Cleaning Petrol From Ethanol

Or you could just run your engine until it runs out of fuel, before putting it away for the winter.

 

One thing to consider is fuel with the ethanol removed is now a lower octane rating so would req an additive to restore its rating, i have used a fuel ethanol conditioner for the last few years in my older bikes and have been pleased with the results.

 

I just buy the non ethanol gas, costs a bit more

 

I have used a fuel conditioner for several years now over winter on my main bike and have had no problems, Short term starting and running can sometimes produce emulsification of the oil as the engine does not get hot enough to burn any water off,
My 89 Transalp I use all year round for work.

 

Shouldn't green shield stamps be factored into this matter?
As long as I get double green shield stamps with it, I don't care where my petrol comes from

 

I just drain my tank problem solved.

 

Me too. Check out which oil companies produce ethanol-free petrol near you. It seems to vary around the country. I use Shell V-Plus. Yes it costs a bit more but having had to deal with two rusty tanks this year (not the Triumph) it makes sense to me.

 

Me too. Check out which oil companies produce ethanol-free petrol near you. It seems to vary around the country. I use Shell V-Plus. Yes it costs a bit more but having had to deal with two rusty tanks this year (not the Triumph) it makes sense to me.

 

That has 5% ethanol I'm afraid mate

 

Filled up a while back with super unleaded after visiting several garages to find some without ethanol in it, and failing miserably. Put it in anyway, more in hope than anything else. Sadly I haven't ridden since (a bit of back and knee trouble) so I've dosed it with stabiliser and Redex and have ordered some Wynns Dry Fuel which will hopefully, between them, preserve the petrol and the tank over winter. It usually works, although ethanol free super unleaded was always the best/cheapest option in my opinion! Sadly no more!

 

I don't think you can buy ethanol free fuel in the UK due to regulations (I think 5% is the minimum allowed) whereas in the USA I believe it is still available

 

I've never bothered with any of the suggestions above and I doubt if most other people have either, at least just for over winter. I've never had a problem.
I think you are all being a bit pernickerty.

 

Besides the modern, fuel injected Triumph, which I'm not so concerned about (because I'm assuming Triumph's engineers have thought about ethanol in petrol) I own 2 Honda sports bikes from the early '90's (RVF400NC35 & CBR400NC29 in case you're curious), before the days of ethanol. They've got carbs and bare steel tanks (I don't know if the Triumph's tank is bare steel or has been lined..I'm sure someone will tell me).
I've had to derust both tanks this year and strip and clean the carbs. Ethanol may or may not be the cause. Classic Motorcycle Mechanics and Practical Sportsbike mags both suggest it is, and both recommend using ethanol-free petrol if possible, which is what I try to do.
If you research ethanol-free petrol (which for most people means google it, I contacted companies directly) this is what you will find (and I'm paraphrasing to keep it brief):
Most unleaded 95 Octane petrol in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol (government requirement).
There is currently no requirement for super unleaded (97+ Octane) to contain ethanol.
Esso super unleaded and Shell V+ is ethanol free across most of the UK (except Scotland and the south west..don't know why).
So there you go. They could be lying of course but what would be the point?
The obvious solution is to keep using the bike(s) and not leave them unused for long periods with petrol in the tank.

 

I'm curious as to how you knew the super unleaded you used wasn't ethanol-free. Presumably it said somewhere on the pump (the people who take your cash rarely have a clue..I've asked several).

 

Please don't take offence but a couple of 'thinks' and a 'believe' suggests you haven't actually checked.
If someone can direct me to a statement from an oil company or the government or a report from anyone that contradicts what I said in my previous post then please do. I'm happy to be corrected.

 

Just had a reply from Shell UK, which I assume is their current position. It now says that standard Shell unleaded AND Shell V-Power contain some ethanol, up to 5%. This is a change from their last statement. However, Esso still maintain their super unleaded (Synergy) fuels do not contain ethanol.

 

I am not taking offence mate but anytime I say I think or I believe then I have done a small amount of research but cannot always verify the source information. In this instance I had looked directly at the Shell UK website which stated their Plus fuel contained a minimum of 5% ethanol as dictated by UK legislation. I say think or believe because I cannot definitively or without hours of dedicated research say it is 100% correct and a quick forum post doesn't warrant that much of my time I'm afraid