Since my S1 plastics are away at the moment at DaveH's painters (along with 's plastics) I thought I'd drop a line to the major UK fuel companies to ask about the levels of ethanol in their fuel, in the hope that by filling up at the right place with the right stuff I can minimize ethanol content in the fuel and therefore save my new paintjob (wanting not to drop £800 on a holtworks tank if possible).

Responses have been quicker than I expected, though not necessarily as positive as I had hoped:

BP: Bioethanol is becoming increasingly present in the UK’s super-unleaded (premium/higher octane) petrol, because, in compliance with the UK government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, fuel suppliers have been required to increase the quantity of bio fuels in their transport fuels since 2008. As a consequence, the inclusion of bioethanol in our BP Ultimate Unleaded supply chain is an evolving situation and we are therefore unable to give you categorical assurances as to its absence or presence. However we can assure you that – as required by the The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 – the content of bioethanol in our BP Ultimate Unleaded gasoline will never be more than 5% by volume until 1st January 2017 at the earliest.

ESSO: You may be aware that the majority of unleaded 95 Octane petrol sold in the UK contains 5% ethanol as required under the Government’s Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). Our energy Supreme Unleaded is largely ethanol free with the exception of Scotland, the North eastern corner of England and the far South West. Where ethanol free energy Supreme Unleaded is available, customers may wish to choose that grade – at least 80% of Esso retailed energy Supreme Unleaded is ethanol free and will remain so into the foreseeable future.

Texaco (Valero) : Please be advised that both our Premium grade fuels now have a 5% Ethanol content.

Still waiting for a response from Shell......though I understand from other sources that they tend to stay tight lipped about actual ethanol levels in their fuel.

So if the tank bubbling is ethanol related then there are not many options now (especially if you live in certain areas of the UK) and looking it'll be getting worse in the future.....though DaveH's tipple of choice (ESSO Super) still seems like the best bet.

very helpful thanks

These tanks were bubbling before there was Ethanol in our fuel in the USA (E5/E10/E15). The tanks are simply vapor permeable. But there is hope. There's a coating that can be applied inside but the name escapes me. Maybe someone else here has done it.

_________________
Bob Krzeszkiewicz
2012 XR1200X - 2011 Kawasaki Z1000SX - 1999 Buell X1

I feel that an ali tank will always keep some value , but a bubbled plastic tank is worthless as it will reappear.

I bit the bullet and ordered an ally tank...

_________________
08 Specialized Langster

i SORNed mine

_________________
Feros Ferio

I SORNed a few too, but not the Uly, the S1 nor the SP-2...

_________________
08 Specialized Langster

....my SH is on the road

_________________
Feros Ferio

You won't regret it

But about the ethanol ,i did read somewhere that its also bad for tanks that are tinned
like old motorcycle tanks and such!

_________________
The sound of a V-twin engine braking is music to my ears!!

well like the unleaded saga...time will tell

_________________
Feros Ferio

I've been relatively lucky so far, as it is only my transfers (decals) that have bubbled. I fill up with whatever I can get, wherever I run low.
I'll just keep on riding the S1 and see what happens. At the end of the day, it's a 16 year old bike with plenty of other scars anyway.

_________________
I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

I also believe murco is safe to use Jez though there's not many outlets round my neck of the woods. Still bubble free up to now just using esso super unleaded

Still say they should make alloy tank covers for the plastic tanks as it's only cosmetic

_________________
Should Have Stuck To making Tubers

Yea but it falls off everywhere, it all dropped off the bottom of mine first, looked like it had dandruff.
Andy

Just dropped the same question to Murco, as there are a few in this area.