I had problems this past weekend out in northwest Arkansas. I filled up at a WalMart gas station that sells regular gas w/10% mixture of ethenol. My '95 Ultra ran awful; skipping, surging, very low idle. When I realized what was going own I filled the tank at an Exxon station with regular and no ethenol and she ran just fine. I'm concerned that a trip I have planned for this July going all the way across the northern portion of the USA will present major problems for my motor in those areas that sell ethenol gasoline. What's a fellow to do?

 

The majority of the stations in the mid-west have E-10. Hard to find non ethenol here. O7 FXSTC run fine on it. Zoom-Zoom

 

Mn has been a 10% ethanol state for several years, without problems. We also sell E85 for the dual fuel cars.

Just today, however, I saw the first pump with a 20% blend (Governor Palenty's mandate), so make sure you check those pumps! The Harleys are approved for only a 10% blend @ 91 octane.

 

i know people who do use it . i have a couple of times most of the time i can get the good stuff with no problem.i try to stay with 92 octane or higher.

 

I'll drink it

 

In carbureted bikes you may have a problem because the ethanol is a detergent. Fuel Injection can compensate and make a more rich mixture I used a thankful on my old Road King when it first came out in this area and I had one cylinder shut completely down from fouled plug. Lesson learned. Carry spare plugs….

 

With my 07 Ultra Classic I get 170 miles on a tank with premium with 10% ethanol , 200 miles with fuel without....Until 2nd quarter next year Mobil won't be using it , so is where I fuel in Tampa area.Many time's the fuel at stations will not be a full10% .... there seem's to be somewhat a shortage of the stuff so many times it either dosen't get blended in or as low as 1%.

 

Facts and information on Ethanol...

Harley approves it.

http://www.ncga.com/ethanol/main/your_car.htm

 

Harleys are enginered to use up to 10%. Over that, you start have fuel line problems and the engines running rough. They definitely won't run on E-85,

 

RTFM.
It's all in the manual but, to sum it up, it's ok.
Not over 10%, though.

As a side note, actually ethanol makes the gas better octane, so you have reduced knock.