03-06-2015, 07:27 AM
(03-06-2015, 01:11 AM)ClassicVW_imp Wrote: Ethanol will not cause gasoline to start the process turn to varnish, the gasolines in use today will do that themselves in as little as a few weeks.
Ethanol brings its own problems which may be a factor in the OP's problem. These are ethanol's water absorption issues. (True of all alcohol) And the fact that ethanol is a solvent. So, not only does it loosen dirt which can cause injectors to clog, as a solvent it dissolves plastic, rubber and types of fiberglass. Not that big of an issue in a new motor, but older motorcycles that already have dried and or brittle rubber and plastic parts are especially susceptible.
Gasolines containing ethanol are not recommended for marine use, and are banned from use in aircraft engines. Basically, the debris ethanol helps loosen has caused engines to seize, which of course, is a very very bad thing to happen to an airplane.
The prohibition for aircraft use is largely because the typical GA aircraft is 30-40 years old and has fuel system components that were not made of materials that are ethanol compatible. Things like composite floats and flexible fuel lines can react badly (i.e. melt, swell) when exposed to ethanol. Been there, done that.