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E10, Phase Separation, and Water in the Fuel Tank

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    E10, Phase Separation, and Water in the Fuel Tank

    Well I've learned something. But still have some questions. I recently posted about getting "bad gas" in the "Other Questions" section (since I've got one of those "other bikes"), and the state agency overseeing that tested it for me today. The lower of 2 layers in the sample jar I had was likely ethanol and water mixed (had very nearly the same color as gasoline, not completely clear like water). When you have water that has pulled the ethanol out of the blend, it can take quite a while for the water to separate out of the ethanol, unlike 100% gasoline, if I understand correctly.

    My question now becomes, Is it possible in a motorcycle gas tank that's plumbed correctly, to have water in the bottom all the time, and never know it?

    I have used 100% gas almost exclusively for the nearly 3 years I've had this bike, but I've used E10 a couple of times probably, without issue. I use my Reserve setting towards the end of every tank, without, or at least almost without exception, and I normally put it back on Reserve after filling up, to see if anything weird happens with the new gas (I may not have done this with the recent E10 fill-up since I was at a different place and out of my routine).

    That water came from somewhere, and I don't think it was my bike's gas tank. I would think water in the bottom would make it into the system from sloshing around and so forth, even if it was below the lowest level of the tank supply port. And I never get any kind of stuttering or whatnot when using Reserve. That is, I didn't. It's a 6gal tank, and when I fill-up there's usually a gallon left, but I've had less than that in there recently.

    So assuming I'm wrong and the problem happens to be my tank as the source of the water (and I never detected it running 100% gas), now I'm saying, this E10 garbage is worse than I thought. Not only did it create a mixture that nearly got me stranded (no phone, inside shoulder of 3 lanes of heavy traffic), but when it separates out like that, you wind up with a lesser octane in the upper layer, which isn't good either, since (this bike) is supposed to have 91 or better.

    Regardless, I'm going to be more serious about avoiding that stuff in ALL my vehicles from now on, and supporting the makers and sellers of 100% gasoline. I image (but don't know) that the ethanol stuff is subsidized in some manner, and that it is more expensive and more trouble than just refining and selling 100% gasoline. That's not even accounting for the slightly lesser gas mileage it yields (LOL). Would I be ignorant and arrogant to call that whole idea Stupid? Ah well, wouldn't be the first time, probably.
    Last edited by JMHJ; 11-14-2025, 05:26 PM.

    #2
    You're lucky if you can buy 100% gasoline. They have outlawed it where I live.
    1986 1150EF
    2008 GS1250SEA

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      #3
      I feel lucky it hasn't been outlawed around here. I never put ethanol in bikes nor lawn mowers that may sit for a while, over the winter. I've had my boat for over 25 yrs. and I've never put any ethanol in it's Mercury 150 Black Max 2 stroke outboard... That being said I've got a pint of E10 out in my garage. I put it there 6 or 8 yrs. ago, after hearing that water would separate from the ethanol and gas mixture. I'm still picking it up a couple or 3 times per yr., being gentle not to shake it up, and have never seen any indication of water in the bottom of the jar. Gosh that stuff has got to stinking really bad after these yrs. Getting back to your question, I'd say no way, and way less chance if using your res. as often as you say you are.
      1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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        #4
        rphillips.
        In a jar with a lid that seals is different than in a tank which has a vent hole in the cap to allow moisture to enter it. Try a new test with fresh E10 but with a few pinholes in the lid.
        MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
        1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

        NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


        I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

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          #5
          Originally posted by rphillips View Post
          Getting back to your question, I'd say no way, and way less chance if using your res. as often as you say you are.
          Yeah, it doesn't seem reasonable to me that I've been riding around with some significant amount of water and didn't know it until I hit it with the E10. But I don't know that the guy that tested the station and my sample totally bought that it didn't come from my tank. Anyway...

          I usually wait 'til the gauge hits E and put it on Reserve, and hit the station very soon after that. My riding is almost all commuting, and I usually go somewhere up near 200 miles on a tank (39-40mpg), but could push it over that some. I don't want to find out how much of the capacity is unusable by running it all the way out though...

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            #6
            Thanks Chuck, hadn't thought about vented or not vented could make a difference, but of course it could.
            1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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              #7
              Originally posted by rphillips View Post
              ...I'd say no way, and way less chance if using your res. as often as you say you are.
              Ditto. I would think it would make it's presence immediately known upon switching to reserve.
              1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

              2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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                #8
                Have you already taken the tank off and cleared it out?
                I had bad gas a couple of times and was glad of the drains in the fuel bowls. Long before ethanol times, contaminated fuel was a thing, especially in smaller less-used fuel stations.
                Dave
                '79 GS850GN '80 GS850GT
                Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

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