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Fuel & Heat observations

To: tigers@autox.team.net
Subject: Fuel & Heat observations
From: foxfire@sover.net (Todd Harrington)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 21:25:36 -0400 (EDT)
>Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 14:54:07 -0500
>X-Sender: dharrin@mail.blackduck.net
>To: foxfire@sover.net
>From: "Dana L. Harrington" <dharrin@mail.blackduck.net>
>Subject: Fuel & Heat observations
>
>>Return-Path: vair@thunderbolt.mitre.org
>>Errors-To: vair@thunderbolt.mitre.org
>>Sender: corvair@jlab.mitre.org
>>Errors-To: vair@thunderbolt.mitre.org
>>Reply-To: "Dale K. Dewald" <dkdewald@up.net>
>>X-Listserver: Macjordomo - A Macintosh Listserver by Michele Fuortes
>>Date: Sun, 28 Jul 1996 23:28:56 -0400
>>From: "Dale K. Dewald" <dkdewald@up.net>
>>To: Multiple recipients of <corvair@jlab.mitre.org>
>>Subject: Fuel & Heat observations
>>
>>At 14:43 7/22/96 -0400, John Hewton wrote:
>>
>>>Any ideas on the reformated (sic) fuel issue out there?
>>
>>I can relate my experiences with alcohol and MTBE blend fuels from the past
>>15 years:
>>
>>NOTE: Recent EPA rulings have required "oxygenated" fuels in certain
>>metropolitan areas that are not in compliance with air pollution standards.
>>My experiences with the two fuel additives that are used in the reformulated
>>fuels for these areas are described.
>>
>>MTBE (Methyl-Tert-Butyl-Ether; CH3OC[CH3]3)
>>
>>I first was exposed to this additive in the early 80's with my 66 Corsa 140.
>>Phillips 66 was test marketing it in Houghton, MI where I was engineering
>>student at Mich Tech Univ. (I have since returned to live in the area.)  I
>>assume they were interested in cold weather performance and drivability.  I
>>was interested in octane, as their unleaded premium was rated at R+M/2=93,
>>and filled up with the stuff whenever I could.  I never had any problems
>>with this additive.  The car would start at -20 F, had no problems with
>>vapor lock, (this particular car never did) had no rubber hose failures,
>>suffered no fuel moisture problems and was reasonably satisfied with the
>>octane.  I never noticed any change in running head temperatures.  I should
>>note that at that time you could still buy 89 octane leaded regular, so I
>>usually mixed the two 3:1, unleaded premium:leaded regular.  According to my
>>fuzzy recollection, the last time I encountered MTBE as advertised on the
>>pump was in 1988 to/from/at the CORSA convention in Ashville, NC.  This was
>>in a bone stock 65 "500" 110/PG.  Again, no problems, but this car really
>>enjoyed the extra octane.  My opinion: this is the least problematical
>>reformulated fuel additive.  You may not even know that you have it in the
>>tank.
>>
>>Ethanol (CH3CH2OH)
>>
>>My first exposure to ethanol blend fuel came in the mid 80's while I was an
>>engineering student at the Univ. of Ill. (PhD this time).  Being that
>>central IL has a strong agricultural based economy (and tax incentives),
>>many of the fuel dealers sold 10% ethanol blend, usually as a mid- or
>>premium grade.  In every case, the first tank of this fuel caused rapid
>>failure of any original equipment rubber hoses.  The first symptom usually
>>was leakage from the fuel filler and tank vent hoses; a rapidly growing
>>puddle of gasoline under the front of the car after the second fill up.  I
>>was then be compelled to replace all of the rubber lines from the tank to
>>the engine.  I never had problems with carburetor rubber parts, but then,
>>all of the carbs I have owned had long since been rebuilt.  I would strongly
>>recommend that every Corvair owner replace the rubber hoses on the fuel tank
>>and lines if they have any suspicion that they are still original. You never
>>know when you might get a tank of ethanol blend fuel, but sooner or later
>>you will.  You just don't want to find out the hard way.  BTW, the
>>replacement filler pipe hose sold by the Corvair vendors is alcohol
>>resistant (15 yrs of my own experience), however, any old NOS material may
>>not be, and probably should be avoided.
