In the past I have used Texaco Super Unleaded in my old British bikes as I was under the impression it contained no ethanol.Speaking to the manager of my local Texaco I asked if this was still the case.The carefully worded reply was that as they were receiving their deliveries of fuel from a different refinery there might be ethanol in the petrol. I have been in touch with Texaco head office and the reply was that there is up to 5% ethanol added to their 95 octane fuel and a small amount added to there 97 octane Super Unleaded. I hope this info is of use to those members who run old bikes or perhaps have unlined fibreglass tanks. I put special fuel stabilizer in my tanks last year just to be on the safe side!
I am ok, i have a plastic tank on the Aprilia, but it is a thought for concern. Ethanol is hycroscopic and causes corrosion, also can rot rubber fuel lines etc. My brother inlaw makes his own fuel, veg oil for diesel motors, with loads of ethanol. I did use it for a while, but found out my fuel line where rotting away.
not to get you alarmed skidoff but just to let you now that some plastics are also prone to deformation due in part to ethanol exposure. Acerbis manufactured my Cagiva Elefant tank (and my Supercity) from PA6 polyamide. This has the ability to absorb water which is more likely to be present when ethanol is used. This is still a 'luck of the draw' lottery and my bloated tank is a rarity in the UK and more likely due to external water saturation at some point. Deformed Motorcycle Fuel Tanks
Not only does the vast majority of petrol available in the UK currently have a 5% ethanol content, it will be rising to 10% in the not-too-distant future...Apparently it's all to do with some EU ruling... There has been a lot of discussion about this subject in the classic bike press.Also - yes, ethanol will eat into GRP tanks..."Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you !"
