VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Garbage Ethanol

A local small engine repair shop did an in-depth test on the effects of Ethanol (E10) in gasoline and they published a color tri-fold brochure listing the results along with various photographs. Their brochure is extremely interesting and it contains a lot of information. The results and some of their comments are listed below:

1. The engine on a one-year old riding lawnmower was partially disassembled and the year old fuel filter was found to be totally plugged and detoriated from the Ethanol.

2. The frozen up carburetor was full of dried brown Ethanol and the substance was also cracking. Due to the effects of Ethanol, many repair shops replace the carburetor with a new carburetor instead of servicing the old carburetor.

3. In some cases the Ethanol tends to freeze engines.

4. A survey has concluded that up to 40% of the small engines that are repaired have been damaged by Ethanol.

5. When gasoline with Ethanol was placed in a tuna can, the gas evaporated and the Ethanol did not, resulting in a gunky brown Ethanol residue. This residue remains in the fuel tank and the fuel lines.

Below are just a few of the negatives concerning Ethanol that are listed in the brochure:

1. Ethanol eats up rubber gaskets and parts, and it also tends to rust out some metal parts.

2. Ethanol absorbs water.

3. Ethanol has an expiration time of only a few months.

4. Ethanol gives less miles per gallon, resulting in the fact that more fuel is purchased which costs the consumer more money.

5. Ethanol also raises the cost of corn which is used in corn syrup and corn fructose. The price of beef, fowl, and dairy products increased as well since corn is fed to livestock.

6. The internal combustion engine is less efficient when run on Ethanol gasoline.

7. Since Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline, it can't be pumped through efficient pipelines. It must be transported by rail or tanker truck.

8. It takes the energy equivalent of three gallons of gasoline to make four gallons of Ethanol.

Now, our legislators are talking about increasing the Ethanol to E15! What's next?

HORSE & BUGGY ?

The only one that i take issue with is #5, since there are facilities that use straw to make ethanol and not corn, but this is still at its infancy. Last week, while working on the carb, i had to dispose of some gas, and let it evaporate in a can. what was left was this corn syrup like crap. All the other comments i agree with. Ethanol is not our savior

i can add another negative feature of ethanol-containing gasoline: it plays hell on fiberglass. the wife and i drove our 63 ZO6 tanker(a 29K ooriginal mile unrestored vette)from cumberland to gettysburg on thursday. about 120 miles. i filled the 36 gal gas tank with pump gas before we left. i should add that the optional 36 gal tanks were constructed of fiberglass, unlike the base midyear tanks which are metal. anyway, the car quit as we pulled into the NCRS host hotel. wasn't getting gas to the fuel injection unit. rather than tear into the problem in a parking lot with a less than adequate tool selection, i borrowed a truck and trailer and brought the 63 home this afternoon. pulled the fuel pump and it was loaded with small pieces of resin from the fiberglass tank. ethanol is ok in beer but sucks in gas. mike

Dog, you have not stated anything the Ethanol makers, and the government already know. Its ALL about the $$$ plain and simple.

You are absolutely 100% correct!

To add more fuel to this fire.
I recently read an article in a local boating magazine that Mercury outboard service centres have been issued with a test kit for Ethanol blend fuels. If the test indicates Ethanol in the fuel the service centre is advised not to service the engine and will NOT be covered by warranty.
I dont know if any other manufacturer is following this example or not but several other engine manufacturers had some input to the article.
Tony

I recently googled, ethanol subsidies, the report I got states that they total $1.51 per gallon. That aside I have used 10% Ethanol fuel for over 10 years, I use it in the 52, my 91 S-10 Blazer with 110,000 miles on it and in my 2008 Buick. I have never had one problem with it as a fuel. I did have an idle problem with my 95 Corsica, service manager at the Chev garage said to drop the ethanol and use regular un leaded. Did not help.

I agree ethanol is junk. I burned up one perfectly good chainsaw after ethanol ate up gaskets and allowed the engine to over-rev itself to death. I've replaced a carburetor on my 5 year old garden tractor and now my string trimmer is dying. Apparently ethanol is a real enemy of 2 cycle engines because it tends to wash the oil off the cylinder walls. I've had to rebuild the W-1 carb on my 48 Fleetline and replace sections of rubber fuel line as well as rebuild the fuel pump. All the disintegrated rubber and other crap was found in the glass bowl of the fuel filter. I've replaced the entire fuel system from the tank to the carburetor thanks to 10% ethanol fuel. Luckily, I've found a Good Gulf station in town that is supplied from Canada.......NO ETHANOL......ten cents more per gallon but well worth it!!!!! And business is booming there. The new fuel system in my 48 Fleetline has not seen ethanol gas and won't as long as I can help it.

Just read this: CLICK HERE

Good link, Shawng......thanks.

Seems like most people think ethanol is not good.

It makes me wonder if the cars made for E85 are indeed modified from stem to stern. And i am not talking about fuel management to get the right A/F mixture. i am talking about all the other components affected by ethanol. Time will tell.

I know I have said this before. We have had ethanol here in Wisconsin for over 15 years. It has never caused me a problem but I limit its age to 6 to 8 months if possible. I have used ethanol in many other states in our travels with no problems other tha some hot weather cutting-out under some extreeme conditions.
That all I use in my snow blower and two lawn mowers also.

Our 1984 Oldsmobile absolutely hates Ethanol. And, in the warmer weather we experience constant vapor lock problems as well.

I have not lived in any area where I had a choice whether to use Ethanol or not. Back in Ohio, Ethanol has been in the pumps for 10 years or better. No problems. No other choices.

Bob

I have been told that our State Motor Pool has stopped use of the 85% Ethanol in flex fuel cars due to loss of mileage and other problems.

In Ontario 5% is the law and some pumps say "May contain up to 10% Ethanol" It is rumored that some companies are using ethanol to bump octane, but there is no confirmation. It would makes sense since ethanol is subsidized up here and cheaper for the gas companies to use than other chemicals. And I have yet to see the price go down with the use of ethanol as some articles have said. But when they mandated ethanol, I did see mileage drop. To date I have had no problems that I can directly point a finger at and say ethanol caused this, but that is what the industry is counting on.

In the end the whole energy industry is fraught with greed and corruption and has been like that since the first well was discovered. Why do we even think it has changed. Ethanol is just the next lead or the next mmt, or, or. They might change the color of the kool-aid they make us drink, but in the end it is all the same crap.

So if this stuff has really no extreemly usefull properties and really eats away at things as i've read, then why is this crap still being pushed off on the public? I'd have to agree, it's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$. These people that push this stuff on the public has obveously never turned a wrench in there life. I cant say that i've had any problems with modern day fuel as of yet though. Im a bit of a perfectionist and really up keep on our machines.

Well it isn't all about the money directly, much of it is politically motivated, because of THAT money!

The engine manufacturers (and aftermarket) are rubbing their hands because of all the replacement parts they are selling as a result of ethanol fuel.
I run LPG only because of ethanol and dont have the problem, less parts to wear out as well.
Tony

The Wal-Mart pump here says, "10 percent Ethanol. To the best of my knowledge all the pumps around here say the same thing. My boat mechanic replaced the fuel pump on my Yamaha engine. He mentioned Ethanol as the culprit. It cost me 1.2K for the new one and installation. Nonetheless, I'll a little reluctant to blame all "breakdowns" on Ethanol. I'm just learning and appreciate all the posts on the subject.

Best, Charlie

BTW: Is there a list of companies w/locations that do not use Ethanol? I guess that would be wishing for too much.

On the list, that is probably very wishful thinking.