Yamaha France advises against using E10
2009 Yamaha R1 - Click above for an image gallery
Here in the United States, the use of E10 (10 percent ethanol, 90 percent gasoline) is already widespread, and, generally speaking, all cars, trucks and motorcycles currently sold in the U.S. have been running fine using this fuel. Things are apparently a bit different in France, though, where the use of E10 is just now beginning to become common. According to reports, at least one major manufacturer is currently advising its customers to avoid E10 until further testing is complete.
Yamaha's French Technical Service is reportedly accelerating durability testing in an attempt to validate that its vehicles are compatible with E10. In the meantime, the group is informing its customers that oxidation inside the gas tank and swelling or degradation of rubber components that come in contact with the fuel are potential problems. These are well-known issues, and none of them are all that difficult to overcome, so we're assuming Yamaha will get the issue taken care of ASAP.
Gallery: 2009 Yamaha R1
[Source: Moto Mag via Bikes in the Fast Lane]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 8:30PM (4/19/2009)
Gasoline is already inneficient and costly because of the monopolisation of it, why deteriorate it even more by adding even more inneficiency to it by the same monopole that trade it ??
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Brian P 8:58PM (4/19/2009)
I doubt if there is an issue to begin with. Current production Yamaha motorcycles sold in the rest of the world (including USA) are already approved for E10, and the materials used in the fuel system components are the same worldwide. Models destined for France don't get special non-E10-resistant fuel system components.
It's a bigger potential issue for some older models that weren't originally designed for this, but fixing yesterday's vehicles isn't something that can be done by the manufacturer today. I have a 20 year old Yamaha motorcycle, and it has seen the use of E10, and it has not given any trouble ...
There are limits to how far the ethanol content can be pushed. Ethanol acts like leaning out the air/fuel ratio, and that's heading in the direction of burned exhaust valves and melted holes in pistons. Even the most modern closed-loop emission-controlled engines intentionally run slightly rich near full load to protect themselves from destruction. The envirofreaks might not like it, but engine self-destruction isn't environmentally friendly, either.
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Tim 8:58AM (4/20/2009)
So let me get this straight…
I'm paying MORE in taxes so that we can give free money to farmers as subsidies so that they can grow corn (food) to make into ethanol so I can pay MORE at the pump for my E-10 fuel so I can get WORSE gas mileage and use MORE fuel while paying MORE for Meat and other corn based products. My cornflakes (and everything else) are sky high!
Who came up with this silly plan... big oil, the farm lobby, corrupt progressive-fascists, Midwest senators, Martians… who?
Why are we peons always paying more and getting less while our money is redistributed to giant rich corporations, corrupt politicians or those who produce nothing except excessive whining?
The Bird Feeder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaklEq36_dk
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PabloKoh 9:45AM (4/20/2009)
What does your comment have to do with Yamaha in France?
Tim 9:49AM (4/20/2009)
PabloKoh,
Corn Ethanol Economics are universal. Thank you for asking.
gorr 11:32AM (4/20/2009)
The solution might be to go in gm and ford and chrysler dealerships and ask for a water powered car, the salemans will then ask their compagny to produce some for keeping their jobs. Say that you are tire of running on 100 years old technology cars and it was the first iteration of this technology( a devise that move the car forward ). It's because we live in a communist world that we must agree on one reality. There is numerous other ways of propelling a car forward but goverments and the natural ressources cartel only admit one because they cash fantastic money sums on it and they still intend to cash money on it or destroy by any means any new player. They are as big as a hydrogen atom. Think and act big and these ants will take their hole in the ground. If they cannot offer a good and realistic solution then it's because it's a communist world and nobody show up with a personalysed identified and private new idea to propel a car forward. If we were not in a communist world leaded by bushs cartel then there will be an infinite way of moving cars forward. Im sure that it's not only me that have new idea and voice it, maybe there is somebody else too because as i said im a buyer bidder not a saleman.
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