NSW Government is banning regular Unleaded, from July 1

[sen]

UP TO 750,000 drivers in NSW will be forced to pay at least $150 more for petrol each year when the government bans regular unleaded petrol in July.

NSW is the only government in Australia to ban regular unleaded petrol and replace it with fuel blended with 10 per cent ethanol.

But modelling by the University of Queensland and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce obtained by the Herald shows 25 per cent of NSW cars cannot use ethanol fuel and will be forced to use premium fuel instead.

The Coalition supported the laws despite the fact that among those bearing the extra cost would be nearly 100,000 NSW motorists who drive cars made before 1986, many of whom live in rural Australia.

Almost all motorcyclists in NSW and drivers of several popular makes and models, such as all Ford Lasers and many Mazdas made before 2005, will also have to pay more as their vehicles cannot run on ethanol-blended petrol.

http://smh.drive.com.au/petrol-switch-to-leave-750000-motorists-out-of-pocket-20120122-1qc96.html

[sen]

CAR MAKES AND MODELS THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ETHANOL-BLEND PETROL
* Alfa Romeo
All models pre 1998
* Audi
Audi A3 1.8L (Engine Code 'APG' 2000 onwards) and A4 2.0L (Engine Code 'ALT' 2001 onwards)
* Ford
Capri (All), Courier 2.0L & 2.6L (All), Econovan (pre-2002), Festiva (All), Laser 1.3L, 1.5L & 1.6L (All), Raider (All), Telstar (All)
* GMDaewoo
All models
* Holden
Apollo (1/87-7/89), Nova (2/89-7/94), Barina (1985-1994), Drover (1985-1987), Scurry (1985-1986), Astra (1984-1989)
* Lotus
Elan (1989-1991); Esprit (4 cyl – 1987-1999); Elise (Rover engine – 1996-2004); 340R; Exige (Rover engine – 2001, 2002 & 2004); Europa (2006 onwards)
* Mazda
All models except Mazda2 - May 2005 build onwards, Mazda3, Mazda6, RX-8, MX-5 – July 2005 build onwards, Tribute - April 2006 onwards, CX-7, CX-9
* Peugeot
306 (XU engine only)
* Subaru
All Subaru (before 1990)
Subaru Liberty B4 (2002 to 2003)
Subaru Liberty GT (2004 - 2006)
Impreza WRX STI (1999 to 2005)
* Suzuki
Alto, Mighty Boy, Wagon R+, Swift/Cino, Sierra, Stockman, Vitara, X-90, Jimny (SOHC), Super Carry, Suzuki Baleno and Baleno GTX
* Toyota
Camry with carburettor engines pre July 1989 and Corolla pre July 1994; Supra - pre May 1993, Cressida - pre Feb 1993, Paseo - pre Aug 1995, Starlet - pre July 1999, Land Cruiser - pre Aug 1992, Coaster - pre Jan 1993, Dyna - pre May 1995, Tarago - pre Oct 1996, Hilux , Hiace, & 4 Runner - pre Aug 1997, Townace - pre Dec 1998

CAR MAKES AND MODELS THAT ARE E5 SUITABLE ONLY
* Alfa Romeo
All models post 1998
* Fiat
Punto
* Ford
Focus (2002 - 2004), F-series (1986-1992), Ka (All), Maverick (All), Transit (1996 - 2004), Mondeo (prior to 2007)
* Holden
Astra SRi 2.2L (11/2006 onwards); Astra 2.2L Twin Top Convertible (11/2006 onwards)
* Lexus
IS200 pre May 2002
* MG
All models
* Porsche
All models pre MY2007
* Rover
All models
* Renault
All models post 2001

