The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

A lot has been written on this board about octane levels and bio fuel additives but New Year has marked a new era in Europe for bio-additives.

So there are some guidelines from Europe that causes their member states to make sure there is at least 8.5% bio fuel (ethanol) mixed with the ordinary fuel which is typically of a 95 or 98 octane level here.

Belgian government - don't get me started on them - thought: "Hey let's be the best of the class and go ahead and from 2020 on mix 9.6% of ethanol in the fuel."
In my owners manual (translated from Dutch) I read the following:

Following mixed fuels can be used:
* up to 10% ethanol

use of fuel with more then 10% ethanol can:
* damage rubber hoses from fuel lines
* cause corrosion in gas tank
* bad driveability

Should I be worried? Because 9.6% is getting very very close to 10%.
If so or even if not, are there things I can add to have preventive measures against the above stated effects?


I know there are plenty other European board members but maybe in their country they only go up to 8.5% which still a bit more from this 10% away then what we are currently having in Belgium.

"can" very different from "will"

All PCX models will be just fine with E10, no additives required.

Not to worry!

Just don't add any Pinot Grigio to the mix.

In the U.S. we've had to deal with E10 fuel for some time now. Personally I think it's stupid to use food for fuel but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Corn power . . . sounds fuelish.

Anyhow, glad to see efforts being made developing other energy sources for transportation.

Back on topic, if you can get your hands on a product like Star Tron (from Starbrite), Sta-Bil 360 Performance, STP Ethanol Fuel System Treatment, and there are others, to add to your fuel tank once in a while, and proportionally as per instructions it will go a long way to help prevent carburetor problems and phasing (water absorption).

I've been using Star Tron for years in my cars, boat motors, and bikes (now scooters too with good results). The bottles, depending upon the brand average around $10 to $15 and treat upwards of 50 gallons. I know with the Star Tron you can't "over dose" per se. You just waste it if you add too much. You can get larger bottle sizes as well and treat a lot more than 50 gallons . . . a little bit at a time over time.

That said the fuels containing ethanol will effect aluminum and rubber parts in particular. I replaced my original fuel line in my KLR with new clear plastic fuel line suggested at my local Kaw dealer. It was some time ago so I'm thinking of replacing it again. It could be PVC . . . not sure . . . doubt it's Tygon. So I'd suggest you check with your local motorcycle dealer parts department or maybe someone else can chime in here also. This is what Bike Bandit offers https://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket- ... clamps/pbh

FWIW I noticed a white powdery substance starting to appear under the gas cap on my KLR when E10 first started being sold here and when I started using Star Tron I didn't see it anymore. Coincidence perhaps? I couldn't say but going into it's 32nd model year the still runs great. And I just took it out for a ride on New Year's Eve Day too!

As an added note I saw this article about fuel line sources.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/12/0 ... d-not-use/

Also, PTFE (Teflon) has been used as an ethanol resistant fuel line but it kinks easier and is more expensive. It's handy where E85 is used as in flex fuel type vehicles.

Thank you all for the input. I did some more research and it seems the ethanol percentage of the 98 octane level fuel will not change and will remain at around 5%. So for now I will simply switch to that fuel even though it is a bit more expensive (around 0.17 €/l extra) - but even though I ride it a lot it would only add up to around 70€ each year. For that money I can not risk having troubles with fuel lines etc. on a bike that serves as my primary means of transportation going back and forth to work.

All PCX models are designed to be used with E10.
No problem exists.

All PCX models are designed to be used with E10.
No problem exists.

Yup . . . the fuel injected PCX models will run on E10 . . . as did mine. Most of the vehicles produced after 2011 should run fine on E10.

However, the ethanol content in the E10 fuel will pull water out of the air and phasing is an issue . . . especially if a vehicle sits unused for some time and especially in high humidity.

Using the vehicle often, or everyday, does help to maintain a fresh supply of E10 running through the tank and a less likely chance of any problems.

This can explain a few things.



Older vehicles with carburetors, or the older rubber fuel lines, can develop problems if the fuel sits in them too long. The carbs can clog and the rubber fuel lines can deteriorate . . . even small pieces of rubber can break off from inside the line and get caught in the carburetor(s). It's a gradual thing. Oh . . . and it can dissolve rust in gas tanks too which ends up in the fuel system.

Back in the early 2000's the marine industry started having problems with ethanol fuels. Boat engines that sat over Winter were getting clogged fuel systems and any fuel tanks that were made out of fiberglass would suffer damage. The ethanol would soften up the resin. Fortunately the vast percentage of fuel tanks in boats were not made of fiberglass.

I had an ethanol related problem occur with a brand new Nissan outboard motor back in the early 2000's after being stored all Winter. After that I've religiously used Star Tron (and in a pinch other brands) fuel additive ever since and have never had any fuel related problems. My two motorcycles are a relic from the pre ethanol era and have carburetors and I keep them going by making sure I run them enough to keep the fuel supply relatively fresh and as added protection use the Star Tron. I'm not trying to advertise the stuff but just saying . . ..

In my snow blower (another relic) I added a fuel line shut off valve. When I'm done using it I shut the valve off and let it run til it dies. That way it's unlikely any sludge or varnish will build up in the carb. And I use the Star Tron as well. Having the shut off valve installed also reduces the likely hood of fuel leaking out of the carb due to stuck floats (safety measure).

For a while they used a chemical called "MTBE" but it was causing groundwater contamination. So the march of ethanol began. In the U.S. the E85 fuels are more common (flex fuel vehicles) in the mid-western states because the infrastructure exists. But in other areas of the U.S. it's E10. They've been trying to push it to E15 most recently.

Bottom line is most vehicles produced in this century should handle E10 OK. But older "collector cars" or "collector motorcycles" not so much.

Here's an article pertaining to events that are inevitable concerning E15 and will impact even the newest vehicles purchased that currently run on E10.

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos ... -it-or-not

My local Asda now has the new euro markings on the petrol pumps above the nozzles with notes added above them saying xxx = unleaded, something else equals Diesel.