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DIY Hunt that Ethanol!


No chemist or laboratory needed! just put a little masking tape near the top of a transparent tube like a test tube or similar, fill with fuel to the level of the tape and add some tap water. put cap or cork on, and shake for a few seconds. The water and any ethanol present will settle at the bottom of the tube









Having filled the tube with fuel up to the tape, "A" is the added water. "B" is the resultant water plus any ethanol after shaking.



If the height of band "A" equals the Height of band "B" then it can be assumed that there is no ethanol in the fuel.



If; however; Band "B" is noticeably higher than band "A", then the extra height will be the ethanol which has separated from the fuel and added itself to the water.



In the pic above, it seems that French Super U 98 fuel does not have added ethanol. Kevin will be drinking from there for the foreseeable future.








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Nice one Simon, I assume you didn't carry out this experiment at the petrol station!

You are correct Reg, The machine that gives out water (and does tyres) was out of order.



Some French fuel stations are unattended, just shove a card in the machine, fill up and go!

In my experience of riding /driving in France it clearly states on the pumps which fuels contain ethanol; I just wish they'd do the same in the UK so, at least for now, we could choose what we use.

This may help

http://www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/wes ... pdate.html

it is at least dated 2015

Unfortunately, the list at the end is preceded by "Correct as of Feb 2011", so may not be quite up to date.



I shall be doing tests on my local supplies in Kent soon. Tornado can do without acting 'drunk' on ethanol.

The "Super" fuels seem to be free of ethanol but they do keep changing the specs.



The ethanol is soluble in petrol, it stays the same volume, but it is also soluble in water and has an affinity for water. Water is not soluble in petrol, which is an oil, oil floats on water. So the ethanol 'precipitates' out into the water and you see an increase in volume.



Nice simple test.



I normally fill with Shell or BP supers (Optimax or VP), have done for years if for no other reason than it's consistent and burns cleanest and yes, I have had dodgy supermarket pump petrol.

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Going OT a bit sideways, the India home market models were low compression hence equipped to deal with third world low octane petrol. Strangely across the pond their fuel is generally lower RON than ours in Europe. The new bikes are 8.5:1 which means we can squeeze more out of them with our 100RON pumps. The RON of the fuel degrades in the tanks, 99RON is the minimum from the pump, I had a chat with Mr. Patel who owns the Shell station, it starts out over 100RON when he gets it delivered. Didn't think to ask him about ethanol. If I see him next time ...

Oh dear. Should I not use E10 in my Enfield EFI then? I wouldn't consider using it in my 2CV obviously, but I'd sort of assumed it would be fine in a modern fuel injected engine? I've used it in my 2004 Harley since it became available with no ill effects, but then the Harley was designed to run on it. I've just read through the Enfield handbook for recommendations but can find no mention of what fuel to use. Opinions?

My EFI runs ok on any type of petrol from any garage brand

The EFi will run on any jungle juice you care to put in it. India's petrol is anything from 87 to 93 RON. UK fuel is from 95 RON to over 99.
EFi also has hardened valves, seats, etc. An ecu should self adjust so it runs better on higher RON, by altering mix and timing, not too sure the EFi's is that clever. We used to advance the timing a notch when we put a tiger in the tank, 105 octane.



Problem is ethanol can rot through fuel lines, seals and tank lining on the older bikes.