Have a friend here in Abilene, TX who owns a motorcycle shop. He shared the other day that a customer of his, who says he is with Shell Oil Co., told him that Shell's low octane fuel contains 10% ethanol, the mid-grade has 5% and the higher octane or V-Power has none. Does anyone know anything about this? My Ultra seems to do well on the V-Power (91 octane where I live) Alos I use Conoco fuel and their pumps do not have the sticker indicating that there is ethanol in the fuel. (pretty sure that sticker is a requirement if the fuel has ethanol)

The shell stations in my area of southern Illinois sell 87 89 93 ethenol free.
You can check stations in your area at www.pure-gas.org

We've discussed this matter before, and while many of us stated our preferences against corn fuel, you'll notice that no one reported their engines blowing up or experiencing undue wear.

I drive a 1997 Ford F-150 that has only been out of Wisconsin twice in its life. All of those years it's burned corn fuel, and it still runs like a top.

To my station's credit, there is no corn in the premium grade of fuel. Harleys and sports cars require a higher octane rating, and while I appreciate the product, I'm not really sure it matters in modern engines.

Frankly, to get around on four wheels I'd actually prefer an electric car or a modern green turbo diesel with a smaller engine. We have an electric charging outlet at my gym, and more are scheduled to be built in my area.

I have been an advocate of using a larger V-twin with more moderate compression so the bigger Harleys can run on pump gas. One clone engine builder already offers such an engine at 120 cubic inches.

I only use Shell or Chevron 91, The Vpower and Techron clog the fuel injectors in the new Harley's.

FYI...there is a really good fuel additive on the market mostly used and popular in marina's called "Star Tron". It is highly reccomended for Harleys in the wake of this ethanol epidemic. I can personally attest to it as a year or so ago my 2001 Ultra was experiencing sputtering,coughing and poor throttle response. I tried every expensive EFI fix I could think of. Finally a fellow grey beard told me to try Star Tron. I did and within 1/2 a tank we were back to normal. I carry one in my saddle bag and one back up at home. Before filling up just a splash in the tank and you're good. Also it does not build up to a toxic level if over used. It is sold in the marina section of Walmart and probably at most automotive stores. Ethanol is a curse for small motors. I heard thru the grapevine from a friend of a friend who is connected w/ MOCO that they are working on and in fact have motors that can run on majoritively ethanol?

Hey, BI63, that's for the info on the product. Around here they recommend "Sea Foam." The idea is pretty much the same, although I think in the long run it would be better to up the octane a bit and make sure there's a good detergent in the gasoline to constantly keep fuel injectors free running.

At the end of the day I still long for lower compression engines and a modern fuel not made from any petroleum products, at all.

There used to be a good news/bad news joke around here that defines our local disgust with the entire idea. The bad news is that the Martians have landed. The good news is that they eat liberals and pee gasoline.

Still, with the projected cost of fuel for this summer, the best idea is to keep your engine running efficiently.

We had 93 octane fuel around here for a long time but now 91 seem to be the norm. All our Shell's had 93 octane and no ethanol in any grade then seemed like over night they went to 91 as top grade and all pumps had the ethanol stickers. The farther north you go in Texas (say up around Amarillo) 90 is as high as it goes. I was told by the dealer who sold me my last 2 Harleys that HD says up to 10% ethanol is permissable. The fuel pump housing on my '05 Ultra split at about 49k not sure if ethanol had anything to do with that. Friend who I work with swears by Sea Foam. I'll check that and Star Tron as well. Harley makes an additive called "Screaming Eagle Super Octane Boost" says it raises octane up to 3 numbers and is sensor safe & catalyst safe. I carry a few bottles in my saddle bag in case I have to have fuel and 86 or 87 is all that is avalable. Sometimes in very small towns there is not much selection. My question was, has anyone else heard about Shell, or any other brand, having 0 ethanol in their premium grade fuel. Everyone has an opinion on ethanol, myself included and I would prefer to not put it in my motorcycle. I've heard all the horror stories about ethanol playing heck with motors but these stories are all second, (or 3rd.) hand so I'm not sure if it does hurt anything, I would just prefer to not put in my motorcycle tank.