E10 fuel in France

[Dick Allen]

Hello has any one had a problem with e10 95 fuel in France ? As just come back from the Stella Alpina Rally in northern Italy ( 1000xt not that good off road but that's another topic ) On the way back had to fill up with e10  fuel that's all they had but as soon as we were on the road again it ran like a sick pig , no go and lumpy . Stopped and turned the TC off and it ran slightly better and only 44 mpg refill with normal fuel and OK and back to 50mpg. This engine is meant to run on this stuff but don't think it likes it ????

[Paz324]

I'll hazard a guess that it was just a bad tank of fuel, our fuel has no legal requirements to notify the end user of ethanol content of up to 5% which is why stickers showing E10 are starting to appear which means 10% ethanol content..

Its also possible that since you've run <5% ethanol fuel for the entire life of the bike the ECU isn't expecting a massive change in fuel quality such as swapping to E10, if you ran a few tanks of E10 through the bike it would likely feel as if it was back to normal but with reduced tank range of course.

[Timmo]

Garage just had delivery, or some pumps taped up due to lack of fuel awaiting a delivery, go somewhere else as the crap you get under these circumstances are a pain. That’s in any country

[hookie]

E10 here in France is becoming more common and should(?) be fine in any engine made after 2000. Having said that some people have found that their engines don't like it. I've used it several times, not out of choice but only when it's been the only 95 available at that particular station, in my K8 Vee with no problems at all. Maybe it was a bad batch you got or maybe your bike just didn't like it, which of course shouldn't happen. In future if you're worried just pay the extra put some 98 in.

[Barbel Mick]

Just confirmed with the good lady (I didn't notice  ) that most if not every time we filled up (14 times) in France a few weeks back it had E10 on the pump. From the first to last fill up the bike ran great. (650) Think you were unlucky. 

[TimV]

What was the weather like? My Vee runs OK on E10 most of the time, which is lucky as there often isn't a choice over there now, but when it is really hot then it can get pretty lumpy low down, almost a misfire. Presumably the fuel is basically boiling within the system somewhere.  This has happened on a few trips, only when the weather has been mid-30s or above and some slow traffic riding is occurring. I try to fill up with the regular 95 petrol when its hot, and the problem does not occur then.

My only other observation about it is that sometimes the fuel consumption on E10 can be relatively poor,  on standard 95 it seems much more consistent. 

[Dave L]

Hi,
On a trip to Germany last year I had a similar experience with E 10 fuel. My K15 DL650 ran rough, with high fuel consumption and no power. I eventually started filling up with the highest octane I could find at the pumps. Once back home and filled with regular it ran smoothly.

[ajs500]

2014 AL4 with ECU swap....I've just returned from France with a full tank of E10 (no choice). Bit was spluttering when cold. The bike has just been serviced and the throttle bodies were checked but no problems there. A couple of tanks of UK 98 petrol and back to normal. Down to cheap French petrol..............

[King Orry]

I filled up in Dunkirk with E10 last week, ran around France/Belgium without any issues, then filled up a the Carrefour near the Chunnel for the ride home, again no issues whatsoever averaging 54mpg, which is pretty normal for my riding two-up with luggage.

[Brockett]

This is what I heard. When first using E10 start the engine and let it run for a three minutes and then switch off. Wait one minute and then switch on and ride normally. This provides a learning process for the ECU. after this you may need to go through the same procedure when switching back to E5 when back in the UK.  This "teach the ECU" may be be required when changing your end can for something not so radical that you need a re map etc.

[mr_diver]

Most bikes can't differentiate between fuels types.
Most BMW's can and some of the race rep bikes.
Most Suzuki's ain't that smart.

[Flanners]

I did 1200m in France end of August, half of that was on initially on E10, found E10 horrid in my Vee it felt gutless and also returned poorer mpg and hesitant at lower revs, it smells absolutely disgusting too. Higher octance fuel defintely felt better and my arse dyno concludes E10 is shite.