So my friend who used to work for a dealer always says to avoid ethanol like the black death. Says that pistons will be scored and bla, bla. I generally take what he says and add it to my knowledge with what I have learned on my own to form my own opinions, but I'm so not sure about this.

If it is the bain of all 2 strokes like he suggests, then manu's would say something about it in the owners manuals right? In fact though I know Cat even has an ethanol switch of some sort for their EFI engines.

I have searchd this subject and only came up with jetting issues as it seams to run lean(er). I cant see 10% having a major impact on lube?

I don't think that lube is an issue, especially in a 2 stroke. It's not like we're using leaded fuels anymore...

Ethanol is not nice to some seals and to moving parts of any fuel system. Most if not all newer stuff is designed to be used with unleaded gas and up to 10% ethanol blend. I know on cars some injectors don't last as long on ethanol. Ethanol does have less lubrication then gas which is part of the problem with using ethanol. If using E85 or something the motor and fuel system needs to be designed for it. Hope that helps some.

Ethanol is corrosive, it's as simple as that. If you can, avoid it.

That I realize. Any alcohol type fuel will be more corrosive over gasoline. However what I have to deal with (and what I neglected to mention in the first post, for which I appologize) is a 10% blend.

I guese what I'm after is; Is it as big as a problem as my friend suggests? MN residents have to put up with it, because as I understand, that is all that is available to them. They dont seem to complain too much.

Here in MN. we don't complain much because Non Oxy non alcohol fuel is readily available at most stations, even up in the woods. 9 out of 10 fill ups I run 91 octain alcohol free fuel.
When it gets below zero I will run a tank or two of ethanal so I don't have to add gas line antifeeze.
No big deal. I know guys that will run nothing but the cheap ethenal 87 octain and never have any problems.

This sounds familiar. I had friends that told me to avoid gasohol. I thought they were crazy, then I started having all these little wierd problems with stuff. nothing major, just anoyances. switched back to regular gas. problems gone. ethanol has it's place, but not in anything considered "High Performance". :div20:

I have been running with it for years--- never had a problem