One of the problems that removing the lead from the gasoline in the seventies produced was the soft exhaustvalve seats couldn't handle the loss of thecushioning effect of the lead oxide that formed as the tetra-ethyl lead (TEL) in the fuel burned and the valve guides that missed the extra lubrication that the TEL provided. The other was that without the use of TEL to boost the octane of the fuel, automakers were forced to reduce the compression ratios of the engines that they produced. The older cars that had higher compression ratios suffered from the lower octane fuel. Remember how the car used to diesel after you turned off the key? That was because the fuel continued to ignite under pressure when it was hot even though the spark plugs weren't firing. They call it "dieseling" because that is exactly how diesels work - the fuel burns when it is hot enough and under enough pressure, all without spark.


Avgas and racing fuel still has the TEL in it. I can get the racing fuel at the pump for twice the price. I don't know about the Avgas but I'm sure I could get it. What interested me in the idea of running the E85 is the super-high octane and the cachet of running a Harley on alcohol. That, and there is a station that sells it pretty close to me.

The drawback is the water and rust. Well, everything isa tradeoff.

 

Most of the stations around Houston have 10% ethanol and it does not seem to make any difference for my bike.