The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Recently purchased a 2019 PCX, coming from a 50 cc Piaggio fly. Keep the PCX in the mountains of Pennsylvania where it will get no more than 500-600 miles of use per year. Had major carburetor problems with the Piaggio where it would be hard to start after only sitting for several weeks. I know the PCX is fuel injected, but would there be any benefit to buying ethanol free gas (i.e. Trufuel) for the PCX? Cost is not really a concern given the low mileage. I will also use a fuel additive like Seafoam of Stabile since it will sit many months during the winter. Really loving the PCX! Can finally take it out of my development without being afraid of faster moving traffic (like I was with the Fly50). Thanks for the advice.

Greg.

I would run ethanol gas all the time do you use the bike, and before your winter storage, and get the tank as low as possible and fill it with premium ethanol free gas. Use the sta-bil or the seafoam and you’ll be fine. But there’s no reason when you’re using the bike day to day/weekly to go to an ethanol free fuel.

Just got around to insuring my bike tor the summer, noticed the last time it was on the road was Oct 2016.
Got ill the spring of 2017 so the bike sat for almost three years with the same gas in it.
Took a chance on things being OK and so far so good,did put some sta-bil back then,and like I said so far so good.
Even the battery was fine.
When I last fuelled up was Oct 2016 was with 87 octane 10% ethanol,living on the edge?

That is one excellent endorsement for Sta-bil! I guess 10% ethanol is not THAT big a concern to a PCX. Very good news....

PS: glad that illness part of the program is reasonably behind you. Have a great scoot season!

Honda recommend maximum 10% ethanol.
The PCX I just bought had done 100 miles in the last 2 years.
The last time it was used was to take it for MoT 3 months ago.
Knowing local supplies, I assume it had 5% in.
After charging the battery & pumping up the tyres, it handled the 125 mile trip home without issue.

Jge64 wrote:I would run ethanol gas all the time do you use the bike, and before your winter storage, and get the tank as low as possible and fill it with premium ethanol free gas. Use the sta-bil or the seafoam and you’ll be fine. But there’s no reason when you’re using the bike day to day/weekly to go to an ethanol free fuel.

All spot on, so long as the ethanol content is 10% or less.

I run ethanol-free gas all the time in our pcx150.
Actually get better fuel mileage with it.
If your doing that few miles on it, I surely would put ethanol-free gas in it. And a stabilizer.
I have seen first hand what damage ethanol gas does if it sets. Because it absorbs water!
Do you want water in your gas tank? Why take the chance, if you have access to ethanol-free gas, use it.
It's only 2 gallons.

Modern fuel injection systems aren't as sensitive to ethanol as carbureted systems. a bit of stabil in the tank over the winter wouldn't go amiss, just the same. The real issue i have with ethanol is that it's really nothing more than filler. I ran some comparison tests between ethanol and and non-ethanol fuels in my old carbureted kymco People 150, and noticed a that with 10% ethanol fuel, I got 82 mpg...and 90mpg with ethanol-free fuel, about a 10% difference...interesting.

I haven't bothered testing this with my PCX. it runs fine and I get about 90mpg...so I'm not really worried, plus I run a fuel system cleaner through every few tanks and haven't observed any problems.

fwiw, if you run stabil or seafoam, as you've suggested, you'll probably be fine.

Yes really nothing wrong with running 10% eth.. Only issue is to keep it fresh and use it in modern fuel systems where the rubber can handle alcohol. Alcohol is a good cleaner and will resurrect any dirt and sludge that sits in the bottom of your tank and bring it to the injectors or carburetor.So make sure that when you have an old fuel tank be sure to clean it before using alcohol induced fuels.This should not be an issue in modern systems however as Honkerman said be prepared for less fuel economy and keep it fresh and dry as possible for best results.

Finally ran out my 3 year old fuel today,took it right to the flashing fuel gauge. Not a hiccup. Not recommending anyone to do the same but in the interest of science I proved it can be done.
Fresh tank of gas today and will not wait 3 years to use it.

relic wrote:Finally ran out my 3 year old fuel today,took it right to the flashing fuel gauge. Not a hiccup. Not recommending anyone to do the same but in the interest of science I proved it can be done.
Fresh tank of gas today and will not wait 3 years to use it.

I’ve done the same on one of my two stroke carbed scooters.

At no point did the sky fall.

What is it that makes me laugh so at that? A wee bit dumb right? I laugh anywho
Sorry, I can't resist...