ETHANOL FREE FUEL?

Interesting article, thanks! As the author says, you probably wouldn't want to do that for each and every fill-up of your motorcycle tank. And even if you did, you'd have to transport every batch from the station home to perform the alchemy. Would get to be a bit much I'm thinking.

Fortunately, I have a good source (Quik Trip) near me for 90 octane ethanol-free fuel. And the point made about marinas is valid...often - if you live near a marina - you can find premium ethanol-free fuel, as the go-fast boats use this.
 
Ethanol isn't necessarily all bad though. It actually has a higher RON/MON rating than any regular or premium pump fuel. When E85 was a thing in Skandinavia, some 15-20 years ago, Ford and Volvo offered "flex fuel" cars, which would give more power when running on E85 vs even 98/99 RON pump fuel. These engines were turbocharged I-4, and would typically give 150 hp on 98/99 and 180 hp on E85, due to the ECU allowing higher boost pressure on E85.
 
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And ethanol use will clean your fuel system if parts are compatible. It can be helpful if a fuel system is reasonably clean. But if the system us filthy with varnish and long fuel lines (think auto) - you're in for a thrill ride.
Boats? Forgetaboutit!
The video is a great science class experiment. But no way am I voluntarily putting water in my fuel.
 
E15 is this the future?

This popped up on my Goldwing Doc's news feed today..........

Screenshot 2026-05-01 at 08.02.22.png

More here: https://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=78545
 
Adamc said:
E15 is this the future?

This popped up on my Goldwing Doc's news feed today..........

View attachment 370434
More here: https://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=78545
Click to expand...
I'd say that's going to be of significant concern and not only to 1970's or 1980's vehicles. To date (touch wood) I have had no issues using E10 fuel, I use fuel stabiliser at every fill. I'm not sure how much higher the ethanol content can go before it's a problem on even some fairly modern vehicles?
 
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There will be concern. I'm concerned about the gap between what the politicos say and what is practical. Sometimes hear stupid remarks on the radio where they'll come out with things like petrol cars are to be banned by 2030 when what they mean is quite different, Then they'll say we need to reduce gas usage and are well on the way to phasing out domestic gas. Sorry, pardon, you can't do that. What they probably mean is getting around to not building new houses with gas c/h? Spokesman from the gas industry said they are getting very confused and contradictory messages from govt but he said, be assured, the gas supply ain't going to turned off anytime soon.

But to politicos who think they've already dealt with fossil fuels, I fear the niceties of alcohol free / 5% / 10% / 60% are a bit lost. Just have to hope there's enough voices in industry, trade bodies, interest groups to counter the sillier proposals?
 
I've seen various examples of the technique and makes sense. I remember "back in the day" gas line anti freeze in a bottle to prevent water in fuel from freezing in your gas lines during cold spells was just alcohol in a bottle you added to the gas tank. It combined with the water and thawed it and enabled the mixture to run through and burn. Same principle, you just need a suitable container with a drain in the bottom. Link to video

 
As for fuel consumption, E15 vs E0 will result in 3-5 % higher fuel consumption, so the difference is not at all dramatic. In Norway, we basically have E10/ 95RON and E0/ 98 RON.
I will happily run E10 in anything that is used regularly, but try to run it almost empty, fill up with E0, and run for a while before any longer periods of storage.
 
Unfortunately E0 is no longer available at filling stations in the UK. Even when it was available it was labelled as E5, so you never really knew what you were buying for certain.

E10 and E5 are the two grades available now.

I know you can buy E0 fuel by the drum but last time I looked it was very expensive and I'm not sure my house insurance policy covers storage of fuel in a drum.
 
This is only relevant in the UK, I’ve been removing ethanol from E5 petrol for past few months and use Tesco Premium (E5). The RON rating has been just over 100 and removing the ethanol brings the RON down to approximately 95 which I think is acceptable without the need to add an additive. There are lower E5 fuels like Shell and BP but their RON is lower and may require a RON booster making the fuel more expensive. I randomly check the amount of E5 in Tesco Premium and although the fuel has been constantly testing at 4%, last month it didn’t contain any! This may be a one off and may be due to the fuel crisis that’s going on but not sure why this would be because I think all the UK sourced ethanol is from the USA. Hope this may be of help to our UK members, I’m based in Cardiff so it may change region to region.
Its been a long time said:
Unfortunately E0 is no longer available at filling stations in the UK. Even when it was available it was labelled as E5, so you never really knew what you were buying for certain.

E10 and E5 are the two grades available now.

I know you can buy E0 fuel by the drum but last time I looked it was very expensive and I'm not sure my house insurance policy covers storage of fuel in a drum.
Click to expand...
 
electricpoet said:
This is only relevant in the UK, I’ve been removing ethanol from E5 petrol for past few months and use Tesco Premium (E5). The RON rating has been just over 100 and removing the ethanol brings the RON down to approximately 95 which I think is acceptable without the need to add an additive. There are lower E5 fuels like Shell and BP but their RON is lower and may require a RON booster making the fuel more expensive. I randomly check the amount of E5 in Tesco Premium and although the fuel has been constantly testing at 4%, last month it didn’t contain any! This may be a one off and may be due to the fuel crisis that’s going on but not sure why this would be because I think all the UK sourced ethanol is from the USA. Hope this may be of help to our UK members, I’m based in Cardiff so it may change region to region.
Click to expand...
Apparently the Ensus ethanol plant is now running again up in Wilton. I understand it was bailed out by a government grant as the UK is really short of carbon dioxide. That plant is a significant source of carbon dioxide as a by product of ethanol production.

Closure of several industrial facilities that used to supply by product carbon dioxide have closed the last couple of years. Hence the dire shortage of the gas in the UK.

(Oh the irony. You really couldn't make it up. That"s the very same carbon dioxide that's regarded as public enemy number one by our political class).
 

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