Forum

[Frank]

I stopped using Shell V power when I found out via Shell's own website that it did contain ethanol. I tested it and confirmed as much. I've gone to BP Ultimate which comes up clear.

[Presto]

Did a bit of looking into this a while ago.


Straight petrol contains no water. The moisture content necessary for combustion is drawn from the atmosphere.
Bio-fuel (ethanol) is able to absorb water and carry water.
Unlike petrol, ethanol is highly soluble in water. When the water content of the E5 blend (i.e. fuel with a 5% ethanol content; E10 = a 10% ethanol component) reaches a critical level the ethanol component and associated water will separate from the E5 blend and form an ethanol/water phase.
This will accumulate at the bottom of a tank leaving petrol (without the ethanol component) in the upper layer and is known as phase separation. On a motorcycle this effect will result in the carburettor drawing virtually neat ethanol.
If phase separation occurs the process is essentially irreversible, there is no straightforward means of emulsifying - reblending - the ethanol back into the petrol.

[PeteF]

On the other hand. I always use cheap supermarket fuel and have no problem. Admittedly in a classic 350 which has no compression to speak of . The bike routinely stands all winter with half a tank of the stuff (I do drain the carbs) with no problem and starts every spring.

[Jim]

Thank you all for your comments and I shall try the sooper-dooper petrol and see if there is a difference.

[Gwilly]

Frank, thanks for that. If you've read it and tested it then thats good enough for me..

I've been trying to get info about Shell but their websites churn out the usual sales blurb..

Cannot find an answer to the question. Does V Power contain ethanol?

BP Ultimate has indeed no ethanol added. Except to my surprise it has in some regions i.e. Devon and Cornwall.. Why? i know not.. So thats me stuffed..

Its of interest to know that the ethanol is added to the fuel in the tanker ready for delivery. it is not blended with the fuel in a storage tank at the depot.. So i wonder how accurate is that 5% figure per delivery.. could it be 3 to 8%.variable..

ESSO. Has none except the south west again..

TOTAL Has none except the north west and south east of england.

TEXACO super unleaded has no ethanol added anywhere.Seems thats the stuff to use..

[ed.lazda]

Don't know about EFIs, but a while back I did some trials on fuel for my 2008 350 Bullet. I compared 98 vs 95 fuel but didn't distinguish supermarket from main oil companies. The expensive fuel consistently gave me 10% better fuel mileage, which made it cheaper per mile overall.

[Dean]

ethanol is the enemy here. octane not as crucial. if you cant get fuel without ethanol use one of the products that neutralizes its effect.

[Frank]

The test for ethanol is simple. In a measuring cylinder from a home brewing kit is ideal add exactly 10 ml off water. Top up to 100ml with the petrol and shake vigoursly. The water will absorb the ethanol and sink to the bottom. Hence if the layer at the bottom is greater than 10ml then it would indicate ethanol in the fuel. The water layer will also appear cloudy. If it's clear and still exactly 10ml then it will be free of ethanol.

[Norm]

I'm not sure if I got this right but with the radio on in the shed a few days ago I though I heard them talking about our V8 Supercars engines being built to run on E50 but Mercedes a Nissan were struggling to meet this and wanted an exemption to run E30 or something like that. I didn't get my head around it because I was unaware they were using ethenol fuel in them.

[MickB]

I used 95 octane with methanol (E10) when I first got my EFI and it sounded like tank, a really horrible blap blap exhaust note. I now use the 98 octane and the bike runs as sweet as a nut and sounds great. Reading the posts concerning the Bosch plugs, do they make much difference? I have a slight backfire, normally in the first five minutes of riding the bike and very occasionally on decelerating on a long run. The exhaust system is air tight (Mr H's EFI silencer) so would a change of plug help to cure the problem?