Protecting you engine from ethanol

Ok, so all this talk about the new shitty corn gas has me thinking. I stayed up late last night doing some research on how to protect vintage engines from this stuff. Looks like if you take a few precautions than you should be able to run this stuff without ruing your pistons and valvetrain, unless I'm missing something. It seems like it would be possible to set our cars up for this stuff fairly easily or am I wrong?

-Run fatter jets (5-10%)

-Re-adjust the float to compensate for the different viscosity of this fuel

-Replace accelerator pump with alcoholism resistant diaphragm (the blue ones)

-Replace all rubber lines with fuel injection grade hose that's alcohol resistant

-Run some sort of additive to protect valves and seats like lead additive or upper cylinder lube in gas. (Even with hardened seats)

-Don't let gas sit in the car more than 30 days (maybe run it dry or drain it)

-Carry an extra fuel pump or run one made for alchohol

 

sorry not trying to hijack this thread but also read my post .methanol as an automotive fuel.....

 

Also, any aluminum or mild steel components must be coated with some type of ethanol resistant coating. There are several out there. And the coating must remain undamaged. I run Methanol in my race car, and something as simple as a scratch on a fitting will allow the fuel to destroy it in short order.

The higher the % of "E", the faster it will corrode.

 

here in carrabelle fl. we are lucky enough to buy ethanol free fuel at the marina's, its also mid grade

 

So arent all carbs either aluminum or zinc? So theres prett much no way to build a carb that will stand up to this stuff? Also, since it destroying our fuel tanks as we speak, what about stainless tanks?

I just pulled a carb apart that I built and only ran for a month or two. It's pretty much un usable now, there is so much corrosion in it that the jets and power valve wouldn't even come out.

 

the gas pumps are marked. when you buy gas you get gas! when you buy a blend.......

 

In Indiana they're not.

 

That list you compiled of things to do is helpful, and nothing against what you have posted, but how realisitic is it to do some of those things? Drain the fuel every 30 days, carry an extra fuel pump? Being hobby type cars they sometimes sit for extended periods of time and even if I could carry a spare pump mine is tough to get at and would cost me another $ 100 to buy a spare than I might never use. I am not killing the messenger here, and in no way do not appreciate the things you stayed up late to research.

As exwestracer mentioned, there is also no way to protect aluminum or steel parts from the corrosive tendencies of ethanol, so carb parts are going to be attacked no matter what you do.

My 27 has two Edelbrock 4 barrels that were brand new a little over a year ago and I am starting to get some issues with them already. When I lay off of the gas to shift the rpms drop back to idle very slowly and even thought I have been fiddling with them I suspect something is going on internally from the effects of the gasoline.

If companies like Mercruiser, Volvo, etc are scratching their heads and not finding solutions what chance do we backyard guys have in keeping our old iron on the road?

Don

 

Look into a product called Startron it is good stuff. Fights the effects of methanol. This stuff is also awsome on old nasty gas, brings it back to life. I am a mechanic by trade and am very sceptical of any fix in a can, but by personal experience I love this stuff. It is availible at NAPA or wal-mart in the boating section.

 

They have been pushing ethanol here in Iowa for 30+ years. I see all these theories on how our cars can't survive on the stuff. I have yet to date ever had one fuel issue on my cars in that time. Several cars have had over 200,000 miles on them. But I guess I'm just lucky they didn't fall apart in a month after use.

Now whether it is a viable fuel alternative (that is subsidized by the gov'ment) is completely another issue...

 

I'm going to do what I can at least Missouri is pretty much anarchy compared to most states and doesn't require drivers to be warned that they are buying inferior gas.

I'm getting ready to change to an alcohol accel. pump, fatten the jets a few notches and replace the fuel lines with new ones. One of the advantages of Working on Chevy's is aftermarket support. I'm probably going to get a stainless gas tank too, I think it's worth the money. And carrying an extra carb and fuel pump wont be an issue for me. I love SBC's for that.

 

don't listen to this, I've used ethanol for 20 years, boat, chain saws, everything! never had a issue...never!!!

 

Fortunately we have to have a notation on the pumps here in Washington so far.

I'm not sure how complete or accurate this list is http://pure-gas.org/ But it does have the station I frequent listed. And my truck usually picks up enough gas mileage to make up the difference in price.

 

I have a O/T 79 Lincoln with the same Holley carb that has been sitting in the garage and only occasionally started for about a year. The carb was brand new before I parked it, but now it looks like shit and is full of nasty white corrosion and runs like it too. This ethanol has definitely cause issues that I have noticed.

