Fuel system rust and ethanol .
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Fuel system rust and ethanol .
If any of you have recieved the April edition of 'Corvette Enthusiast' and on page 56 is an article called "Fueling with Disaster" and you'd be amazed at the damage from water in the fuel system. I know that ethanol in gasoline attracts water, but this is horrible stuff. Makes you wonder how the engines in-tank fuel pump even ran ? 
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: London Ontario
I have ruined two supercharged 502 marine motors by trying to save a few bucks filling up on the way to the cottage and at end of season. Its terrible stuff. I was depressed for a month over it. Those motors cost as much as a z06 =/
Best bet is to make sure you fill up at a gas station that has no ethanol or get marine fuel.
Best bet is to make sure you fill up at a gas station that has no ethanol or get marine fuel.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Long Island/Pompano Beach
In the US, pretty much all marine fuel (gas) is E10 so that is out.
Caused huge issues in the marine industry with fuel system issues and disintegrating fiberglass tanks.
Generally, E10 has not caused the same issues in cars because of the closed system where boats are vented. Less exposure to air means less water. The problem is that E10 breaks down in a shorter period of time. Therefore if you are going to lay the car up and NOT drive it for months, a fuel stabilizer is important.
Bigger problem is the knuckleheads in government who are being pushed by the ethanol lobby to mandate E15. That is being "studied".
Caused huge issues in the marine industry with fuel system issues and disintegrating fiberglass tanks.
Generally, E10 has not caused the same issues in cars because of the closed system where boats are vented. Less exposure to air means less water. The problem is that E10 breaks down in a shorter period of time. Therefore if you are going to lay the car up and NOT drive it for months, a fuel stabilizer is important.
Bigger problem is the knuckleheads in government who are being pushed by the ethanol lobby to mandate E15. That is being "studied".
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I have ruined two supercharged 502 marine motors by trying to save a few bucks filling up on the way to the cottage and at end of season. Its terrible stuff. I was depressed for a month over it. Those motors cost as much as a z06 =/
Best bet is to make sure you fill up at a gas station that has no ethanol or get marine fuel.
Best bet is to make sure you fill up at a gas station that has no ethanol or get marine fuel.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,058
Likes: 99
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
there are a few products that have been developed recently (particularly for the marine industry) that while not cheap are very effective at combating the problems associated with the use of ethenol "enhanced" fuels. it is somewhat like the old "dry gas" we used to use in the winters up north to fight moisture from condensation in the fuel and tanks. it is very effective for use in automobiles, however it should be noted that most newer vehicles are being built to compensate for "mixed" base fuels. as pointed out, the article is about an almost 25 year old vehicle that no one could have imagined would need to prepared to handle ethenol fuels. it is for older vehicles that the use of these additives is designed and effective.
for what it is worth, the same applies to a great extent with modern motor oils and their use in much older "collector" cars. many of the additives that were part of motor oil many years ago are no longer being used or included. one of the better ways to compensate for that is the use of motor oil designed for diesel motor use. it still has many of the additives from the original formulas used 25 and more years ago.
for what it is worth, the same applies to a great extent with modern motor oils and their use in much older "collector" cars. many of the additives that were part of motor oil many years ago are no longer being used or included. one of the better ways to compensate for that is the use of motor oil designed for diesel motor use. it still has many of the additives from the original formulas used 25 and more years ago.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I was really pleased when I moved out to Iowa to find that only mid grade has Ethanol in it. although premium is only 91 and I've lost fuel economy because of it. I just heard on the radio that the ethanol industry is trying to push this state to put that crap in all grades of fuel. really pisses me off 