MOTORBIKE MAKES AND MODELS THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ETHANOL-BLEND PETROL
* Honda
All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles
* Hyosung
All motorcycles
* Kawasaki
All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles with the exception of KLX110A/C/D (KLX110/L) 2006-2012 models, KL250J (Stockman) 2006-2012 models, KLX250T (KLX250S) 2009-2012 models, KLX250W (KLX250SF) 2010-2012 models, KL650E (KLR650) 2008-2012 models, KLE650A (Versys) 2008-2009 models, KLE650D (Versys ABS*) 2010-2012 models, ER650A (ER-6n) 2006-2008 models, ER650C (ER-6n) 2009 model, ER650D (ER-6n ABS*) 2009-2011 models, EX650A (ER-6f) 2006-2008 models, EX650C (Ninja 650R) 2009 model, EX650D (Ninja 650R ABS*) 2010-2011 models, ZR750L (Z750) 2007-2012 models, EJ800A (W800) 2011 2012 models, VN900B ( Vulcan 900 Classic) 2006-2011 models, VN900C (Vulcan 900 Custom) 2006-2011 models. * E10 fuel is approved for use in these LAMS variants models
* Piaggio
All motorcycles
* Suzuki
All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles
* Yamaha
All motorcycle and All Terrain Vehicles

[Fight_fan]

yep, my AU ute is about to become even more expensive to run. A full tank already sets me back nearly $120

[sen]

What's the deal with running premium in bikes, do you need to tune it since the fuel is richer? (eg for my Hayabusa)... I don't know shit about petrol or what different ones do, have never needed to know until now.

[Fight_fan]

Not sure mate, I'v always run premium in all my bikes n never had a issue...

[fimpBIKES]

fucking idiots

it'll be a fuckload more than $150 a year, where is this reporter buying his fuel?
ban ethanol blends ffs!!!

[Swordsy]

Doesn't really effect me, I already run 98 in all my cars and bikes, even the mower gets 98 (after being siphoned out of the XR cos i couldn't be bothered to go down the street for fuel...)

[Redmohawk]

For a start if you change a few things in your carb, plus hoses you can run ethanol in almost any bike so if you want to be a cheap bugger and keep using low grade fuel ethanol is no problem. Basicly it only stuffs up your mixture a little and doesnt like real old rubber hoses (including the rubber on your float neadle stops) .

All this crap about not being able to use 10% and less ethanol blends in bikes is utter horse shit ! I have run many bikes and cars on it unmodified for years (over 10) without an issue (asside of a fuel line going to shit , learning experiance !) Most bikes will run fine without re-jetting for everyday use, when you work your motor hard (or have it jetted really lean or rich already) it can hi light issues. Generally a fiddle with mixtures can sort it quickly enough.

E85 is the new race fuel of choice for "green racing" more power than unleaded but motors a built to run it , mostly more compression with 14 to 1 the norm.

Ethanol (booze) is reasonbly benign compared to Methanol (wood grain alc) meth will eat ali inside your motor carb etc and eats rubber in a few days . Motors run on Methanol reguarly without issue with the right care.

I dont aggree that baning regular unleaded is a good move , but it is what there doing ! Brazil has been running up to E85 for 15 odd years and bikes are sold there ! Just stop being cheap bastards and buy better fuel prob sorted.

[Large]

What's the deal with running premium in bikes, do you need to tune it since the fuel is richer? (eg for my Hayabusa)... I don't know shit about petrol or what different ones do, have never needed to know until now.

Don't tell me you're running the bus on regular gasoline?

You need to be running High Test in that ship son.

[BANDITROD]

fuck yeah sen i run all my bikes on bp ultimate

[sen]

Don't tell me you're running the bus on regular gasoline?

You need to be running High Test in that ship son.

I was told not to because it's not tuned for it or some crap http://smiliesftw.com/x/dunno.gif

Thankfully I don't listen to people much, because I put premium in it anyway (just "feels" like it runs better on it). Just didn't know if I was right or not.

[oldskool]

I was told not to because it's not tuned for it or some crap http://smiliesftw.com/x/dunno.gif

Thankfully I don't listen to people much, because I put premium in it anyway (just "feels" like it runs better on it). Just didn't know if I was right or not.
In your owners hand book it will tell you to only use 95 ron +

[xa-mont]

All this crap about not being able to use 10% and less ethanol blends in bikes is utter horse shit !

