E10 Again

Onder · Apr 22, 2022

Think this is sufficiently Norton related for this to be posted here.
Tried to start my Enfield Inter(not the new one) and it was no go. Usually a couple of kicks. Kept at it and finally, just before physical collapse it torched off.
Rode ten miles to get petrol. It was the same thing again trying to start. Finally a kind gent offered a push and it grudgingly started . Drove
off to home dreckly.
Swapped it for Rickman with identical engine. Same drama with no start. Hmmm. Turned the idle mix screws in almost half a turn. Started second kick. Drove 30 miles ran fine. It would even idle. Drove another 40 ran like it should and idled when done.
I think I am on target when I blame the E10. Both bikes lived on E5 until now. I guess it matters!

Flatspot · Apr 22, 2022

I was told about this stuff in another forum. 25ml to 25litres would be fine in the amount of petrol in the bikes while they’re laid up. I’ll try it and see. It’s cheap enough.

Putoline E10 Fuel Fighter 250ml UK Stock 2022 | eBay

E10 Fuel Fighter is a powerful fuel additive. Specifically developed to protect the fuel system against the harmful effects of E10 fuels, which contain 10% bio-ethanol. • Add 0.1% to the petrol (25 ml for 25 litres of fuel).

www.ebay.co.uk

Onder · Apr 22, 2022

Carbs were drained during the winter and ran two weeks ago on E5 without issue. So maybe I am way off the glide slope here but it sure seems like E10 acts differently than E5 although that seems hard to believe. This isn't a storage issue.

Al's#5 · Apr 22, 2022

Onder said:
Carbs were drained during the winter and ran two weeks ago on E5 without issue. So maybe I am way off the glide slope here but it sure seems like E10 acts differently than E5 although that seems hard to believe. This isn't a storage issue.

So far I've ran my Sportster, CCM and Norton on E10, only prob I've noticed is warming up the CCM. Don't store with fuel in!

MexicoMike · Apr 22, 2022

I would think that difference between E5 and E10 isn't enough to cause that sort of problem. I can't tell any noticeable difference in the way my Commando runs with any fuel I've put in it as long as the octane rating is sufficient to avoid pinging. OTOH, I can't argue with reality! If you test E10 vs E5 again and get that same result, then obviously it IS the cause of the problem. Maybe the local formula for E10 is different in other ways than just a bit more E?

Flatspot · Apr 22, 2022

Further to my answer earlier I have purchased some of the Putoline stuff to use when I have to use E10 in the bikes, maybe it will be good for E5 as well?

i have just returned from my local Texaco to see if they have E5 - and they do! So I picked up 1) litres for the bikes, and I know where to refuel next time just 1/2 mile from home - result.

Flatspot · Apr 22, 2022

I’m reminded of a trip a few years ago to Poland and one of the group decided to use the cheap local stuff, probably 45 octane

it was also bright yellow and smelled strongly of sulphur. Of course his Yam Diversion refused to play ball and conked out and had to be drained and refuelled with ‘proper’ fuel.

concours · Apr 22, 2022

A lot was covered here:

E10 fuel

No problems at all with E5 (steel tank… so not expecting any drama's with E10. On what basis are you basing the claim that it is all ‘paranoia‘? If you have evidence or knowledge, please share it. E10 has double the ethanol content of E5. Saying that things were fine on E5 so should be fine...

www.accessnorton.com

jaydee75 · Apr 22, 2022

You guys should consider yourself lucky....They're already talking about E15 over here to ease the shortage and appease the Greenies.
Jaydee

Al's#5 · Apr 22, 2022

jaydee75 said:
You guys should consider yourself lucky....They're already talking about E15 over here to ease the shortage and appease the Greenies.
Jaydee

Fuel is not always as it seems! 2 summers ago when recommissioning the 7 I treat it to a tank of Super at a local mainstream petrol station, had to nurse it home on the choke. Tank drained and filled with the cheapest available, sweet as a nut!

Onder · Apr 22, 2022

It was BP E10. I got Shell E5 for the Trident today ran well for 96 miles. Ill look into this more tomorrow.

Al's#5 · Apr 22, 2022

Onder said:
It was BP E10. I got Shell E5 for the Trident today ran well for 96 miles. Ill look into this more tomorrow.

It was their High Octane fuel that caused the problem with the 7, the Triumph, Hinckley, ran ok with it though. I put it down to to the idiocincracies of an engine nearly 50years old!

Flatspot · Apr 22, 2022

Some years ago when I was racing I was using 119 octane fuel in the turbo, £125 for 25litres ouch.

my pal was running his home brewed supercharged gsxr600/ gsxr750 on E85 from a local filling station - I hope it doesn’t come to that being all that’s available

worntorn · Apr 22, 2022

Al's#5 said:
It was their High Octane fuel that caused the problem with the 7, the Triumph, Hinckley, ran ok with it though. I put it down to to the idiocincracies of an engine nearly 50years old!

Hi Octane tends to be the highest ethanol content these days.
Adding Ethanol to the blend brings up the Octane rating.

Glen

RoadScholar · Apr 22, 2022

Marinas, in the Northeast, have/had non-alcohol fuel. You may want to consider advancing the timing in small increments to see if that helps. I used to winterize my herd with it, but found that they started quicker and ran better on R+M/2 E-10, 93 or 91 Octane than with the 100 or 110 low lead Ave fuel, unless the timing was advanced about 3 degrees

Onder · Apr 22, 2022

Here in the Very Green West we have absolutely no leaded fuel unless you go for Avgas which is impractical. This was really just a starting problem. I do not see how advancing two or three degrees would matter much at start.

madass140 · Apr 22, 2022

I have a lot of bikes, only E10 fuel here, you would not believe the damage done to the carbs if the bikes left to sit for a while, even 1 month.

MexicoMike · Apr 22, 2022

Put some StaBil in the tank and storage is not an issue. I have had cars stored up to 12 months in that condition and bikes for 18 months and all of the vehicles started as if they had been running yesterday.

concours · Apr 22, 2022

I also add an ounce of two-stroke oil, to smash down the corrosive effects of E10 being stored

Mart UK · Apr 23, 2022

I had poor running on a few weeks old E10, sorted when I topped up with E5. I only use E5 in the Commando now. Despite that, I avoid leaving it in the carbs. Instead of wearing out the drain screw/gasket, I have a marker, just before home, where I turn my fuel tap off. I just get home, where it runs dry in a few seconds on my drive.

E10 Again

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