California 10% Ethanol

[TwoPort]

I understand all California gas has 10% Ethanol now. Does anyone use or does BMW recommend any type of fuel treatment? I'd rather avoid a problem than solve one. I use Lucas Oil fuel treatment but not because of Ethanol and it is not for that purpose anyway. Lucas Oil does have a treatment for Ethanol but I have not thought to try it yet.

 

[wsteele]

I understand all California gas has 10% Ethanol now. Does anyone use or does BMW recommend any type of fuel treatment? I'd rather avoid a problem than solve one. I use Lucas Oil fuel treatment but not because of Ethanol and it is not for that purpose anyway. Lucas Oil does have a treatment for Ethanol but I have not thought to try it yet.

Try some Startron in your gas it is suppose to bind with the ethanol and keep it from breaking down to water I have used it in all my bikes and gas engines and it seems to work pretty good

 

[TwoPort]

Try some Startron in your gas it is suppose to bind with the ethanol and keep it from breaking down to water I have used it in all my bikes and gas engines and it seems to work pretty good

Thank you.

 

[SteveADV]

This is the same product a friend (Detroit engineer by trade) recommended for one of my California kid's cars. Never thought about it for my C650GT but it sure did the job for my daughter's older 4runner.

Hey Bill, do you use this in your Beemer up where you are and should we all consider it?

 

[wsteele]

This is the same product a friend (Detroit engineer by trade) recommended for one of my California kid's cars. Never thought about it for my C650GT but it sure did the job for my daughter's older 4runner.

Hey Bill, do you use this in your Beemer up where you are and should we all consider it?

Yes I put it in with every fill up if I remember it is 1 ounce for every 3 or 4 gallons it also comes in different concentrations 16 gallon bottle, 48 gallon bottle and so on so check the tag on the bottle the higher gallon per bottle the more it will cost

 

[JaimeC]

10% ethanol is just fine. The whole country uses it now, sadly. Just watch out for the 15% solution the EPA is trying to push on us. That WILL damage your engine.

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[Snowdog]

I have used Startron, and the bike did seem to run better and did get better gas mileage (a little). Does it protect the engine from the effects of ethanol? That is a lot harder to prove.

 

[Dale]

I use an Amsoil product called Quick Shot every 4th tank fill up. Seems to suspend the alcohol in the gas and not separate also removes carbon. Every 4th tank with Quick Shot I replace it with PI, (Performance Improver) it cleans the injectors and intake system. Keeps the 650 running fine.

 

[JaimeC]

I don't add any kind of snake oil to any fuel I've put into the C650GT or the K1200LT. Runs just FINE (but the LT only gets 46 - 49 mpg now vs. 50 - 54 when they used to use MTBE as an oxygenate).

 

[SteveADV]

I don't add any kind of snake oil to any fuel I've put into the C650GT or the K1200LT. Runs just FINE....

Yeah but the K is almost brand new

 

[JaimeC]

The C650GT has also ALWAYS used a 10% ethanol blend, so I can't compare how it'd be without it. The LT remembers when they only added oxygenates to the fuel in the winter months. Then they started using it year round. The MTBE didn't affect the gas mileage, but it was getting into the ground water supply and was eventually banned. After that, the corn lobby took over. I guess no one minds if a little "corn squeezin's" get into the drinking water supply...

 

[Dale]

Talk with mechanics who have had problems with late model engines where they have little or no compression. What they are finding is valves are hanging open, they first said running the engine at low speeds was the cause. What they have found from experience, the ethanol is mixing with combustion acids forming a build up on valve stems hard as a diamond until the valve will not close. No cleaning it off it is a valve replacement. Prevention, use a fuel cleaner and or carbon remover which will prevent alcohol separation. 600/650 should run fine with 10% it is built to run on that fuel. 15% they do not have enough experience yet to see what it will do.

 

[JaimeC]

Well, with 183,000 miles on the LT, with leak-down numbers matching engines with only 30,000 miles I think I'm good. And as you said, the C650GT was built with 10% ethanol in mind.

 

[exavid]

Yep, my C650GT eats ethanol gas and my 1100LT does as well with no complaints. Good thing too since it's difficult to get any ethanol free gasoline in Oregon. There are only couple of stations in my town that has pure 93 octane gasoline and the price makes the ethanol stuff look cheap.

Oh yeah, my LT is a brand new '95 with a total of 11,000 miles on the odometer.

 

[JaimeC]

Geez, did the former owner ride it at ALL???