Have a read about all of the bikes with plastic tanks (Aprilias, Ducatis and others i assume) in the US (where ethanol blends are mandated) swelling then give us your expert opinion.

[oldskool]

Have a read about all of the bikes with plastic tanks (Aprilias, Ducatis and others i assume) in the US (where ethanol blends are mandated) swelling then give us your expert opinion.

And why would every motor cycle manufacturer state not to use it also dont Holden make a special ethanol compatible conformadoor model?

[ALBI]

Well I like the list that says
All rovers can run premium ?Up to disco disco 2 if you run premium
It fouls plugs and then kilss them ,and if you run e10 they foul aswell
And run purfect on 95
All citroeens must run on 98 otherwise they bring up fault codes for o2sensors

I just love how our gummbootment claim we are a better socioty ,but yet our fuel is 3world

[oldskool]

My 1954 Rover P4 90 ran best on 98 ron and never fouled a plug.

[fimpBIKES]

its not the ethanol that bugs me, its the kneejerk politics with fuck-all science behind the policy
its just an effort to win the green vote

[Redmohawk]

AS stated before :- "For a start if you change a few things in your carb, plus hoses you can run ethanol in almost any bike so if you want to be a cheap bugger and keep using low grade fuel ethanol is no problem. Basicly it only stuffs up your mixture a little and doesnt like real old rubber hoses (including the rubber on your float neadle stops) . "

Look up ethanol in a big book or even on the net (with your brain bullshit filter on as there is a heap of disinformation out there) ethanol is not corosive to most plastics , and definatly not fuel grade HDP that is used to make fuel tanks ! You honastly think that something you can drink (ethanol) is going to damage a plastic tank that will contain touline (paint thinners) ? To many retards go on about how alc will fuck your bike/car/plane etc etc yet people add it (metho) on occasion to dry out fuel tanks lol

Prob is people assume all alcs are the same , far from the truth meth is highly corosive to ali and most natural rubbers , ethanol is just good at killing brain cells. Ethanol has a high specific energy than Methanol but has a slightly lower specific heat (so absorbs heat from the intake charge slightly less) . This means in a nutshell it is safe in most fuels but slightly less power and km per L with a motor built for petrol but if built to take advantage of the alc power output goes up. Turbo guys can increase boost/change timing to regain most of the power lost.

Metho is ethanol with a additive to stop people drinking it , it comes in big 2L plastic jugs do you see them all blowing up on the shelves in suppermarkets ? And the bottles are only made out of PET not fuel grade plastic.

Manufactures of both cars and bikes do not recomend you run ethanol as they sell factory bikes n cars , not modified motors (altering the tuning of your bike or car would void a warrenty) and unless a factory assigned technician did it they wont cover it ! It not about the fuel its about leagal issues/matinance/training etc etc imagine the hassle of retraining every machanic to retune for a specific fuel. Big hassle for no gain for them. easyer to just say nope cant use it , if you want to buy a "brand x " .

[pappas]

E85 in turbo'd cars are making 10-15% more power than unleaded fuels due to the advantages that Red has said above. Timing can be increased considerably and higher boost can be run. It is a fuel of the future and can give you more power in boosted bikes and higher comp ratio's.

So everyone go turbo your bike and jump on the ethanol bandwagon!!

[xa-mont]

"For a start if you change a few things in your carb, plus hoses you can run ethanol in almost any bike so if you want to be a cheap bugger and keep using low grade fuel ethanol is no problem. Basicly it only stuffs up your mixture a little and doesnt like real old rubber hoses (including the rubber on your float neadle stops) . "

Manufacturing a metel fuel tank to replace your plastic one is not a little change.

