| Author | Message | ||
     Steveford |
Our local Sunoco has caused poor running in our cars over the years and I've been filling up the Useless there as the station is convenient. I started doing a momentary burp and was throwing the TPS throttle code so I did a reset, rode it around, more codes, crap. I filled up at the Rutters station and now no more codes. They're talking about increasing the ethanol content to 15%, I wonder if this isn't what the problem is - too much ethanol in the local Sunoco? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I've never used 15% myself, but I always have used 10% without any problems. | ||
| Tootal |
I don't think there is 15% yet. Too many groups want more research on the damage it might cause to older engines. As far as I'm concerned they can stick that ethanol up their back sides!! My Uly runs perfect on good gas but not so well on corn squeezings!! That stuff belongs in jars and bottles, not my gas tank! | ||
| Steveford |
Hopefully it's just that one station that has something weird going on. Perhaps Jimmy Hoffa is actually at the bottom of one of their tanks? | ||
| Sagehawk |
That tootal knows his squeezings, eh? Signs say up to 10% but I think that up to is up for definition. If I only need two gallons, then what else comes thru hose that I don't want? I can't run the 87 from the local bucees in my mazda truck even. Rough idle, low speed hesitation, etc.same as other descriptions on badweb. winter formulated fuel is on the way this time of year, and running issues haven't gotten better as years go by. | ||
| Satori |
Steveford, Ive had that problem at a station that seldom changed their filters. On a more positive note, I read an article a few days ago, where the epa was cutting down the volume of ethanol required next year from this year, in effect cutting how much gas needs to have the stuff. Of course the ethanol lobby group is suing to have a higher number and keep the level going up. | ||
| Kag |
I recently started running a little Lucas Upper Cylinder lube in every tank and it straight up makes a big difference in how the bike runs. I think gas quality is hit and miss as companies cut corners.  | ||
| Sagehawk |
I had a bud that had an indian scout with a 96" s&s motor. He and his dad made a trip into mexico for several weeks. If he hadn't found that lucas fuel treatment that you showed, that motor would have beat itself to death. Pemex is for something, just not motorcycles. Ive used startron in mazda with good luck for treating low grade fuel. Lucas for the scoots, especially higher mileage ones, works pretty good. | ||
| Steveford |
I just reread my first post. The bike started doing a momentary burp, not me. I'll give that Lucas a shot and will avoid the corner Sunoco. | ||
| Arcticktm |
Maybe your bike found out you are calling it useless. Machines have feelings, you know. And we all know what happens when you piss them off. They'll be back... | ||
| Buewulf |
Depending on how strict your state watchdogs are, you can have some less-than-reliable oil jobbers blend a little extra ethanol into the fuel to boost margins a bit. It can also happen accidentally if they have a bad metering device. I have measured >14% ethanol before. You may want to test the Sunoco fuel and compare it to fuel from a station that your bike runs well on. | ||
| Shagg1970 |
I think your code/no code tps issue is coincedence. the tps is a sensor that measures the rotation of the throttle shaft. it is not in the presence of fuel and fuel quality will have no bearing on it reading or setting codes. I had a tps fail and it started out as an intermittant issue. so on that part of your issue your barking up the wrong tree. | ||
| Firemanjim |
I agree with Shagg.TP code not related to fuel. | ||
| Steveford |
It could be on it's way out. I switched stations about 300 miles ago and no more TPS codes or burping. I did have to manually reset the TPS around 10,000 miles ago (remove it, blob it full of dielectric grease and push it to the right to take the slop out of it) so perhaps it is getting ready to croak once and for all. I DID kind of brag it up a little bit recently and it paid me back by acting up. Not only do they have feelings but they can HEAR so never, ever say good things about it in a voice above a whisper. That's why I call it the Useless; you have to keep it from getting too full of itself. As soon as you start going on about how wonderful your motorcycle is it'll throw a rod or spit back and catch on fire or something horrible like that. It's probably a bad idea even to think good thoughts about a motorcycle once it's out of the Warranty period. For instance, tonight I replaced a headlight bulb after thinking about how wonderful the Sylvania headlight bulbs are and I'm so happy I bought some of those instead of some crappy brand that die all the time, that's really inconvenient, you have to ride with your high beam on which drives everybody crazy... |
