Ethanol Gasoline and Fuel-Injected Bikes

A reader is curious as to whether fuel-injected bikes are more resistant to the negative effects of ethanol than other motorcycles.

Reader Contribution by Robert Lazzaro
Published on August 9, 2019
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by Keith Fellenstein

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Q: I enjoy reading your column every month and I turn to you with a question. Are fuel-injected bikes less affected by the ravages of ethanol gasoline than bikes with carburetors?

– Robert Lazzaro
Hopewell Junction, New York

A: The short answer is no, ethanol affects fuel-injected bikes too, but in different ways. The fuel still seems to go bad faster than pure gasoline, and will still draw moisture out of the air. Most fuel-injected bikes are going to have a fuel pump, which can get gummed up and seize. I suppose the injector nozzles could crust over too, but would hope the injector pressure would overcome that. My routine for
carbureted bikes is to turn off the taps on the way home and try to enter my garage on fumes to help keep the carburetor bowls clean. Since you can’t do that with a fuel-injected bike your best bet would be using a fuel stabilizer additive. MC

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