Another Ethanol Thread

[seth25]

We don't have non-ethanol fuel readily available here in the Denver area, but there are a few stations who carry it. I have several 5 gallon fuel cans and was wondering if it is worth the effort to fill up about 50 gallons at a time to run? Will I have issues with fuel quality if I store it for a month? I ride 9-10k in elevation on a stock 11 Pro.

Thanks

 

[knifedge]

--
Add a plug-in fuel control box like a Boondocker so you can add fuel to your mixture electronically, it is easier. Also maybe add an A/R gauge and exhaust temp gauge.

--Polaris tends to have issues with fuel mapping, not ethanol. Cats run fine on pump gas stock or boosted and they are worth at least another 15 HP output stock. Save your gas money.

 

[theshadowrider]

x2 on fuel controller and egt's. This stuff is not going away, might as well tune for it. I did on my turbo. If you start getting det light, then it would be more convenient to get some avgas and add a gallon or two to each tank.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

--
Add a plug-in fuel control box like a Boondocker so you can add fuel to your mixture electronically, it is easier...and they are worth at least another 15 HP output stock. Save your gas money.

Are you saying by adding a fuel controller one can gain 15hp over stock???? That seems pretty aggressive of a gain to me...

 

[MotoXTurbo9]

Pynergy gas on Santa fe Said they're carrying non-ethanol all winter. Last time I asked it was 4 bucks a gallon which is the price at brads conoco. Chances are you're not going to find non-ethanol at the traditional stations because they're starting to change over now to be in compliance by nov. 1st. I'll be running it this winter.

 

[Farmington Motorsports #9]

Before any places local to me carried non-ethanol premium I would go fill up an old 55 gallon VP race fuel drum that I would keep in the shop. I wasn't too worried about fuel quality as it is amazing how fast it gets used. I have been told that on average gasoline loses one octane per month when stored - not sure if that is true or not, but that is what I have been told. I just made sure there wasn't any rust in the drum prior to filling it up. To me it was worth it as I don't care to run any ethanol fuel in my sleds. Fortunately now I have it available close to me so I don't have to do that anymore.

Good luck -

 

[seth25]

x2 on fuel controller and egt's. This stuff is not going away, might as well tune for it. I did on my turbo. If you start getting det light, then it would be more convenient to get some avgas and add a gallon or two to each tank.

BD box and EGTs on a stock machine? Don't think I've heard that one before.

 

[seth25]

Before any places local to me carried non-ethanol premium I would go fill up an old 55 gallon VP race fuel drum that I would keep in the shop. I wasn't too worried about fuel quality as it is amazing how fast it gets used. I have been told that on average gasoline loses one octane per month when stored - not sure if that is true or not, but that is what I have been told. I just made sure there wasn't any rust in the drum prior to filling it up. To me it was worth it as I don't care to run any ethanol fuel in my sleds. Fortunately now I have it available close to me so I don't have to do that anymore.

Good luck -

I figure that 50 gallons would last me about a month. I didn't figure deterioration would be an issue, but wasn't positive.

 

[Steelhead Slayer]

Do it, real gas is much better in my opinion. You won't have any deterioration in the short time you are storing this fuel. Especialy in the winter.

 

[theshadowrider]

BD box and EGTs on a stock machine? Don't think I've heard that one before.

Which part? Fuel controller on a stock sled or egts? Don't take this the wrong way. I am assuming you have heard of running a fuel controller stock sled so i will guess you are referring to egts. Egts are nice, even on stock sled, lets you lean the top end more efficiently/safely for max power. Also nice to diagnose problems and to monitor these "bullet-proof" engines.

BTT

We had a couple gas stations that have been holding out for as long as they could on non-ethanol, but now they sated they have been forced to switch. That's why I say just get used to it, it's not going away.

 

[Matte Murder]

I have non ethanol fuel available to me and yes it is a bit more of a hassle but I think it is worth it. Ethanol in fuel is a bad idea on about every point unless you make money off it. I first figured out how bad it was when I ran it in a generator. I mean tried to run it. It would gum up the carb so fast I had to drain that tank and clean the carb after only a month and it caused so much problems I found out about this issue. Ethanol attracts water and separates out of the gas pretty quick. You will get more power especially on a Pro which has different wiring plug to run. I put a huge gas tank in my Tundra and now I have been just running non eth in it and I am getting a little more than 10% better mileage both on the gauge and doing the math. I actually think ethanol is the work of the devil and have written about it every time I see a thread on Snowest.

 

[Matte Murder]

BTW, I bought a huge drum and put an electric pump system on it that I can bring in my trailer to fuel the sleds from. The pump has a big filter hooked up to it and that is a bonus.

 

[Rick!]

BTW, I bought a huge drum and put an electric pump system on it that I can bring in my trailer to fuel the sleds from. The pump has a big filter hooked up to it and that is a bonus.

Is your trailer a black United, white Haulmark a red Triton or the one with the cut off lock and gas nozzle hanging out of it?

