10% Ethanol blends???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
10% Ethanol blends???
When I was younger, I always heard ethanol clogged up fuel injectors.
The service stations up here in Green Bay where I fill up (BP and Shell) recently switched to the 10% ethanol blend.
After a couple tanks, my fuel guage started acting up after working correctly for about 5 years (had the sending units replaced in '00)
Coincidence, or should I look for a 100% gas filling station?
(I've got my Techron ready to go before the next fill up)
The service stations up here in Green Bay where I fill up (BP and Shell) recently switched to the 10% ethanol blend.
After a couple tanks, my fuel guage started acting up after working correctly for about 5 years (had the sending units replaced in '00)
Coincidence, or should I look for a 100% gas filling station?
(I've got my Techron ready to go before the next fill up)
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield WI
We've had it for years down here in Milwaukee and I've never had problems. Gas mileage seems to be slightly less than "real" gas based on trips to places where I can get it (although the EPA disputes this). Anyway, I would not think that it would cause the type of problems that you are experiencing.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Could it be the Octane value of the Methanol mix?
I have had problems with my 2000's fuel guage whenever I filled-up with a fuel that has less than 94 Octane. Everything would be fine until I hit just below a half tank and then it would suddenly show that I was out of fuel...a little shocking the first time! Appearently it has something to do with the type of materials that GM used in the sender.
I have had problems with my 2000's fuel guage whenever I filled-up with a fuel that has less than 94 Octane. Everything would be fine until I hit just below a half tank and then it would suddenly show that I was out of fuel...a little shocking the first time! Appearently it has something to do with the type of materials that GM used in the sender.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I don't think you will find fuel without either Ethanol or MTBE, and MTBE is in the process of being removed so this is an issue you will likely not escape. Many of our local stations are also making the switch from MTBE to Ethanol and I have not had a problem, but I am now using Fuel Power in every tank and hope that is helping. A friend and I filled at the same Sunoco station a couple of years ago and both of us were bitten by the fuel gage problem shortly thereafter. Run out that tank and fill at another station and see if the problem goes away.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
To add a little of my experience. All I know so far is that if I fill up at Arco my fuel gauge acts up (drops to empty periodically, generally after half a tank is gone). As soon as I re-fill with Chevron or Shell everything works fine.
I'll have to pay attention to the additives in gas to see what may be causing my fuel gauge problem.
I'll have to pay attention to the additives in gas to see what may be causing my fuel gauge problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
[QUOTE=ChipN] Gas mileage seems to be slightly less than "real" gas based on trips to places where I can get it (although the EPA disputes this). QUOTE]
Sure, your mileage is less. It takes approx. 30% more alcohol to equal the power output of a given amount of gasoline. It's another attempt by the Government to reduce fossil fuel use and keep the corn farmers happy.
Sure, your mileage is less. It takes approx. 30% more alcohol to equal the power output of a given amount of gasoline. It's another attempt by the Government to reduce fossil fuel use and keep the corn farmers happy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 785
Likes: 6
Greetings from Waupaca Cliff ! I have'nt heard of any problems (nor have I had any) from anyone up here. I use BP & knock on wood, no trouble. Not to change the subject, but who installed the exhaust system on your coupe ?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
I don't think you will be able to avoid it for long. 10% Ethanol is all we have around here 
However, it does not seem to be a problem, more of a problem with the other additives or lack of them...
However, it does not seem to be a problem, more of a problem with the other additives or lack of them...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Ohio
This is weird. I just returned from a trip to FLA. and I had fuel gauge problems during the trip. Now that I am back and can get Sunoco 94 the problems have gone away. If it is fuel typr related it baffles me totally .
.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Originally Posted by patrickboyle
Greetings from Waupaca Cliff ! I have'nt heard of any problems (nor have I had any) from anyone up here. I use BP & knock on wood, no trouble. Not to change the subject, but who installed the exhaust system on your coupe ?
Corvette Sports in Sheboygan installed my headers. They did a good job. http://www.corvettesports.com/ They even have some pictures of my install on their web site.
Exhaust was done at a local muffler shop when I lived in Cincinnati, OH for about $50.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Originally Posted by Sandra Bigwoode
Ethanol is a solvent and will dissolve old gunk from your fuel tank, but the fuel filter should catch it.
People running E85 in non multi-fuel cars frequently have to change the fuel filter the first few tankfulls, but it is 85% Ethanol not E10 and not recommended anyway.
People running E85 in non multi-fuel cars frequently have to change the fuel filter the first few tankfulls, but it is 85% Ethanol not E10 and not recommended anyway.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
ROJO99 -- that's exactly what happened to me. Anything but Sunoco 94 seems to cause issues for me.
I'm going from memory here but I had read that GM used silver in the contruction of the sending unit in the tank and it reacts with either additives or detergents found in low octane fuels. Before I saw this, I was going to replace the sending unit but found stories from other owners that had replaced the sender multiple times only to have the trouble come back.
I'm going from memory here but I had read that GM used silver in the contruction of the sending unit in the tank and it reacts with either additives or detergents found in low octane fuels. Before I saw this, I was going to replace the sending unit but found stories from other owners that had replaced the sender multiple times only to have the trouble come back.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington IL
Originally Posted by Benpup
There was a study that may end the use of Ethanol. It takes 29% more energy to produce it than it does to produce real go juice. This may end it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
GM, Ford and Toyota have published a list of approved gasolines, it includes Chevron and Shell but not BP or Mobil. The additive level or lack of additives in the gas can cause the fuel guage problem. I have had the problem occaisionally when I could not get good gas. While I have not had the problem with Mobil, others have said it can happen
