I can add a bit of information about ethanol since we are now doing ethanol
research.
Yes, there are some things to watch put for.
Lots of us have used the small bottles of "drygas" under different names,
and this is essentially just straight ethyl alcohol. Since it is hygroscopic
(it absorbs water) it can absorb small amounts of water in your tank and
then since it is suspended in the gasoline it will just get burned in the
normal process of combustion. This is a good thing.
Ethanol at the pump may contain as much as 10% alcohol without being labeled
in many states. Normally this is not a problem and all cars can run E-10.
The problem comes about when there is a lot of moisture in the air (or the
tank) and the alcohol keeps sucking it up until there is too much to remain
in suspension. Then the water saturated alcohol settles to the bottom and
the pure gas stays on top. Since your tank pulls fuel from the bottom, this
may result in hard starting at first, and you can have the problem of rust
as well. Best solution for this and a lot of other problems is to start your
vehicle frequently while it's in storage. Monthly is a good idea.
That all applies to E-10, but E-85 is another matter. With 85% alcohol
you'll have lots of other issues. We just converted a 1994 Corvette to run
on E-85 ethanol and that meant changing the tank to stainless steel and all
fuel systems components as well. E-85 is much more corrosive than gasoline
and gasoline has a natural lubricity that alcohol does not. Bottom line, do
not even think about putting E-85 in your older vehicles.
So there are lots of issues, and just think about all of the underground
storage tanks at gas stations that were changed out not many tears ago. Most
are fiberglass lined, which is OK. Plastic lined is not OK, and almost all
of them will need to have the hoses, pumps and seals replaced.
Ethanol is not the long term answer to the fuel crisis, but it has a place,
especially in fleets and farm vehicles, but not in old cars.
Dick Dell
1954 MGTF
1959 TR3
1964 Jag E-type
Advanced Vehicle Research Center
Raleigh, NC
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