Which gasoline? 90 octane pure gasoline vs. 91 octane with ethanol

[GlacierBlue]

There is a local station that sells 90 octane gasoline with no ethanol.  Most of the stations around here have 91 to 93 octane gasoline with ethanol.  The manual calls for 91 octane, but I think it may be better to avoid the alcohol.  I am not out to get the last ounce of performance out of the bike, but I don't want to damage it either.  What do you guys think?

[firer8r]

I specifically seek non-ethanol fuel in order to avoid the potential pitfalls of reduced power, mileage, and water.

[Capt_Zoom]

The ethanol free will be better.

[Kit Sullivan]

Funny thing, I have used both ethanol-free as well as the much-more-common around here 10% ethanol blend. Careful monitoring of mileage shows either no difference or maybe even better mileage with the ethanol gas! I know...makes no sense!

[Sweet Tooth]

I wish their was somewhere around here that had that type gas. Anyone know any place close to laurel or hattiesburg that sells it

[PhysicsDude55]

The "E10" gasoline sold in most gas stations is not actually E10.  Its "up to 10% ethanol".  I'm pretty sure most of it is 1%-3% ethanol, not enough to noticeably effect the mileage.

Ethanol can corrode tanks and fuel lines of cars and bikes made before ~1990 or so, but all newer cars and motorcycles use better materials which do not corrode from alcohol.  I don't think it makes a big difference either way.  The only real downsides to Ethanol is it will cause water to condense in the fuel tank a little bit quicker than regular gasoline (you should use fuel stabilizer either way), and it has a lower specific energy, so if you're using true E10, you'll get a little worse mileage, probably about 1 MPG.

I'd rather take my chances with a little ethanol than deal with predetonation due to using too low an octane.  Just my $.02

[GlacierBlue]

Think about this.  If you buy 2 gallons of premium from a pump where multiple grades share one hose, you are getting 1 gallon of premium and 1 gallon of regular.  Based on this, I think I would be better off buying 2 gallons of the non-alcohol 90 octane from a one-grade, one-hose pump.  I do know of a station that has multigrade pump where each of the 3 grades has its own hose, so that is another alternative.

[Mr. T]

Think about this.  If you buy 2 gallons of premium from a pump where multiple grades share one hose, you are getting 1 gallon of premium and 1 gallon of regular.  Based on this, I think I would be better off buying 2 gallons of the non-alcohol 90 octane from a one-grade, one-hose pump.  I do know of a station that has multigrade pump where each of the 3 grades has its own hose, so that is another alternative.

I'm not buy that.....    from the "other" gas thread.

Somebody check my math:

Assume the hose is .5" ID and 8' long.  That's (.25^2*3.1416*96) cubic inches of volume = 18 cubic inches or 0.01 cubic feet or roughly .08 gallon. 

Does seem to match what Taildragger said.

[Sweet Tooth]

You may get some mixed but i doubt that its a gallon. I drain the hose and its no where near a gallon.

[GlacierBlue]

You may get some mixed but i doubt that its a gallon. I drain the hose and its no where near a gallon.

I hope you are right.  I don't know how one would find out.