Ethanol or no ethanol?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,348
Likes: 763
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Ethanol or no ethanol?
There is an interesting thread over on the C5 community about the pros and cons of ethanol, but those engines are engineered for ethanol. What I want to know is, if you had the choice of ethanol or non-ethanol, which would you select for your C2 original 327? I have never had access to "pure gas" until moving to NC. I use it in my lawn equipment, but see bikers and classic car owners using it as well. I don't know what the octane is for the location that sells it, but would like to hear your +/- 
thoughts. Thanks.
thoughts. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
given a choice, I would prefer using my Rochester FI and LEADED gas; but now can't use leaded because my EFI O2 sensor wouldn't like it, and leaded racing fuel is outside my budget
I have tried both non E and E and see no appreciable difference in performance or mileage. non E usually is 89octane and cost about .50 more
I use 87E in my ZZ4
Bill
I have tried both non E and E and see no appreciable difference in performance or mileage. non E usually is 89octane and cost about .50 more
I use 87E in my ZZ4
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; Mar 19, 2018 at 08:23 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'd rather use regular or premium unleaded. Ethanol rots old style fuel pump diaphragms, and all non-treated rubber lines. Certain death to old carb rubber parts and gaskets.
I only run shell non ethanol premium, which, up here is free of that poison. Amazing....it cost more to produce that corn fuel and it's heavily subsidized by the government, and does a crappier job in the end!
And that is doubly important to engines that sit longer than a month at a time....like winter. That's how long it takes ethanol to turn into a green jelly that plugs up all tiny orifices. The only people I know that like ethanol is the local lawn mower tractor dealerships who make most of their seasonal income from clogged up mowers and blowers.$$$
Recognize these floats in a carb??
Or....these carb float bowl bottoms....green jelly....
.
I only run shell non ethanol premium, which, up here is free of that poison. Amazing....it cost more to produce that corn fuel and it's heavily subsidized by the government, and does a crappier job in the end!
And that is doubly important to engines that sit longer than a month at a time....like winter. That's how long it takes ethanol to turn into a green jelly that plugs up all tiny orifices. The only people I know that like ethanol is the local lawn mower tractor dealerships who make most of their seasonal income from clogged up mowers and blowers.$$$
Recognize these floats in a carb??
Or....these carb float bowl bottoms....green jelly....
.
Last edited by Kerrmudgeon; Mar 19, 2018 at 09:05 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 224
From: Manitowoc WI
I will not put ethanol in any gasoline fueled engine. Here in my area I can purchase 91 octane Shell gas that is non ethanol and I use that in the lawn mower, snow blower, Corvettes, and Harleys. For the older vehicles I will add some 110 octane racing fuel to run a little tetraethyl lead through the system but never, I repeat, never will I run ethanol in any gasoline fueled engine.
Last edited by Revette; Mar 19, 2018 at 09:45 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 193
Likes: 54
From: Lost Wages Nevada
For many of the same reasons set forth above, I will ONLY run premium, no ethanol GASOLINE in all of my collector cars--for as long as I can remember! True, it costs more to begin with, but will save you long term--and increase performance. Here in Southern Utah, there are several Sinclair stations selling no-ethanol 91 octane for around $3.60/gallon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,499
Likes: 1,712
From: High Mountains of New Mexico
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C3 of the Year Finalist
I will not put ethanol in any gasoline fueled engine. Here in my area I can purchase 91 octane Shell gas that is non ethanol and I use that in the lawn mower, snow blower, Corvettes, and Harleys. For the older vehicles I will add some 110 octane racing fuel to run a little tetraethyl lead through the system but never, I repeat, never will I run ethanol in any gasoline fueled engine.
, the 101 octane is excellent for all my fuelies, and ethanol rots out my big tanks too, never use it. My '81 Corvette also gets nothing but ethanol free, the seals and hoses on it are original (5K mile car), and I want to keep them from dissolving.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
y'all must have some really crappy ethanol laced gas, I have NEVER had a problem with any equipment or vehicles because of the ethanol, and some have set for years.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 107
I keep waiting for the end of the renewable fuel standard, maybe there is some momentum in that direction.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...anol-shunned-/
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...anol-shunned-/
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,348
Likes: 763
From: Mint Hill North Carolina
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
As mentioned, I bought a few gallons last week for my lawn equipment and paid just shy of $3.00 a gallon. Kerrmudgeon's photos are compelling for sure. I do know that the non E seems to "go south" fairly quickly, so won't be filling the tank. Want to keep it moving. Thanks for all comments and answers.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Meh. My boat and two jet skis, weed whacker and other engines sit for months in the winter with ethanol gas in them and start up first time, every time when I put them back in service. I do use marine StaBil in the tanks....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
I'd rather use regular or premium unleaded. Ethanol rots old style fuel pump diaphragms, and all non-treated rubber lines. Certain death to old carb rubber parts and gaskets.
