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I think that most of us are aware of the issues surrounding the addition of Ethanol to Fuel.

For vehicles introduced / designed before ethanol was added, there are problems that it can degrade fuel lines and seals in the fuel systems and give problems with fuel tanks.

For steel tanks there is a problem with water (ethanol often contains water, it can separate out, the water drops to the bottom of the tank and rusting problems occur)

For Plastic and Glass Fibre tanks the Ethanol attacks the plastics. It has led to de-lamination of glass fibre tanks and swelling of plastic tanks. I have witnessed this myself. Having initially dismissed it as a bit of hype, I have now found that it is a real issue - I can no longer raise my tank without the front brackets fouling the top yoke. Previously they cleared easily. I have now modified the fixing brackets but the brackets still rub ... and I guess the tank is still growing.

A Petition has been started but I don't think it is well publicised - let's do our bit to address that.

Please publicise this on all forums and elsewhere. Encourage all to sign the petition ... we really don't want problems with degraded fuel lines and tanks - the consequences are frightening.

Link for the Petition
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15535



BenWah ..... any chance of a mention of the problems and the Petition in your Magazine? I think this is of real interest to owners of classic machines

And for those who want to try to avoid Ethanol, I found this posted in The Kettle Club Forum last September. Obviously this is a changing situation and it may not be accurate today ... but it's better than no info:

Re: Ethanol Free Fuel?

Postby Tonto » Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:42 pm
Mick
Not sure if this helps, but I read some pointers on a classic car racing web page re ethanol content and associated damage. Not sure how accurate content is, but it seemed well researched. Anyway, I'm filling up with Total or Texaco Super since reading their findings: See below:

BP Ethanol added at 5% to unleaded petrol at all sites across the UK. BP Ultimate (super unleaded) does not have Ethanol added, except in the South West of England.
Esso Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol at most sites in the UK. Esso Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol, except in the South West of England (Devon & Cornwall)
Shell Shell has repeatedly refused to answer the question. It is therefore an assumption only, that all Shell petrol should be considered to contain 5% Ethanol.
Texaco Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol. Texaco Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol.
Total Ethanol is not added to any Total fuel (including standard unleaded petrol). Except in the North West and South East of England.

copied and posted on my local bike forum , cheers,

Signed.

Dale

Ethanol content is mandated by law in some places ( US 10% .. Canada 5%). This has raised the price of grain and livestock feed by 40/50% it seems.
Quite apart from the effect on vehicles wtf would anyone want it?

Samray wrote:Ethanol content is mandated by law in some places ( US 10% .. Canada 5%). This has raised the price of grain and livestock feed by 40/50% it seems.
Quite apart from the effect on vehicles wtf would anyone want it?

.... if I were to put myself in the position of an arable farmer the increase in grain and livestock feed may be very attractive .....

Signed

Signed, even though the guy that raised it needs to learn how to use capital letters.

.... and spell.....

Signed and passed on to forums I frequent.

Good work that man ! Signed
Sure this is an issue we will hear more of,more regularly ( I thought I was being special having pproblems re fitting pump to Falco tank on sunny day, tank expanded, pump base didnt )

all signed . there's no doubt about it ,had to mod the front bracket to get the falco tank back down and bolts in ! they do grow old school cars with mechanical fuel pumps aren't doing to well either

dave

Done.

Signed.
Thanks for the pointer.

I recall reading posts on an American forum re the nasty effects of ethanol on modern tanks, one guy reported losing all throttle , contol on his road going crosser, put the bike into a garage and they diagnosed tank dissintergration due to methanol. Rider described it as having a ghost hand on the twist grip, workshop described it as having many unknown compounds passing thru the carb !

Come to think of it, my bike did randomly cut out while i was doing about 70mph the other day when i pulled the clutch in to change down. It started straight back up though. Never done a rolling start from 70mph before....