Jon_W
31-01-11, 08:44 AM
Have been handed an artical from the Vintage Motorcycle Magazine on the subject of E10 (10% ethanol) fuel which is being introduced in 2013.
This makes some scary reaing for all of us with carburettor bikes, bikes over a ten years old and bikes whick are stood for winter.
A few quotes from the artical (for ref, pp29 feb 2011 edition The Vintage Motorcycle):
" The 54 page report - reference QINETIQ/10/02471 concludes that the majority of vehicles ten years old or older will not be compatible with E10 [fuel] due to fuel system incompatibility issues. Carburettor vehicles and motorcycles will suffer problems due to material incompatibility, corrosion and driveability problems. First generation spark ignition direct injection vehicles are not compatible with E10 due to fuel system material incompatibility issues. Vehicles and petrol-fuelled equipment with glass fibre tanks may suffer catastrophic failure due to the incompatibility of the glass fibre resin with petrol ethanol blends."
"There is a strong likelihood for increased deposit formation on inlet valves, in combustion chambers and in piston ring grooves, this will increase the risk of spark knock and engine failure due to piston seizure"
"The recomendations of the report [Qinetiq] make very interesting reading: "Vehicles ten years or older, carburettored (sic0 vehicles (including motorcycles) and first generation direct injection spark vehicles should not be fuelled on E10 unless the manufacturer can state that the vehicles are compatible with E10. The automotive industry should produce a comprehisive list of vehicle compatible with E10. E5 should not be phased outin 2013, it's widespread availability should continue for the forseeable future. Consideration should be given to maintaining a specification for E0 fuel for historic and vintage vehicles."
Now I'm aware that there was a similar panic over the introduction of Unleaded and E5, both unfounded, but this seems serious as the fuel seperated when stood for a few month, the ethanol sinking to the bottom and corroding even a steel tank. This has implications for all motor bikes that are stored over winter.
anyone else heard anything about this??
This makes some scary reaing for all of us with carburettor bikes, bikes over a ten years old and bikes whick are stood for winter.
A few quotes from the artical (for ref, pp29 feb 2011 edition The Vintage Motorcycle):
" The 54 page report - reference QINETIQ/10/02471 concludes that the majority of vehicles ten years old or older will not be compatible with E10 [fuel] due to fuel system incompatibility issues. Carburettor vehicles and motorcycles will suffer problems due to material incompatibility, corrosion and driveability problems. First generation spark ignition direct injection vehicles are not compatible with E10 due to fuel system material incompatibility issues. Vehicles and petrol-fuelled equipment with glass fibre tanks may suffer catastrophic failure due to the incompatibility of the glass fibre resin with petrol ethanol blends."
"There is a strong likelihood for increased deposit formation on inlet valves, in combustion chambers and in piston ring grooves, this will increase the risk of spark knock and engine failure due to piston seizure"
"The recomendations of the report [Qinetiq] make very interesting reading: "Vehicles ten years or older, carburettored (sic0 vehicles (including motorcycles) and first generation direct injection spark vehicles should not be fuelled on E10 unless the manufacturer can state that the vehicles are compatible with E10. The automotive industry should produce a comprehisive list of vehicle compatible with E10. E5 should not be phased outin 2013, it's widespread availability should continue for the forseeable future. Consideration should be given to maintaining a specification for E0 fuel for historic and vintage vehicles."
Now I'm aware that there was a similar panic over the introduction of Unleaded and E5, both unfounded, but this seems serious as the fuel seperated when stood for a few month, the ethanol sinking to the bottom and corroding even a steel tank. This has implications for all motor bikes that are stored over winter.
anyone else heard anything about this??