I put whatever is the highest octane available. Sometimes it is 10% ethanol, sometimes not. Haven't paid close enough attention to notice a difference between the two as far as mileage is concerned.

 

Hi all,

 

Sorry for the double post, My fat fingers must have hit "Send". I have been on the road for a working vacation in Montana. It drives me nuts that I cannot bring my bike to the mainland for every trip. This is a fantastic place to be riding. Thanks for the input on the mileage, I might have to try a tank of Boat Gas (no alcohol) to see what my mileage actually does. I do use the highest octane, but all of our pump gas has some alcohol. Thanks again guys!

 

Using any gasoline with 10% ethanol reduces fuel mileage as much as 20%. A fact that is inarguable. Do the math. If you're getting 20% less fuel mileage you're buying 20% more fuel. I'll repeat that: you're buying more fuel to go the same distance. How can that possibly be cleaner (as all of the ethanol advocates claim)?

 

I check gas mileage at every fill up with each of the 6 vehicles that I own. I use 10% most of the time, but have never noticed an increase in mpg's when I've ran straight gas.

 

It's difficult finding REAL gasoline in my area. I've been using the 10% ethanol with no ill effects. As for the fuel milage, I have no idea what the difference may be. Currently I get about 40 to 42 mpg combined.

Ride safe,

Bob.

 

I know the times i have been able to find gas without ethanol in it my gas mileage is about 3-5 MPG better than the 10% ethanol blend.

 

Maybe because the type of fuel you are burning is not a fossil fuel and gives off more environmentally friendly emissions. I don't experience the 20% loss you state. Mine is more like 5%. If I use 100% gas, I can get around 40-41 mpg. E10 gets me 38-39.

 

It doesn't matter if it's 5% or 20% (potato/po-taw-to). Even if it's only 5% you're still using 5% more fuel to go the same distance which makes your vehicle 5% less efficient. Not to mention the horrible side effects to your fuel system and the added cost not only for maintenance but for the ethanol itself.
Your vehicle will emit exactly the same amount of emissions on straight gas as it will with a 10% ethanol blend.

 

I've used the E10 a few times while travelling. I lose 4 or 5 mpg when I use it, but the motor seems to run fine on it.