The Golden Triangle Rider

trawler · Cyclist Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 11 Location: China

I bought a HD Fatboy 06 model in Nov 07 and was going ok with Gasohol,however in Jan noticed fuel tank cock leaking slightly so tightened everything but not so much help.Bike was in at Richco for some repairs due a unscheduled off road experience in rain nr Mae Hong Son.....However Richy told me that the seals on the petcock and in my carb had been damaged and asked if I had been using gasohol,I said yes and he advz not to use it and stick to normal 95 or 91 if 95 not available.He showed me the seals etc.....Now according to my owners manual the bike will be ok with gasohol up to a 10 % mix.Maybe the local stuff has more ethanol in it.Will stick to non gasohol ass long as possible.
Cheers Shocked

Davidfl · Posted: 19.02.2008, 17:45 Post subject:

In Soppong there's 95 benzene non-gasohol at the PT petrol station.
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Davidfl
Keep The Power On

Captain_Slash · Posted: 20.02.2008, 00:06 Post subject:

In Nan yesterday I had to visit three petrol stations before I could get gasohol, they all had 95 gasoline though
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If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

UK 19 Gold Medals, Whinging Aussies 14

BignTall · Biker Legend Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 468

Hiko - First off a well deserved tip of the hat to you. The post that you made in this thread is a refreshing taste of facts. Something that a rational decision needs in order to be implemented. Seems a bit too much Voodoo surrounds this subject so thank you for a dose of reality.

I read in your post the (narrow band) air/fuel Stoichio-metric air-fuel ratio is about 9 for ethanol and 14 for gasoline. A question is, will bikes outfitted with carbs (assuming other variables; temp, humidity, and elevation are constant) require a jetting change to achieve peak performance? Or is the effect on the air/fuel ratio change so insignificant as to not warrant a jetting change?

I have some 12:1 engines and have not yet run them on gasahol. I may have to when doing extended rides in Thailand now. In a motor with compression this high are there any factors that would contribute to detonation with 95 gasahol versus 95 gasoline?

Once again your writeup was a great benefit to those desiring "the quick and dirty" side of gasohol. Much appreciated.
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Cheers all.

"Looking for the woman that takes the wheel when I'm seeing double."

HIKO · Posted: 21.02.2008, 18:53 Post subject:

Thanks for the nice feed back.

No, I don't think that the change to Gasohol will require any change to your jets. Since Gasohol contains only 10% on the Ethanol ( with the Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio of 9) and 90% Gasoline (with a Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio of 14) the blend is very lean. If you have a vacuum carburetor I think the cab will "adjust" itself, if it is 100% mechanic cab then maybe adjusting the air screw and lifting the needles could give you some more power with gasoline but it is up to the bike.

You mentioned that you have a compression ratio of 12-1 which is rather high. Anyhow if it works on normal 95 it will work on 95 Gasohol but maybe you will need some octane booster. Most of them are based on TEL, MTBE or pure Metanol. Remember that at least the last one will "eat" your engine and rubbers if left in the engine for a long time and the two first destroys the nature.

HIKO
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hiko

Davidfl · Posted: 21.02.2008, 18:59 Post subject:

The Cosmo petrol station in Kong Loi, on R108 half way between Hot & Mae Sarieng has 95 benzene, NO gasohol.
Interesting - the owner says that the local farmers - "cabbage pick-up drivers "- all complained that gasohol was no good in the mountains - they suffered too much power loss & only wanted non-gasohol 95, even it meant paying extra.
So he says we will always have 95 benzene, while he can get it. The farmers don't want gasohol!
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Davidfl
Keep The Power On

Captain_Slash · Posted: 21.02.2008, 22:23 Post subject:

The key words there being, while he can get it, when is it supposed to be phased out by?
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If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

UK 19 Gold Medals, Whinging Aussies 14

BignTall · Biker Legend Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 468

Thanks for the guidance Hiko.
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Cheers all.

"Looking for the woman that takes the wheel when I'm seeing double."

883R · Pedestrian Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 9

monsterman · Revered Old Git Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 657

Its eems that tmany bike run well on Local gasohol 95,, hell ..even my Ducati runs on it ...but there is still that lingering worry about various rubber seals ....being rotted by the gasohol.

Vigilance boys and careful maintenance will keep us on the road.

jerry
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Hoghead · Biker Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 75

I saw the petcock and carb innerards on the HD in question, and the rubber was eaten away so that the inner fabric like material was showing.

The manual going back to around 2000 say E-10 is OK which leads me to believe that the local swill has something else in it, or a greater concentration than 10% ethanol.
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monsterman · Revered Old Git Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 657

Bangkokpost motoring section today mentioned that many cars which are gasohol compatible are experiencing engine wear problems due to gasohol use at 50,000kms (32,000miles).Modern engines should run 200,000kms without serious problem.
Some of this may be anecdotal as it seems to be caused by lean running but the rubber seals problem is well documented on fuel tanks ,petcocks, pumps etc
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