Having read about a lot of problems, on US / Canadian Motorcycle sites, is there an issue with this in Europe ? OK piccys will have to wait, due to the sun , just now, BUT , my fuel tank has 2 " Pimples " growing on it. is this due to ethanol ?
OK, to Clarify, the lower obvious "Pimple " looks like it is in 2 parts, the smaller " pimple" is about 2 cm above & slightly to the right of the big one.
I heard that Ducati ended up with a big US court case, due to "Supposed" ethanol distorting their plastic fuel tanks. Also the US marine industry has reported problems caused by ethanol in fuel tanks and outboards.
Guzzis: White Griso 8v, 1954 Airone & 1962 Falcone. Previous Guzzis: Black Griso 1100 (deceased, RIP), 1966 Ercole Motocarro (Gone, but not forgotten)....and why did Stupid sell his 'Ultima Edizione' Le Mans MkV???? Others: Ducati 250 & MZ ISDT G5
From what year is that Breva 750? From what I know, the official Piaggio position is that all their 'recent' bikes are compatible with E10, that is, with up to 10% ethanol fuel. However, most of us here in France where the government has decided to be 'proactive' in the introduction of that stuff avoid it whenever we can, rather going for SP98 than for SP95-E10.
OTOH, I know that such a choice isn't (always) an option in the US, and that yours is not the only Breva 750 ... so I'd rather see what other US owners have to say about the subject!
Will wrote:You can download a pdf of the UK government's research report into ethanol problems here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/qinetiq-10-02471/ The list of affected materials makes worrying reading!
Doesn't say much on any Italian brand, but you will find this list as quoted:
The UK Motor Cycle Industry Association and manufacturers and importers of powered two wheelers into the UK have been contacted to elicit their views on ethanol in petrol, specifically regarding material compatibility and carburettor icing [95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106]. The following is a summary of the information received: • Triumph, all Triumph motorcycles have been compatible with E10 since at least 1994. From 1993 to 2008 nylon moulded fuel tanks were employed but due to vapour permeability concerns a switch back to steel tanks was made [96]. • BMW. BMW motorcycles have been E10 compatible for at least twenty years [107]. • Harley-Davidson. All motorcycles have been E10 compatible since the 90s [108]. • Kawasaki. Kawasaki Heavy Industries are still considering the effects of E10 and do not recommend its use [109]. • KTM. All models from 2000 are compatible with E10 [110]. • Yamaha. All models are compatible with E5 and some new models are compatible with E10 [111]. • Suzuki. All models have been compatible with E10 since 2005 [112]. • Honda. All models have been compatible with E10 since 1993 but carburettored vehicles could suffer poor drivability [164, 165]. One manufacturer has not responded.
We've got the E5 for years and have no options AFAK, I haven't had any problems with the Breva. Cars fueled by E85 are common here, but it is known that you'd have to change fuel hoses on older cars, if E 85 are used. By a brief reading of the report, it seems like E10 would mostly affect pre-2000 vehicles.
Breva V750 ie - 2003 Anders Holt LTT, SMC (but not for the moment being!), FEMA
When I started working on the pinging problems with my 07 B11, one of the things I did was to use a country gas station that sold non-ethanol fuel. The non-ethanol fuel combined with Todd's ECU reflash, PCV, and autotune minimized my pinging. I had to work hard to get the bike to ping.
Now, if I went on a longer ride and fueled with E10, pinging issues were more prevalent once the motor warmed up. Recently, I started having more frequent pinging problems. I checked my autotune AFR and saw an across the board requirement for a richer mixture. I found that odd, but accepted the adjustment. I went to my country gas station and mentioned this to the attendant who begrudgingly pointed to a new sticker on the pump that showed they were now selling E10. According to the attendant, the state had forced them to switch. When I asked when they had switched to E10, the date coincided with my last fill up.
So, I associate ethanol with my pinging problems. And it looks like my options for non-ethanol fuel within a reasonable distance from my house have been eliminated. I am stuck with ethanol, the pinging, and a spreading zit breakout on my tank.
I'm sceptical about those manufacturers claims their bikes are ethanol proof. OK they might not be using the various grades of plastics & rubbers that are affected but they are all still using the metals that are affected by galvanic corrosion as described in the research report. This might not be the 'instant' problem that they would have had with the non-metals but a few years down the line galvanic corrosion could be a problem and the only solution will be replacement parts if they're available. Maybe the makers just consider it a bit more profitable inbuilt obsolesence and that no one would ever want to run an older bike or preserve it for posterity.
Guzzis: White Griso 8v, 1954 Airone & 1962 Falcone. Previous Guzzis: Black Griso 1100 (deceased, RIP), 1966 Ercole Motocarro (Gone, but not forgotten)....and why did Stupid sell his 'Ultima Edizione' Le Mans MkV???? Others: Ducati 250 & MZ ISDT G5
Most manufacturers today are being owned by golden boys steered Pirate Funds institutions. Their God is only one: Money. They want us to buy more over time - a 100 000 + kms bike is no good for them - we must buy more often. Even if the manufacturer executives are ok guys, their bosses, these despicable Funds institutions will force on us design obsoletion every way they can, usually disguised in some "environmental" camouflage, through their political employees and their brainwashing public media guys. Engine corrosion is going to have political causes. I hope some ethanol riding Brazilian reader can say there is no real corrosion fear and calm us down.
Well, I hope we'll be fine in 10-15 years time to talk about how wrong our fears have been: No way we can practically avoid alcohol in our engines - the dice has been casted (proper english I hope) so just strawl along and see what comes our way.
