I've got Ethanol in my bike! Eek

[RhadamYgg]

I concur that this is a trivial and in my mind worthless thing to worry about. If your worried just get some seafoam and add a couple cap fulls every other fillup or once a month. Hell I add a cap full of seafoam to my oil the day before I change it (so I can get it to run through the engine components) to "loosen up" any sludge that may be in their. I have found that with every oil change there is less and less sludge.

Seafoam? That sounds interesting. Do you do your own oil-changes? How difficult is it?

I used to change my own oil until I got my 1992 Civic, they placed the oil filter is such an awkward spot that I changed it once myself and got really annoyed with it and took it someplace every time after that.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

You guys don't get to pump your own gas? That's just weird. When/Why did that rule come about? I think I'd be too concerned about the "fuel goon" not caring quite as much about my vehicle as I did and dripping it all over the tank or something to allow that.

Yeah, apparently NJ people are too dangerous and we can't be trusted to fuel our vehicles ourselves.

Some gas station attendants will fill my bike, some are like - 'hey man - do it yourself I'm not getting anywhere near you bike.'

I like doing it myself - because then I don't have to wait for the idiots. I use speedpass at Exxon so it usually is a pretty quick thing to do. This last guy - seemed to want to do it, so I let him. I don't think a little fuel on the bike would kill me and he didn't actually spill any.

But he didn't fill the tank properly either. The gas things always go off too early with my bike.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

back in da day ALL gas stations had an attendant who pumped gas for you. Then it started to get to expensive so most gas stations went to self serve. It is very rare now to find one that has an attendant. We had one couple miles from me until about 6 years ago. geeze im 29 and I knew that lol. They also get tipped for doing a "good" job. So I am pretty sure unless you were an ahole to the attendant he/she wouldnt dump gas all over your bike. Even if they did they would most likely be quick to clean it up.

Well, I'm 28, and I knew that back in the past just about everywhere was full service. I've seen one or two full service stations in mid-Michigan in the past, but I guess I'm just used to having the option to do it yourself. I don't think I'd like not having said option.

I've never used a full service station, so the "fuel goon" comment was in jest, although I really don't like others touching my vehicles anyway regardless how careful they are. This is particularly the case if I felt like I had to tip said fueler upper person to get decent service or not be thought a jerk. Fuel costs enough as it is without adding extra costs on top of it.

I'm not sure how they'd clean it up, do they have water available to rinse it off? I don't think just wiping it up would do all that much good. If there's to be a mistake involving a vehicle of mine, I'd much rather it be my mistake than someone elses'.

In NJ, you don't tip the goons. Most states that went self-serve still have full service options, for people who can't do it themselves or are willing to have someone else do it for an extra charge.

I might tip the gas goon if they checked my oil, cleaned my windows, etc. The classic full service station. They don't really do any of that any more. Most are reluctant to check your oil if you request it.

RhadamYgg

[ofblong]

I concur that this is a trivial and in my mind worthless thing to worry about. If your worried just get some seafoam and add a couple cap fulls every other fillup or once a month. Hell I add a cap full of seafoam to my oil the day before I change it (so I can get it to run through the engine components) to "loosen up" any sludge that may be in their. I have found that with every oil change there is less and less sludge.

Seafoam? That sounds interesting. Do you do your own oil-changes? How difficult is it?

I used to change my own oil until I got my 1992 Civic, they placed the oil filter is such an awkward spot that I changed it once myself and got really annoyed with it and took it someplace every time after that.

RhadamYgg

lol its pretty darn easy (cept when my hands get to oily and I have to work hard to get the dang oil filter to twist lol). I just roll the jack under the bike jack it up. Shove the bucket under the pan, remove the screw let it drain then remove the filter let it drain. put filter and bolt back in fill and good to go. Took me 15 minutes last time.

[dweiss]

Okay, so I am a newbie...and I have what might be a very stupid question. Oxbow..I assume you ride Honda's (because of your icon)...maybe you can answer this one...?

I just purchased my first bike after a 30-year hiatus from riding.
It is a 1982 Honda CM450A. Will it run on unleaded with the 10% ethanol, and not be hurt, or do I need to 'treat' each tank with an additive? I haven't fueled it yet, as it is being shipped from WV to AZ, where I am, and all the gas stations are self-serve, and run the 'summer' blend now.

Any responses would be GREATLY appreciated!

Debbie

[jonnythan]

Okay, so I am a newbie...and I have what might be a very stupid question. Oxbow..I assume you ride Honda's (because of your icon)...maybe you can answer this one...?

I just purchased my first bike after a 30-year hiatus from riding.
It is a 1982 Honda CM450A. Will it run on unleaded with the 10% ethanol, and not be hurt, or do I need to 'treat' each tank with an additive? I haven't fueled it yet, as it is being shipped from WV to AZ, where I am, and all the gas stations are self-serve, and run the 'summer' blend now.

Any responses would be GREATLY appreciated!

Debbie

It'll be fine. My '87 Yamaha sure doesn't have a problem.

It's not a bad idea to run half a can of Seafoam through once or twice a year though.

[oxbow1]

I agree with the seafoam.
when I bought my bike it had been sitting for years, put gas in it changed the battery and it started right up,I've never had a problem.But I might just be lucky there.

Ethanol at a 90-10 ratio is really barely worth doing,they have to add a chemical to it so that the gas and ethanol molecules will bond so you won't get a separation like Rhaddm was talking about.
and that chemical burning with the gas and ethanol negates the less pollution benefit we are supposed to get from burning Ethanol/gas mix.

[RhadamYgg]

I agree with the seafoam.
when I bought my bike it had been sitting for years, put gas in it changed the battery and it started right up,I've never had a problem.But I might just be lucky there.

Ethanol at a 90-10 ratio is really barely worth doing,they have to add a chemical to it so that the gas and ethanol molecules will bond so you won't get a separation like Rhaddm was talking about.
and that chemical burning with the gas and ethanol negates the less pollution benefit we are supposed to get from burning Ethanol/gas mix.

Doh! I think they even avoid the summer blend in California because the byproducts of burning it puts carcinogens in to the air.

RhadamYgg

[jstark47]

1. The federal Clean Air Act requires certain areas to oxygenate motor fuels. 100% of New Jersey counties fall under this law.
2. The NJ legislature in 2005 passed a law severely restricting use of MTBE by 2009.
3. Universal reliance on ethanol in NJ is the result.