 

[AndrettiDog]

The problem with ethanol is that it binds with water (humidity in the tank) and we all know that is bad. If you can find non-ethanol fuel, that is the ticket. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for fuel stations to have because it's not available from their distributor. They have to reach out further to get the fuel ($$$). I often add a gallon of av-fuel as it is cheaper than race fuel.

Whoever said that Polaris has problems with ethanol fuel is wrong. I've had a D8 and Pro that I run on ethanol fuel (because I have to). I even run the non-ethanol plug in my Pro and I'm fine. Riding above 9,000' also helps a great deal as I run rich anyway. I also add marine grade fuel treatment to help with the condensation.

 

[dragon1]

The first half of last year with great success I ran 91 ethanol in my 09 D8 turbo adding Torco at 1.6 oz/gal which supposedly raises 91 octane to 95 along with some Startron ethanol treatment. That was right after blowing up the top end of my engine after 7 miles on the first ride of the season. IF not dealt with properly, ethanol is indeed the work of the devil. Sled was unknowingly stored with ethanol blend fuel as the station here didn't mark the pump when they started selling ethanol blend towards the end of the season. I ended up running straight AV gas towards the end of the season because the guys I ride with run it, but there was a noticable lose of low end response and power. On my 12 Pro(non turbo w/SLP stage IV kit) I plan on running 91 ethanol with Torco and Startron. Don't know if I will run with the resistor for non-ethanol or not. To be safe I will probably start with the ethanol setting.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

The startron product called "Enzyme" does seem to help. I have been told E-fuels can start to break down in as little as 10 days, When running the enzyme (even it non E-fuel) it seems I can get away with a bit more boost so I run a oz or two in everytank and it also works as a stabilizer, a friend ran some of the newer stabil product in his Tm1000 and thought it ran better also.

 

[Zak.V]

The problem with ethanol is that a few teaspoons of water can cause your tank of fuel to phase separate. This occurs when the fuel can no longer absorb anymore water. The risk of separation increases as it gets colder. The key to burning ethanol blends without issues is to run a fuel additive such as gas line antifreeze (isopropyl alcohol or methyl hydrate). These additives increase the solubility of water, which prevents phase separation.

With the amount of times our sleds go in and out of the heated garage, a couple ounces each fill is a good idea for any fuel type.

 

[knifedge]

--Why can a Cat 800 with about 15 more HP stock drink this ethanol stuff with virtually no problems and the Polaris motor with less HP cannot? Cat has better fuel mapping for one thing. You rarely see, if ever, an "ethanol" thread in the Cat forum.

--Get a Boondocker fuel controller and EGT's for your stock sled and set the mixture correctly. The Pro turbo sleds set up correctly with fuel controllers and gauges do not have the "ethanol" issues using the same fuel. It is not an ethanol issue, it is a fuel mixture issue. The problem worsens when adding exhaust cans, free flowing intakes, a little bit of "bad" gas, etc. to an already poorly fueled engine. --This Polaris fuel mapping thing has been going on for literally years.

 

[AndrettiDog]

--Why can a Cat 800 with about 15 more HP stock drink this ethanol stuff with virtually no problems and the Polaris motor with less HP cannot? Cat has better fuel mapping for one thing. You rarely see, if ever, an "ethanol" thread in the Cat forum.

--Get a Boondocker fuel controller and EGT's for your stock sled and set the mixture correctly. The Pro turbo sleds set up correctly with fuel controllers and gauges do not have the "ethanol" issues using the same fuel. It is not an ethanol issue, it is a fuel mixture issue. The problem worsens when adding exhaust cans, free flowing intakes, a little bit of "bad" gas, etc. to an already poorly fueled engine. --This Polaris fuel mapping thing has been going on for literally years.

^^^^^^^keep drinking the kool aid

 

[sledstew]

--Why can a Cat 800 with about 15 more HP stock drink this ethanol stuff with virtually no problems and the Polaris motor with less HP cannot? Cat has better fuel mapping for one thing. You rarely see, if ever, an "ethanol" thread in the Cat forum.

--Get a Boondocker fuel controller and EGT's for your stock sled and set the mixture correctly. The Pro turbo sleds set up correctly with fuel controllers and gauges do not have the "ethanol" issues using the same fuel. It is not an ethanol issue, it is a fuel mixture issue. The problem worsens when adding exhaust cans, free flowing intakes, a little bit of "bad" gas, etc. to an already poorly fueled engine. --This Polaris fuel mapping thing has been going on for literally years.

Reason: It takes 22-25% more fuel if you run E85 , point being that the E10 you need that extra few percent of fuel and the more modifications you add to the engine (air pump) the more fuel it will need especially on 10% ethanol. Now for you guys who want to save some cash, buy E85 add some enzyme or similar product and it is 105-108 octane depending on blending at the refinery. Corrosion inhibitor is already added to the new ethanol fuels. yes the guys are correct in saying that it attaches to moisture more than tradition gasoline but there are ways around that also with a small fuel /water seperator. The other bonus to this is that a turbo will run alot cooler on E85 with the correct amount of fuel via the extra 22-25% fuel I spoke about earlier in the paragraph.