I only run shell non ethanol premium, which, up here is free of that poison. Amazing....it cost more to produce that corn fuel and it's heavily subsidized by the government, and does a crappier job in the end!
And that is doubly important to engines that sit longer than a month at a time....like winter. That's how long it takes ethanol to turn into a green jelly that plugs up all tiny orifices. The only people I know that like ethanol is the local lawn mower tractor dealerships who make most of their seasonal income from clogged up mowers and blowers.$$$
Recognize these floats in a carb??
Or....these carb float bowl bottoms....green jelly....
.
I only run shell non ethanol premium, which, up here is free of that poison. Amazing....it cost more to produce that corn fuel and it's heavily subsidized by the government, and does a crappier job in the end!
And that is doubly important to engines that sit longer than a month at a time....like winter. That's how long it takes ethanol to turn into a green jelly that plugs up all tiny orifices. The only people I know that like ethanol is the local lawn mower tractor dealerships who make most of their seasonal income from clogged up mowers and blowers.$$$
Recognize these floats in a carb??
Or....these carb float bowl bottoms....green jelly....
.
Straight gasoline isn't too kind to fuel systems either when it dries out or dries out with water in it.
Most of your high volume retailers have water monitors in their storage tanks to tell if they have a problem and they can remedy that quickly. Retail customers sometimes don't store gasoline in sealed containers and they will have a problem, sooner or later.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 377
Likes: 16
From: SMITHFIELD N C
Non ethanol 92 octane for the 67 327 and a combination of Avgas 100LL and 92 non ethanol for the 59 Fuelie Last purchase for the 92 non was only about .50/gallon more than ethanol acid Avgas is about $5.15/gallon. Saw 1st hand what 10% can do when it sits for several months in the fuel system. The water will separate from the fuel and begin the gumming or rusting process. I had to rebuild a carb and media blast the fuel filter canister, and have the fuel tank cleaned and coated internally on my 44 Ford GPW. No 10% ethanol for this baby either- only 87 octane for her and the 2 lawn mowers, generators, weed whackers, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,984
Likes: 185
From: CT
I agree with Bill. I've used the E-10 since mandated well over 20 years ago. ZERO, ZERO, ZERO problems in any car ranging from 1940 to present. My '62 sits for nearly 6 months at a time, ZERO, ZERO, ZERO problems, fires right up. Same with generators that sit for many months. Never a problem with gasket, seals or whatever. All work perfectly. A big waste of money to buy more expensive gas. The problem rests solely with the tanks from the station you buy. If they put in E-10 without a thorough cleaning of the tank, it can have an effect, but if they have dirty tanks even buying the more expensive stuff can still have crap in it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
Non ethanol 92 octane for the 67 327 and a combination of Avgas 100LL and 92 non ethanol for the 59 Fuelie Last purchase for the 92 non was only about .50/gallon more than ethanol acid Avgas is about $5.15/gallon. Saw 1st hand what 10% can do when it sits for several months in the fuel system. The water will separate from the fuel and begin the gumming or rusting process. I had to rebuild a carb and media blast the fuel filter canister, and have the fuel tank cleaned and coated internally on my 44 Ford GPW. No 10% ethanol for this baby either- only 87 octane for her and the 2 lawn mowers, generators, weed whackers, etc.
water is the evil genie in this concoction; what makes you think that water is not a problem with NonE, or even leaded?? my experience with all of the above is... water is everywhere..
as said before, water can be in any tank, in your car, etc or in the underground tanks...
I remember when they used to 'stick' tanks to get amount of fuel in the underground tanks and they used an indicator paste on the bottom section of the stick to tell the amount of water in the bottom, and every time I saw it done there was water..
so, do whatever you feel is best; but no one's mind is going to be changed.
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,073
Likes: 414
From: Maine
Gas all over the world worked
Had no problems in Europe on what ever was available .
No problems....my compression is less.....9.5-10 maybe.... I used Amico back in the late 60's...unleaded....
74,000 miles in the last few years with no valve problems . I have changed all gaskets to the latest rubber....
Jack
Last edited by Jackfit; Mar 20, 2018 at 02:21 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 987
Likes: 171
From: Kingwood Texas
I keep waiting for the end of the renewable fuel standard, maybe there is some momentum in that direction.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...anol-shunned-/
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...anol-shunned-/
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
I run the ethanol mix because pure gas is not available in the state I live in. When running pure gas, my old cars get better fuel mileage and run better. Ethanol has about 50% of the energy of gasoline, so it causes your engine to run leaner if it is calibrated (jetted) for regular pure fuel. This can cause detonation and lean surge issues. If you have the choice, with ANY vehicle, run pure gas. You will get better fuel mileage at the minimum.