Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / ethanol in fuel and old cars

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion << previous || next >>

Posted By Discussion Topic: ethanol in fuel and old cars -- page: 1 2     TomO 10-05-2014 @ 2:46 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7252 Joined: Oct 2009 There is a lot of information on the Web about the advantages and disadvantages of Ethanol in the gas. It is a great solvent that dissolves plastics and rubber, it attracts water making it more corrosive, etc. Tom supereal 10-05-2014 @ 1:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 "Gasahol" wasn't in common use until the last decade or so when it was developed to replace the lead in gas for "anti knock" purposes, and to reduce tailpipe emissions. The government mandated a subsidy for the fuel, and many drivers switched to save money. The trend was delayed because ethanol couldn't be transported by pipeline, only trains and trucks, because of the corrosive nature of the product. Bertha 10-05-2014 @ 1:12 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 129 Joined: Nov 2009 "It wasn't necessary, back in the day." ...and why was that? The corn-a-hol was the same...no? Bob "it's only original once" --- supereal 10-04-2014 @ 12:40 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 It wasn't necessary, back in the day. "Fuel proof" hose can now be found at most good parts places. Every fuel reformulation produces new problems. When the diesel fuel was changed, it ate all the rubber parts, and ruined many injection pumps. Now that winter is coming, it is a very good idea to add stabilizer, such as Sta-Bil, because ethanol contains water from the manufacture that can freeze and cause damage. Now, all gasoline contains at least a trace of alcohol. 1935ford 10-04-2014 @ 12:32 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 47 Joined: Jan 2012 Adding to Supereal's mention of aviation fuel in his 10/1 posting: For all practical purposes there is currently one grade of avgas available: 100LL. The "100" represents the minimum octane rating (local stock car racers love it) and "LL" for low lead. The LL designation is relative to the lead content of earlier grades of avgas. Actually, the tetraethyl lead content of 100LL avgas is approximately 4 times that of the regular grade auto gas discontinued in the U.S. in the early '70s. - R.J. Bertha 10-03-2014 @ 9:50 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 129 Joined: Nov 2009 "Ethanol affects the rubber parts in the fuel system, so any rubber parts should be replaced with Ethanol compliant materials." Did they even have such hose, (polypropylene) back in the day? Bob "it's only original once" --- TomO 10-03-2014 @ 8:30 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7252 Joined: Oct 2009 Ethanol affects the rubber parts in the fuel system, so any rubber parts should be replaced with Ethanol compliant materials. Phase separation, is when the Ethanol and water separate from the gasoline. This happens mainly after long storage, 1 yr or more. Fuel stabilizers can extend this period. The other volatile compounds in the gasoline that are added for air quality issues, can deteriorate in 60-90 days without a stabilizer. Some brands of gasoline have detergent additives that last longer and others can foul the plugs in carbureted cars in short periods. One brand caused a miss after driving the car only 100 miles. Seafoam was added to a fresh tank of gasoline and the miss went away. Always buy your gas at the busiest station you can find, and don't fill up when the station's tanks are being filled. Tom Bertha 10-03-2014 @ 4:17 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 129 Joined: Nov 2009 Gloom & Doom?....just my experience. Fuel system & tank completely cleaned in 1979 two years after inheriting our '53'. Dual vac fuel pump and ceramic filter replaced, MMO & fuel stabilizers used continually. 89 10% since it was forced on us, Marine Sta-Bil, MMO every tankful, along with Aces at Spring get ready. So.....what do I change? Bob "it's only original once"" This message was edited by Bertha on 10-3-14 @ 4:25 AM 1934 Ford 10-02-2014 @ 6:42 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 573 Joined: Oct 2009 Here in the mountains of NC I paid $3.79 a gallon this week for non-ethenol 87 octane gas. Easy to find but always .40-.60 more than regular 87 octane gasaohol. Soon the touring season will be ending and I'll go to the non-ethenol with Marine Stabil in my flathead Fords for the winter when the cars may sit for extended periods. For my mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, etc, etc. I use the non-ethenol and Marine Stable all year long. My feeling is that the water that the ethenol attracts is the main problem when equipment sits. Same applies to my collector cars and motorcycles. I think the octane was around 65 in the 1930's and the 87 octane today is plenty. Had a mechanic tell me that the higher octane really only is necessay with high compression engines and then only under extreme loads. My 21 stud flathead Fords are hardly high performance. 1934 Ford's since 1972 40fordor 10-01-2014 @ 2:57 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 116 Joined: Oct 2009 Super, or anyone that has an answer, What changes are required to ethanol proof our old Fords. I know some of the areas but probably not all. Thanks. Don

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

EFV-8 Club Forum Home | Back to Home Page | Contact the Webmaster

Copyright © 2009 - EFV-8.org
Powered by < CF FORUM > v.2.1