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Honda Trail 125 Forum

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What Fuel for the CT...

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Farmer Mike

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Dec 14, 2023
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178
Location
North Florida
I looked around a bit, and nothing jumped out at me, so I'm guessing this hasn't been a hot topic of discussion. It occurred to me that I keep pouring "car" gas into the fuel tank. I would not dream of putting that stuff in any of my small engines or even mid sized engines... 4 wheeler, twins on my zero turn, chain saws, blowers, etc. Technically this is a small engine as well, actually smaller than all those except the power tools.... so given I keep a stock of non-ethanol gas on hand, should I be running that in the CT? What says the wisdom of the forum?
 
m in sc

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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2,514
Location
Rockhill, SC
LOL. I run e10 in everything i own, zero issues. you can dump 87 in the CT its fine. and i have some SMALL motorcycle motors (carbureted and over 50 yrs old) and never had any issues. so, regular is fine.. If you get water in the fuel, its more than likely the tank at the station has a leak.
 
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J

JPMcGraw

Active member
Joined
Apr 13, 2022
Messages
102
E10 all day. 87 on the stock motor 93 with the BBK. My push mower is getting close to 10 years old and has had E10 in it, in the humid south, its whole life. It sits from late October to mid April with whatever gas was in it and starts up in the first 1-3 pulls. Never have i ever had to change anything but the blade, air filter, and oil. I'm sure one day ill have to service the carb and fuel lines but if the interval is a decade for that I'm cool with the pitfalls of ethanol.
 
m in sc

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
Messages
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Rockhill, SC
its shocking how many people i have to remind that carb cleaner actually existed long before ethanol was in regular fuel. I agree ^ its fine.
 
m in sc

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
Messages
2,514
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Rockhill, SC
depends who you ask and what they believe TBH. new (especially aftermarket) fuel lines are not what they used to be, same with vacuum caps. the composition is def different, especially from other countries other than the US and Japan. That's just a fact.
 
O

oldskool

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2022
Messages
488
Ethanol is a boondoggle that makes some people FEEL like they are doing something good and it makes a few people rich. Thousands of small engines and boat motors have had issues with it. You place your bet and take your chances. I'll gladly pay an extra dollar per fill up in the little CT. You want to end a friendship borrow their boat or generator and bring it back with a tank full of ethanol.
 
dmonkey

dmonkey

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Jul 4, 2021
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🇺🇸
Your CT125 should do fine running what's recommended in the owner's manual:
Recommended fuel octane number: Pump Octane Number (PON) 86 or higher

Some people prefer to buy premium fuel not because of the octane value, but because of the additives.

As for ethanol, the bike was built to be compatible with E10 or up to 10% ethanol. Don't use E15 and obviously not E85 on a stock motor.

1709074330516.png

If you're putting the bike away for long term storage, you can take your chances but filling up with ethanol-free and/or treating the fuel for storage is a good idea IMO.
 
F

Farmer Mike

Active member
Joined
Dec 14, 2023
Messages
178
Location
North Florida
dmonkey said:
If you're putting the bike away for long term storage, you can take your chances but filling up with ethanol-free and/or treating the fuel for storage is a good idea IMO.
Click to expand...
Putting the bike away for long term storage... well I "currently" live in Florida... and will ride year round, but we may start spending part of the year in the mountains... probably won't ride there in the winter. I personally believe that is really the problem people have with the "car" gas... is leaving it sit. I see that at least some people here believe it's not a problem, but the people at several small engine shops would beg to differ. I may run real gas for a few tanks just to see if I notice any difference. But given that I'm likely to run thru a tank a week, it's probably not a problem for me.
 
Kev250R

Kev250R

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May 25, 2022
Messages
579
Location
Orange So.Cal.
As others have said the Trail will run fine on 87. Because a tank of gas in my Trail typically last me for months I generally run 91 and add some StaBil before long-term storage. My Carb'd vehicles (ATV's, MC's) generally get parked with a full-tank of 91, again treated with StaBil.

I've also had rubber fuel lines fail because of Ethanol. To the point that I have a spool of 1/4 Fuel line I keep handy in my garage. Good or bad it seems to be here to stay.
 
Low-gear

Low-gear

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Joined
Jun 26, 2023
Messages
85
Location
NY
Given the choice, I will pay the extra $.30 for ethanol free but if there is no choice I have no problem using the corn stuff.
 
NMCoyote

NMCoyote

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Joined
May 31, 2023
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173
Location
Newer Mexico
There was some tax breaks and free Govt money to build up the ethanal infrastructure here in Newer Mexico years ago. All the state senators and representatives applied and were granted the free money, a few started to build a refining plant, but mostly pissed away the funds until the program went broke and they all abandoned the plants partially completed. This is the only reason ethanol ever got off the ground, government corruption plain and simple, 😳
 
D

derycksan

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Joined
Jun 29, 2022
Messages
8
Ethonol free most of the time. I'll use e10 when I'm riding often but it sits for months (especially in my gas cans) sometimes when the weather isn't cooperating.
 
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