Ethanol and your motorcycle

Ethanol is an additive for gasoline made from corn (think alcohol, like moonshine). This additive helps gasoline run cleaner with less harmful emissions. Gasoline with 10% ethanol is called E10. Most gasoline sold in the US is at least 10% ethanol but how does ethanol effect your bike?

Different motorcycles react to ethanol differently. To safely use gasoline with ethanol, older bikes may need to have some hoses or seals/gaskets replaced as ethanol will cause these component to fail over time if they aren’t rated for ethanol use. Newer bikes may work fine. The only sure way to know is to consult your owner’s manual or talk with your dealer.

However, if you plan on storing your motorcycle for any length of time, play it safe: Drain your fuel tank and run your carburetors dry. This will insure that no fuel is left in your fuel system.

Gasoline with Ethanol Facts

• Reduces gas mileage
• Your engine may run leaner and in some cases, run rougher
• Burns hotter than gasoline alone
• Attracts water (good for small amounts of water in gas lines but bad for long term storage especially in high humidity areas)
• Must be stabilized if stored for more than a couple of months
• Loosens crud in fuel system (this can clog filters or jets)
• Attacks aluminum, rubber and some resins in fiberglass causing them to corrode or dissolve (if not coated or rated for ethanol use)

In conclusion, play it safe. Consult your owner’s manual or check with your dealer to see if you need to have any parts replaced to safely run gasoline mixed with ethanol. When using gasoline mixed with ethanol, add a stabilizer to it to minimize the risk of corrosion and water contamination. As always, if you spill gasoline on or near your bike, clean it up immediately.

Want to read more on the subject, check out this technical paper on E10 gasoline.

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