I am aware that with the introduction of Ethanol in fuel 5% and 10% mix at some fuel stations ( ie supermarket fuels) there are a number of problems starting to arise with older bikes and even not so old bikes as this fuel has properties that do no work with pre 2006 manufacturing specifications.

Some facts about Ethanol -

1) Water accumulation in the fuel tank - ethanol absorbs water from the air. The water condenses in the fuel tank and will pull the ethanol out of suspension with the petrol. This is bad news because it strips the octane out of the petrol, leaving you with a layer of octane-poor fuel on top and a water-ethanol layer mixture on the bottom. If this gets sucked into the combustion chamber, you will have poor starting and very rough running with potentially engine damage.

2) Deposit is like to build up - Ethanol when mixed with water readily forms Gums in the fuel system much quicker than fuel without Ethanol. These Gums coat fuel system components including filters, carburettors, injectors, throttle plates and will then form varnish and carbon deposits in the intake, on valves, and in the combustion chamber.

3) Lower fuel mileage, Decreased performance and acceleration. Ethanol contains less chemical energy than petrol does, and this means less mileage for the driver. 3-5% drops in mileage are expected.

4) Corrosion of internal engine components - Water contamination may cause fuel system corrosion and severe deterioration.

5) Contaminants in fuel system – water, degraded rubber, plastic, fibreglass and rust may get drawn in.

6) It could encourage microbial growth in fuel. Ethanol being organic and hygroscopic may allow the growth of fungus.

7) Short shelf life - as short as 90 days

8) Corrodes plastic and rubber - Ethanol is a strong, aggressive solvent and will cause problems with rubber hoses, o-rings, seals, and gaskets. These problems are worse during extended storage when significant deterioration could take place. Hoses may delaminate, o-rings soften and break down, and fuel system components made from certain types of plastics could either soften or become hard and brittle, eventually failing. Fuel system components made from brass, copper, and aluminium may oxidize. The dissolved plastics and resins now in the fuel could end up in blocked fuel filters or gummy deposits.

9) Melts Fibreglass - bikes and boats with fibreglass fuel tanks can have structural failure as the Ethanol will break down and pick-up some of the materials the tanks are made from. Again this material, dissolved from the tank, can be carried through the fuel system and can cause damage to carburettors, fuel injectors and can actually get into the combustion chambers.



The first is the fact that older fuel lines are not Ethanol proof and start to disintegrate the lines become soft /spongy and the fuel can become discoloured where it picking up chemicals leaked out of the rubber - the pipes eventually leak and are porus.

Carburetors get internal corrosion on steel parts and furring of the aluminium parts, and in some cases rubber parts (o rings , seals etc) like the fuel lines start to degrade quickly.

fuel pump similarly to the Carbs can start to degrade.

Fuel tanks may start to go soft, they can misshape and will eventually become porus - the first sign is small blisters on the paintwork.

Already i know of some Moto Guzzi plastic fuel tanks from the V11 series prior to 2006 have become unusable due to this problem.

up until lately all super unleaded was Ethanol free but alas not so now - below is a list of the fuels containing Ethanol and those that do not.

There are Ethanol additives which prevent corrosion to the metal parts i mention and help reduce some of the efeects of Ethanolie seperation, hydro absorbtion etc - but none so far prevent damage to fibre glass, plastic and rubber components that i can find - but i am trying to find a lifeline with one of the producers of ethanol stabaliser.

This information was up to date in February 2015.

BP Fuel - Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol at all sites across the UK.
BP Ultimate (super unleaded petrol) does not have Ethanol added, except in the South West of England.

Esso - Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol at most sites in the UK.
Esso Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol, except in the South West of England (Devon & Cornwall)

Shell Shell gives no information to the question. It is therefore an assumption only, that all Shell petrol should be considered to contain 5% Ethanol.

Texaco Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol.
.Texaco Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol

Total - Ethanol is not added to any Total fuel (including standard unleaded petrol). Except in the North West and South East of England.

I also had an e mail from jet fuels ltd today they use ethanol in all of their fuel. They say the area logistics comes down to the main storage and mixing plants which are regional, so if your petroleum supply depot adds ethanol to the mix its almost across the board to all fuels from that particular depot. Jet say that they would suspect / expect by the end of this year all fuel in the UK will contain ethanol.