Hi, I'm very new here, so apologies if I'm in the wrong area. I have a 1994 GSX600F and I'm worried about the introduction of E10 fuel in the UK. Suzuki say it's not compatible and cannot be converted. Has anyone had any experience of actually using E10 in these 90s bikes and what problems, if any, are caused in the real world rather than just theory. I really don't want to have to scrap the bike just because of a crazy government fuel policy. I currently use 98 octane which doesn't contain any ethanol so far.
All thoughts appreciated!
E10 fuel
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Re: E10 fuel
Possibly wrong site as your bike was "branded" a Katana in the US and generally called a Teapot over here , so we only generally have the earlier Katana as in the images in the title bar! There is site where more specific questions to your bike would be answered possibly better - https://katriders.com/forum/suzuki-katana-forums as the old GSX600F ( and 750 and 1100) was popular in the States.
But no worries, as your question is a general one that could apply to any older bike. Personally I will avoid E10 and hopefully at the minimum there will always be E5. I use 97 octane and it is rumoured that in the South Esso 97 doesn't contain ethanol, but there is nothing official about that (Pookie might chip in as he had some info in another post).
Ethanol will eventually rot the O rings in the carbs (this has already happened on my 1992 GSX400SSN Katana. I would get a Viton O ring kit for your bike from Litetek - https://litetek.co/Carb_Kit_Suzuki_GSX600F.html and fit that. Viton is Ethanol resistant.
When storing over winter I add STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer (Google it - it comes from https://www.motorgeek.co.uk/) in the last fill up and run bike to get the fuel through the carbs and brim the tank so condensation has no room. I leave the carbs full. You can empty the carbs and tank, but when filling up the following year the O rings in the carbs will have dried out so need time to swell again to seal (hence why I leave fuel in them). You could seal the petrol tank if you like. 2 of mine are done and 3 not.
Hope that helps,
UB
But no worries, as your question is a general one that could apply to any older bike. Personally I will avoid E10 and hopefully at the minimum there will always be E5. I use 97 octane and it is rumoured that in the South Esso 97 doesn't contain ethanol, but there is nothing official about that (Pookie might chip in as he had some info in another post).
Ethanol will eventually rot the O rings in the carbs (this has already happened on my 1992 GSX400SSN Katana. I would get a Viton O ring kit for your bike from Litetek - https://litetek.co/Carb_Kit_Suzuki_GSX600F.html and fit that. Viton is Ethanol resistant.
When storing over winter I add STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer (Google it - it comes from https://www.motorgeek.co.uk/) in the last fill up and run bike to get the fuel through the carbs and brim the tank so condensation has no room. I leave the carbs full. You can empty the carbs and tank, but when filling up the following year the O rings in the carbs will have dried out so need time to swell again to seal (hence why I leave fuel in them). You could seal the petrol tank if you like. 2 of mine are done and 3 not.
Hope that helps,
UB
Re: E10 fuel
Many thanks for those thoughts. I'll take up your suggestions and hope that the general introduction of E10 continues to be delayed!!