>>I used this fuel with good success in my 1987 Ranger "S" pickup after it
>>started becoming octane sensitive.  However, for day to day commuting use,
>>especially in the winter months, it was better to "switch over" exclusively
>>to ethanol blend. If you fill up with a random tank of ethanol blend after
>>running straight gasoline for an extended period, the ethanol will combine
>>with the residual water that always seems to accumulate in the bottom of the
>>tank.  It will then separate and you will have classic "water in fuel"
>>symptoms. (actually more like the WIF symptoms of a diesel powered vehicle)
>>Best keep a bottle of fuel system dryer, "HEET", to be put in preferably
>>BEFORE the ethanol blend fuel is added.
>>
>>Recent Experiences:
>>
>>On our latest two CORSA convention trips I knew we would run into
>>reformulated fuel so I preemptively replaced the original rubber hoses in
>>our recently aquired 65 Corsa 140.  On the trip to Dallas I paid particular
>>attention to the head temperatures.  With straight modern gasoline, ambient
>>temperature 90F, and speed of 65mph the cylinder head temperature creeps up
>>to 390-400F. For one stretch in OK and TX at 100F ambient, 70mph, and head
>>wind the temp reached 425F.  Otherwise, typical cruise under less adverse
>>conditions: 75-80F ambient, 60-65mph on two lane roads the temp runs
>>325-350F.  I had picked up one tank of "oxygenated" fuel in the Dallas area,
>>but I don't know if it was ethanol or MTBE.  For the first 150mi of our
>>return trip from Dallas I noticed that the engine was running at 375F,
>>despite 100F heat, head wind, and keeping up with 70mph traffic on the
>>interstate.  After refueling in Oklahoma the head temp crept back up to
>>400+F as we drove north on US69. Hmmm.  This effect was confirmed on our
>>trip to Albuquerque.  We made a point of traveling on 2-lane highways
>>whenever possible.  Across UP of MI, WI and MN in torrential rain, 65F,
>>60-65mph; temp stayed approximately at 300F.  Across IA, NE, KS ambients
>>increased to 85F, 60-70mph, temp 325F increasing to 375F. Southern KS, OK
>>then NM, ambient 95F, 65-70mph, temps 375-400F. <<< this all with straight
>>gasoline fuels.  Albuquerque has oxygenated fuel.  Sunday after the
>>convention we filled the almost empty tank at the Giant station on Menaul
>>Ave at 11:00AM on our way out of town. Unleaded premium, 93 octane, 10%
>>alcohol blend as stated on the pump. Head E on Interstate 40, ambient
>>95-100F, plenty of uphill sections, speed limit 75, I am maintaining 75-80
>>(3600-4000rpm).  Based on prior experience I would have expected record cyl
>>head temps, say 425-475F. BUT!! the head temp never went beyond 390F!  In
>>fact, it stayed in the range of 350-375F. Hmmmm. Refueled in Tucumcari, NM
>>as we headed NE on US 54; Shell 91 octane straight gasoline, 2-lanes dictate
>>70mph average, ambient 95+F, head temp starts to creep up to 400F.  Note
>>also that I am especially aware of the possibility of detonation, but there
>>is none.  Refuel again in OK, now 65-70mph, but head temp 400-425F. Hmmm.
>>
>>I think you may understand where I am leading.  It has been my observation
>>that burning ethanol blend fuels somehow lowers the operating temperature of
>>the Corvair engine.  I have not been alone in this observation.  My good
>>friend Ralph Staske in Champaign, IL has confirmed these observations.
>>Conclusion: ethanol blend results in an average 50-75F reduction in cylinder
>>head temperature during worst case operating conditions.  I am a
>>metallurgist, not a combustion engineer, so I would like to hear some
>>comments on the subject or the experiences of others.
>>
>> Dale K. Dewald        (906) 487-5511
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>> 
>>
>>
>Dana Harrington
>RR1 Box 144
>Hines, MN 56647
>
>1961 Lakewood, 1963 Spyder, 1953 Packard Clipper, 
>1950 Farmall 'H', Master Class Falconer
>
>
>
Todd "Hurricane" Harrington, 
66 tiger IA- B382002081-LRXFE. 
67 alpine-B-395010712
67 alpine-B-395007914
94 Jeep grand gas guzzler v8 
67 Wheel Horse lawn -sometimes tractor.


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