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Thanks for the information. Very helpful.I was curious about this topic as well. I have found a website with stations that have ethanol free gas for the states, they also have an app for phones. Pure-Gas.org
I have been using ethanol blend fuel since the 1970s in everything and adding Amsoil performance improver to smaller engines since the 1980s HD motorcycle to garden tiller with no ill effects yet.From the owner's manual:
In the high elevation of Colorado 87 octane is mid-grade, that's what I run in the CT125. Regular is 85 octane and not recommended in fuel injected vehicles that target a specific air-fuel ratio. More importantly I try to fill up at higher traffic gas stations with name brands on them. Gas stations in the boonies with poorly maintained tanks in the ground are a common culprit of bad gas and high water content. I'll buy ethanol-free when it's available, but Honda OK'd the bike for up to 10% ethanol (also in the owner's manual) so I wouldn't be afraid of it unless you're going to to park the bike for a few months. If you're filling up from a pump that doesn't have an individual hose for each octane, the hose usually still has some fuel from the previous purchase in it, so you're getting some of that rather than what you're intending to buy. In a larger fuel tank that's not significant since the volume of fuel dilutes it, but if you're getting 0.3 gal of the previous purchase that is significant on a ~1.14 gallon fill up, which would be around what it takes to fill up from 1 bar flashing on the fuel gauge.
The engine doesn't make any more power on higher octane, it can actually perform worse with too high octane of fuel due to a slower burn and heat soak.
As you say...but the number of people who have are many. A buddy has a small fleet ,6 rental boats that do not sit idle the fuel gets used quickly. When ethanol became all that was to be had close by his headaches started. One or two of the boats were ALWAYS out because of fuel issues. He started making the effort to get real fuel by driving a couple towns over and filling several gas cans for the week's use....his troubles vanished like a fart in the wind. We now have three stations in our little town that supply real fuel. The small engine repair shop no longer has no room for more boats bikes and lawn mowers because of a backlog of fuel related repairs. As for finding ethanol free fuel it was hard a few years ago but that has changed because of the demand. There are 16 locations listed in your town that have E-0Ok. still have to deal with it, and said, haven't had an issue w it , ever.
I'm curious to see what other members have to say on your thread.I did my first fill up last weekend, went out of my way to use ethanol free gas. It felt like a small but noticeable increase in performance post fill with with the e-free gas. Am I just imaging things or is there any truth to ethanol free gas having better performance?
I would like to update everyone on my filthy gas push mower. Busted it out after 5 months, was almost able to fill the tank (4/5ths) with what was left of the E10 in my gas can from last year, one pull, no smoke, started right up.I've never run into the ethanol fuel gremlins. I have a push mower that goes in the garage after the last mow with whatever fuel is in the tank. No winter prep. Every spring i fill up the tank with E10 87, pull 2-3 times, big puff of smoke and its back in action. That has been the game plan for the past 7 years. If i'm not hitting a problem after 7 years i'm not putting in the effort to locate Gas Classic.