There are a number of issues that need to be raised here. The first and most important of which is to write to your M.P. Ask him or her to explain what research was carried out in order to investigate what the potential damage to vehicles could be, due to the introduction of ethanol to petrol before the decision was made to do this. It is no use discussing this topic here, down the pub, or anywhere else unless you complain to your M.P. about what is happening. Our elected representatives will only take any interest in anything if they start receiving letters in their mailbags on this subject. Do not be apathetic about it make your concern known.
Second: An ethanol resistant lining is not good enough. It is crucially important to understand that a specification that is claimed be resistant does not guarantee that it will not eventually dissolve. That statement is a very good safe guard for suppliers of this product against any potential future claims from irate customers, who might complain about its ineffectiveness. Ethanol proof is the only safe lining to use. Right now the ethanol content of petrol is 5% and is set to rise soon to 10% in the near future with further increases in the pipeline. We are only getting a taster of what is to come. A resistant liner might or might not be able to cope at present ethanol levels, but what will happen if the percentage increases, as it surely will? Ethanol will attack your carburettor bodies, plastic floats, as well as your fuel lines and petrol taps. Steel tanks will suffer accelerated internal corrosion due to the hygroscopic nature of ethanol. Fibre glass fuel tanks are going to be unusable. There has been no national awareness campaign about the introduction of ethanol, and I have not noticed any mention of, or any warnings about ethanol on petrol pumps. There is a very good reason for that. There is no legal obligation to do so.
Third: Safety (and if you write to your M.P.) it might be worth including this. Sticking throttle slides. Imagine what will happen if you find that you cannot shut your throttle out on the open road. You could easily be faced with a situation where you need to throttle back, and you are unable to do so. Are you alert or agile enough to kill the ignition, and confident that your brakes alone will save the day? Maybe your bike does not have a kill switch. The BSA C12, and Sunbeam twins immediately spring to mind. The ignition switch is mounted on the tool box. Could you switch off quickly if you had to? Villiers twins have their ignition switches set in the crankcase casting.
Fourth: Who is going to pay for any damage to your engine? The petrol company? The government for forcing the the petrol company to add ethanol to your petrol? or the EEC for introducing this legislation? Another question for your M.P. I would venture to suggest. Possibly you could claim on your insurance, but what would that do to your premium at renewal time?
Fifth: Petrol with ethanol added has a shelf life of only three months, but separation will start after only two or three weeks. Once ethanol has started to absorb water in becomes acidic which is why it is so corrosive. An ethanol level of 10% is suitable only for post 1988 engines. The metallurgy in post 1988 engines has been formulated to suit ethanol. The only good news about ethanol is the fact that it enhances the anti knock properties of the engine.
Oh, and one other thing. If you belong to an owners club, or the VMCC then pester them to start campaigning. It may seem a bit paranoid to say this but this could lead to a situation where without any anti old bike legislation being introduced by the government our bikes could be driven off of the roads because there is no suitable fuel for them.
You have been warned! Get writing today if you value your bike.
John