It's Probably possible that you have been using 10% ethanol for the last 30 years or whatever without problems, but it just got bumped up to 15% which the EPA has found it enough to cause major problems, not only in vehicles but in the storage tanks at the gas stations as well. So, it's not only an issue of the corrosion that it causes your your fuel system and valve train, but it also loosens up the nasty crap in tanks when it's stored so there is an issue of it being contaminated even before you get it from the pump.

 

I must be lucky since we have been using it for 30!

 

i have also used ethanol for 15+ years zero issues

 

This is my point that you guys seem to be missing:

It's Probably possible that you have been using 10% ethanol for the last 30 years or whatever without problems, but it just got bumped up to 15% which the EPA has found it enough to cause major problems,

 

No, I use 24-85%

 

I thought I'd post this link here. Some may find it useful. You can search for ethanol free gas stations in your area. I've saved the link for SC, where I live, but you can search anywhere. They also have a phone app, cool!

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=SC

 

evidently there are no issues with ethanol if you live in the central states,eh...??

 

So, your carb problems started showing up with just 10% mix ethanol? Not trying to be a wise ass, but I'm guess you had other issues before our corn fuel came into play. I have been using blended fuel in chainsaws, lawn mower, etc and have let the fuel sit in the tank for a season, and haven't had any issues.

 

Whatever works I guess.

I'm just reporting what I've found. Take it or leave it, make no difference to me.

 

More helpful info and adjustment tips for carbs when using ethanol laced fuel....

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Ethanoluse.htm

 

Every time this comes up I am amazed at how efective the rumor mill is.

Since ethanol:
*At least 1,000,000 miles (between my wife and I) on a half a dozen somewhat modern (10 to 15 year old) cars and never a fuel related issue.

*15,000 miles on a 65 Pontiac (original un-rebuilt 389) and replaced original fuel filter at 79K (started driving it at 68K).

*5,000 miles on an 67 Imperial 440 using a 30% ratio of E85 and 70% 91 octane. Ran great and didn't ping a bit (it pinged on straight 91).

*I have many friends who are professional mechanics. Most common thing that happens on cars that have never run ethanol it a plugged fuel filter because the ethanol cleans out the tank.

Carmak
Riverside, Iowa

 

Glad you are having no problems, but thousands, maybe millions, are. Ask any mechanic who works on cars or boats if ethanol fuel has created some work for him and see what they say. It became so bad in the marine business I was in that probably 50% of our business was from fuel related issues. And the repairs were not permanent in most cases.

Don

 

Boats are in the water so a good chance for problems. I have raced cars on methanol for 28 years no trouble. I own harleys hot rods cars trucks boats no trouble. But you people are making me nervous.

 

My experience. About 5 months ago, I was cruising and stopped for gas. I was down to 3 gallons in an 11 gallon tank. So, I filled up. Here, in Houston, just about every station uses Ethanol. I figured it would be okay and filled up. I drove around that day and the next. Then on the 3rd day, I noticed that my T was running like crap! So, I did a full tune. Checked the carb and did some adjustments. Replaced the fuel filters. No change. Symptoms: ran sluggish, idled rough (so rough, I had to raise the idle and open fuel inlets more), at a stop light, if I didn't put my car in nuetral, it would die. It was sounding so bad, a friend thought I had lost a valve! I began to think so too!

So I tryed Sea Foam.... no change. Tried Techron.... no change. Went to NAPA and the guy I know said try, 44K. It was $27.00 a bottle, but what the hell. I poured it in and drove about 10 miles. I stopped at a store. When I started my car, the idle was sky high! Usually, 750 rpm in park, now it was like 1,200 rpm! So, I turned the idle down and adjusted the fuel inlets. No more rough idle, no more wanting to die.

I told my NAPA bud and he said that most of his customers that were having the same problem with older cars, were running this stuff. It cost a lot, but it keeps my car running. I use a bottle in between fillups.

The people that say ethanol isn't causing problems, well good luck to ya. I know the shit sucks and so do a lot of others.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_engine_precautions.html

So far, the only place near me that sells it is NAPA.

Oh.... I don't work for 44K or NAPA. Her's a pic:

 

love ethanol, no problems in many years. Ole Henry Ford thought it was the future... well maybe he was not always right. Just a bandaid.

 

one word SEAFOAM

 

Better word, Startron

It works great, the guys on the 52-56 Ford social group got me turned onto it. You can find the big bottles for cheap on eBay.