I don't know what the specific reason is, and i'm not crapping on pretending to know. All i know is that a lot of people in the USA, where you cannot get non ethanol fuel (in most states anyway AFAIK) are having their tanks swell up to the point of not fitting properly onto the mounting points, and sometimes fucking the tank because it swells so far past the mounting points. if it is left empty for a while (4 months was suggested by a bloke who runs an aprilia dealership/hot up place) then it will go back to the correct shape/size... but you shouldn't have to do that

[ALBI]

My 1954 Rover P4 90 ran best on 98 ron and never fouled a plug.

actually mate that is good to know as i have an ser3 landie that loves 98 but the 2 x dicso 1 v8's foul the plugs if on 98 !!

[fimpBIKES]

to be honest, i think that this has a lot to do with trying to prop up the automotive industry

how many people are going to use this as that little bit of extra encouragement to go and buy that new car to compete with the neighbours?

[ALBI]

filled up the work ute this morning ,at bp and asked dude ,how come and wat does bp have to say etc etc

he shrugged his head and said dunno when did this happen .

[Tony Nitrous]

What's the deal with running premium in bikes,
do you need to tune it since the fuel is richer? (eg for my Hayabusa)...

Sen,
I've been running nothing but BP98 in two Busa's (04 and 02) and a B-King since 2004.
Street and strip. They go well and i've never had a drama caused by fuel.

Tony.

[Redmohawk]

Fiberglass and crappy plastic tanks can be effected by ethanol, a quick reline with an ethanol approved epoxy coating (just like a steel reliner coating) will sort that out for $50 ! Simple used often and recomended to most people with said problems if they talk to someone who knows what there on about.

Most motorbike and car manufactures use HDP (high density polyethalen) to make fuel tanks honda have since the first of the xr's. I have run a xr 250, xl 250, xr600 ,900ss , trx850, gsx 400, Gpx600, lawnmower , whippersnipper , toyota corolla , toyota celica with 1ggze , chainsaw , industrial firefighting pump and generator on E10 for around 10 years all have plastic tanks asside of the cars n firefighting pump. Not one has caused an issue with E10 other than tuning.

[Large]

Only fucking dirty pinko commies would refuse to support our heroic corngrowers by refusing to run ethanol!

[Redmohawk]

I used to be a cheap bastard and used it often, now days only the stuff I have already tuned for E10 get it otherwise its 95 or on a real hot day/spirited riding planned 98. We have had a local independant fuel supplyer providing E10 for about 15 years.

A current project is being purpose built for E85 but she is a "Only on angry days ride" and will have its first and very limited long ride to NFR12 if all goes to plan. Followed by a car with a 44 full of E85 race fuel for her diet.

[wackyrider]

actually mate that is good to know as i have an ser3 landie that loves 98 but the 2 x dicso 1 v8's foul the plugs if on 98 !!

Albi, in the bike I always use 98, however in my Disco 1 I just chuck in whatever is cheaper. Mine is tuned for duel fuel and I do tend to run it more on LPG than petrol, but have never really had any fuel issues. Unfortunatly gona have to sell her though as I have too many toys

[DCRacing]

Only fucking dirty pinko commies would refuse to support our heroic corngrowers by refusing to run ethanol!


Sorghum not corn, that is what is used at the Dalby bio refinery, we have got 2 year contracts for supply of it, not super efficient at getting fuel but you feel warm and fuzzy.

[Watto]

Lot of triumph fellas in the UK and USA having trouble with plastic tanks bulging - has been blamed on the ethanol based fuels but admittedly I'm not up to date on the exact issues

[JackTar]

Fiberglass and crappy plastic tanks can be effected by ethanol, a quick reline with an ethanol approved epoxy coating

Ethanol can approve things now? Fucking technology eh...

[Gitzy]

I have too many toys

BULLSHIT , THIS STATEMENT IS BULLLLLLLSHIIIIIITTTTTT....

No-One can have too many toys Jules..

[Redmohawk]

Jacktar I didnt realise I needed to spell it out for the Navy boys , Epoxy tank liner kits approved for ethanol based fuels.

[Boxer]

Car is on LPG, bikes run on PULP :)