E10 petrol use with 1980s Katanas

[craik]

Just heard an advert on the radio about E10 fuel (contains 10% ethanol) becoming the standard in all UK petrol stations by the summer of 2021.
From the Gov.uk website:
"If your petrol vehicle or equipment is not compatible with E10 fuel, you will still be able to use E5 by purchasing the ‘super’ grade (97+ octane) petrol from most filling stations."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e10-petrol-explained
Will the Katanas run best on E10 or E5?
Thanks in advance.

[Kryten]

Just heard an advert on the radio about E10 fuel (contains 10% ethanol) becoming the standard in all UK petrol stations by the summer of 2021.
From the Gov.uk website:
"If your petrol vehicle or equipment is not compatible with E10 fuel, you will still be able to use E5 by purchasing the ‘super’ grade (97+ octane) petrol from most filling stations."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e10-petrol-explained
Will the Katanas run best on E10 or E5?
Thanks in advance.

Personally I wouldn’t run the E10 if I could avoid it. E5 will work so long as you are not letting it stand for days/weeks on end.

I tend to use the Premium Unleaded (Esso near me) as it allegedly does not contain as much ethanol as E5.

I seem to remember someone saying about avoiding the E10 available in Europe before, as it gives poor running.

[stockcar]

The ethanol(the "E" in E5 / E10) attacks brass and certain rubber / plastics so would avoid if possible......

[fossie]

Aye E10... Don't go near with a pre 2000 motorcycle.
'this true the top Esso premium contain not as much Ethonol as the others ...except Cornwall area...
Eitherway super unleaded from the rest, which is more expensive ( but returns better mpg ) is your only option on a Katana ( mile for mile it works out the sameish anyway)

It's not just the fuel pipes but the internals in The carbs that are affected .

Where is the logic of reducing emissions by making vehicles burn more fuel to cover the same distance , thus producing more exhaust ! It's a bit like making all vehicles travel at the same speed so they become blocks of vehicles , so the exhaust fumes are condensed to that area / time frame!

[zed1015]

Probably time to replace all the fuel pipes and carb 'o' rings etc with Ethanol resistant Viton to give them a fighting chance even when running the E5.
There's a couple of Ebay sellers doing decent 'o' ring kits etc.
Either that or start extracting the ethanol out with water or use something like Stabil or Lucas stabiliser to limit its effect.

[Uncle Bob]

Probably time to replace all the fuel pipes and carb 'o' rings etc with Ethanol resistant Viton to give them a fighting chance even when running the E5.
There's a couple of Ebay sellers doing decent 'o' ring kits etc.
Either that or start extracting the ethanol out with water or use something like Stabil or Lucas stabiliser to limit its effect.

+1 for Stabil - been using it a few years and so far all good, even the normally troublesome 400 carbs seem OK so long as it's used.

Litetek do the carb O ring kits as well that include a rubberised bowl gasket as well.

UB

[johnr]

its the fuel tanks that will take the brunt of this, it might take longer, but ethanol and its effects will start to destroy fuel tanks using the oldest enemy of all bikes. rust. ethanol is hydroscopic, it absorbs water vapour from the air, this water vapour will in certain conditions of temperaure or humidity, condense back out of the fuel as water droplets which will settle as a layer of water in the bottom of your tank this will rust its way out eventually giving the additional side effect of the fine rust powder clogging your carbs up as it will easily pass through a filter. you either line your tank with an ethanol resistant liner, or you eventually replace your tank, and we all know how cheap and easy they are to find now eh!! this has already been a problem with e5 fuel, so e10 is potentially twice as likely to do it.
im not sure how the 400 and 250 range with their plastic carb internals will cope whether the plastic is able to resist the increased ethanol or not. only time will tell, but i think we all need to be looking to line our tanks now as a matter of routine.

[johnr]

i note that por15 claim their tank liner is totally resistant to all alcohols and fuel additives. im sure other manufacturers of tank liners will have similar statements on their products, but as someone who has been caught out by the failure of petseal in the past, id say that you should check and double check that not only does a tank liner have resistance to ethanol, but that it should be resistant to ethanol at 10% at least.

[SamK]

I hadn’t considered the humidity effects on the tank. Even with E5 here, after a week standing the carbs are empty. Add to that a high heat and high humidity area, 500 metres from the sea, I’ll certainly be looking into lining the tank.

[zed1015]

I'd steer clear of tank liners.
They can cause more problems than they solve and all fail in the end.
Probably best to use a stabiliser.
They contain corrosion inhibitors and additives to prevent or reduce water separation.