Ethanol Gum Up the Works?
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: New Braunfels, TX
Ethanol Gum Up the Works?
I have an 08 Ultra Classic as my main ride. However, from time-to-time I scoot around on my son's 2000 Yamaha YZF600. He didn't ride it at all for about 6 months, most of which did not have Stabil in the tank. Now, it's hard to start and when you pull away from a stop it stumbles unless you throttle through the stumble. At highway speed, it has plenty of smooth, linear power. The dealer is indicating ethanol when stored for a long time in the carburetor can "separate" and cause a gel type issue in the bottom of the bowls. Can anyone comment on the validity of this suggestion and what the likely remedy will be? Sorry for interjecting a rice burner issue but I'm throwing myself on the mercy of my fellow Harley owners.
Last edited by thehueg; Feb 18, 2009 at 12:03 PM. Reason: misspelled
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 2
From: Yukon, OK
That is a true statement, i just had to replace my fuel filter on my bagger after 3 months because of ethanol. Now a friend just brought over his 82 goldwing for me to work on and i had to pull the carbs and rebuild them and clean them up because he did the same thing let it sit for about 6 months with no stabile and ethanol in the tank.....just my .02
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 4
From: Here
IMO, any fuel left long enough untreated (or longer if treated) will gum up. While ethanol may or may not make it happen faster, it will happen with all fuels in the end. Get out there and ride! Problem solved! 
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Franconia, PA
Yes gas containing ethanol will gum of the works in no time flat. Lots of problems with my Honda CB750. You probably more than goo in the bowl there is probably goo in all the fuel passages as well.
Honda dealer says it is the number one problem he sees with customers. They've even had to clean new carbs that sat on the show room floor to long.
I try not to leave gas with ethanol, which is all I can buy, in anything I want to work right, for more than 2 months. For my CB750 I buy a gallon of 100LL at the local airport. Man the 750 loves that stuff which is about 108 octane and NO ethanol.
Honda dealer says it is the number one problem he sees with customers. They've even had to clean new carbs that sat on the show room floor to long.
I try not to leave gas with ethanol, which is all I can buy, in anything I want to work right, for more than 2 months. For my CB750 I buy a gallon of 100LL at the local airport. Man the 750 loves that stuff which is about 108 octane and NO ethanol.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 7
From: Minnesota
There is nothing good about ethanol. Gumming up the works is just one of them. I buy real gas whenever possible and I will for sure run at least 3 tanks of pure gas through it before putting my bike up for the winter.
If you are in the mood to get really pissed off Google ethanol & the university of Minnesota. The UofM spent 5 years studying the issue. Its all bad... from increasing out food prices to negative impacts on the environment.
If you are in the mood to get really pissed off Google ethanol & the university of Minnesota. The UofM spent 5 years studying the issue. Its all bad... from increasing out food prices to negative impacts on the environment.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
If ethanol gummed up the works, I wouldn't have any thing that ran. I get most of my gas at a ethanol station. Some of my vehicles have a tank in them for a long time. For example, I filled my carb Jeep up this week. My gas log showed the last gas I got in it was the middle of November. I have 6 vehicles and an inboard powered boat. Never had carb or FI issues with any of them.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: SW Iowa
I burn 10% Ethanol blend regular all the time in all my gas motors and scoots. No problems. it has a bit higher octane rating of 89 where regular is 87. I wouldn't leave any kind of fuel sit around in a fuel tank for months at a time, though. Best to burn it.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mission BC
I agree on the above, I've used it more times than not cause sometimes thats all there is and I ain't walking, never had any problems whatsoever with car, bike, truck.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 197
The thing wrong with Ethanol is it's hygroscopic (sp?) ANY alcohol draws water from the air and mixes readily with it. It's the water causing the problem, and to my knowledge there's NOTHING you can mix with the fuel to prevent it, including Stabil. Either burn it or drain the tank. That's the only reliable solution.