Not true - it's even stated on the Shell pumps: Bronze has up to 10% ethanol, Silver has up to 5% ethanol, and the Gold (or V-Tech or whatever it is these days) has no ethanol. I've used the Gold for 2+ years now on our 5 HP 2-stroke, and it's been very good. Even year-old gas was still usable.I asked at our neighbourhood Shell station about ethanol and was told that "no grade of Shell gas has ethanol in it". This is Canada, so YMYV (no pun intended).