Does Super Unleaded contain ethanol?

boyse7en

Simple question, does the 97 octane super unleaded available at most petrol stations contain ethanol, as normal 95 octane unleaded does?

The ethanol content in petrol is gradually eating its way through glassfibre petrol tanks causing them to leak, and I'm trying to find a way around it.

maninthestreet

I believe it does contain ethanol.
Is your tank made of fibre glass reinforced plastic, or fibreglass reinforced polyester / fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin material?

boyse7en

GRP - glass reinforced plastic. It's on an off-road motorbike from the 1960s.
There are some internal tank coatings you can get that are supposed to prevent/reduce the problem, but it can be a difficult job to do properly so I was hoping that there might be an easier way around it.

forgotmyname

Buy a diesel? Mind you this bio diesel has ethanol in it also.

I think the answer is sell it before it leaks or replace it when it does leak.

Fit a metal tank? or buy a car with a metal tank?

Gloomendoom

If you do fit a metal tank, make sure it isn't aluminium. Ethanol eats that too.

cardinalbiggles

up to 6% ethanol I think.

This is why all the old fibreglass tanks that petrol stations fitted are now having to be replaced with metal ones.

mikey72

Ethanol is an octane booster, so there might well be more in super unleaded, than normal unleaded. (But if burns with less energy, so performance decreases to match though)

worried_jim

forgotmyname wrote: »

Buy a diesel? Mind you this bio diesel has ethanol in it also.

I think the answer is sell it before it leaks or replace it when it does leak.

Fit a metal tank? or buy a car with a metal tank?

Its a motor bike not a car.

mikey72

Epoxy coating seems to be the best solution at the moment.

sabretoothtigger

Depends on the brand, the more expensive types have no ethanol.

I forget which, maybe ESSO. You will have to ask, it should be a regular question they are asked just dont expect the guy on the till to know anything

de1amo

i own a 1960s sports car and they recommend BP ultimate at the club because it has no ethanol--i think everything else does from what i gather!(i dont actually live in the uk and have yet to use ethanol petrol in my car!!--it has a metal tank but ethanol does alsorts to gaskets on older cars!