'crisis'. I rode the bike to an Esso garage a few miles away so I could buy their E5 jollop. No problems;  the place was quiet.

I haven't seen queues at petrol stations around Warwick and Leamington since the early panic buying days.

[Greybeard]

.... lots of time before salt...

The first frost will bring out the gritters. I'm not willing to damage my chrome with salt.  When the salt has been washed away with a few days heavy rain I may venture out.

[BigJim]

Your bike is lovely and original so i can understand the concern with the chrome etc. My bitsa on the other hand is not in any way showable or original so has to take it's chances! Lots of winter fettling required. Didn't say which winter.
 

[bsa-bill]

The first frost will bring out the gritters.

If you're lucky, we don't get gritters around rural roads like we used to, it's a double-edged thing though, Council save money by not gritting many roads in anticipation of frost, not gritting roads leads to water ingress into the surface of the road THEN it freezes and results in potholes

[Angus]

GB I am sure you know this but as you filled up at an Esso station and used their E5 which I assume is Synergy Supreme + 99 it is ethanol free according to their website
https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels/petrol  read down the page to the + 99
I have used this fuel in my bikes, but I can not now as our local Coop which used to sell Esso fuel has rebranded and know body will reply to requests for information about ethanol.

[Greybeard]

.... I have used this fuel in my bikes, but I can not now as our local Coop which used to sell Esso fuel has rebranded and know body will reply to requests for information about ethanol.

There must be other Esso stations somewhere in your area.

[Angus]

The nearest is about 20 miles away. I am not that concerned about E5 whilst using the bike regularly, all the warnings are about bikes left for any length of time. Like you I reduce my riding once the salt is down, so I will go to that station for 'winter' fuel to fill my 25 litre jerry can.

[sean]

in Canada this has been around for a long time ,now talking about E15 .....I dont use regular gas in anything with a carb ,motorcycle , chainsaw etc all get High test no ethanol in it here .
Marinas and airports also sell ethanol free gas for a reason it doesnt attract moisture and it doesnt eat rubber and fibreglass and aluminum which ethanol does .
Ethanol in gas  is a big money maker for small engine shops people leave it in their lawnmowers or snow blowers etc for several months then wonder why they wont start or if they do have no power its the ethanol has a short shelf life needs a stabiliser additive and if left over a period of the the fuel with damage carb internals ....and leave water in your gas tank and float bowl .
Ethanol percentage has to be listed on the pumps here and if you only have multi selection pumps its best to put the first few litres in a gas can as there will still be whatever the previous user pumped in the lines .

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
I know what you mean Sean. The last month here we have had a multitude of mowers/snippers/rideon's in the shop that won't start. Mainly due to fuel left in over the winter. Most have had the E10 fuel in them and degraded the carb rubbers.
At the shop all our machines (and customers when they leave the shop) have 98 (no ethanol) fuel. All my bikes run on 98, the Cafe and rHonda get a bit more boosted to 105.
Cheers

[WozzA]

Down here you can tell when following a car that is using E10 petrol, they stink like rotten egg gas.   

[Greybeard]

I always turn the tap off and let the engine run the fuel in the carb down. I may drain the carb dry for winter.

[RogerSB]

For a few years I’ve only been using premium petrol (BP Ultimate) in my GF.   My method is to fill a 20 ltr fuel can up after adding 22ml of Redex Lead Replacement, 18ml of Redex Fuel System Cleaner and 18ml of Sta-Bil 360 Marine Ethanol Treatment to it.  I keep the can in my garage and top up my bike from it and keep the tank full, especially in the winter to help prevent condensation.  It takes only a small amount of each additive to add to 20 ltrs and it’s quick and easy to do.  I know some think it’s snake oil and that it doesn’t work, but all I can say is that it seems my bike starts and runs better since I started this procedure back in 2017.  Despite storing the petrol in a can, for sometimes months, and in my bike's petrol tank, summer and winter, I’ve not had any fuel related problems.

I like to use my bike regularly, but not so much in the UK winter - but, weather permitting, I do use it. Also I always run the carb dry if I don’t think I’d be starting it up in the very near future.

Rog.

[Greybeard]

Down here you can tell when following a car that is using E10 petrol, they stink like rotten egg gas.   

I understood that whiff was the catalytic convertor cleaning itself. I've been aware of it for yonks so doesn't seem like an Ethanol issue.