VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Unleaded gas

My 32 is running fine on E85 gasoline since rebuilding the engine, I recall there has been discussions on using this gas. where can I find this topic?

When your 1932 was new about 90% of the gas available was unleaded. Only the more expensive Ethyl gas contained lead and had higher octane due to the lead slowing down the burning process.
I don't think you are using E85 which is 85% ethanol. If you are I would not recommend it. The usual E10 which is 10% ethanol is most common. Thats what we have had in this part of Wisconsin for the last 20 years and I have had no problems with it.

Gene is right, you are probably using E10 or E15 and not E85.

It is mandatory to use E10 where I live and the Ethanol that we get is pure garbage. It eats up everything, including weed eaters, lawnmowers and etc. Not only that Ethanol has less power and it gets less miles to the gallon. Our 1984 Olds absolutely hates the stuff!

with regard to the alcohol gas. my gas gauge promptly stopped working when I ran a tank of it. somebody on this forum posted that the cork floats were coated with shellac since it is insoluble in gasoline. alcohol is the thinner for shellac. I think I will have to get a new float.

Back when I was digging NOS parts out of dealerships I found new tank gauges that had the shellac peeling off and the unit never even saw gas. Its funny that things like this happen after 80 years. Poor old alcohol gets the blame for everything.
The fuel injector cleaners probably can cause problems also.

Chevegene, thanks for the comment. I think you are right --E90 not 85. Perhaps you are going to the Wisconsin car show in Lake Geneva Wis in June (11-13) I will be there with my 32 coupe for its first judging ever. Look for me a 5 window coupe crown maroon with black fenders. Paul

E90 is 90% Ethanol. You are probably using E10 which is 10% Ethanol.

I travel the country--coast to coast---Most gas in the U.S.A I find to contain at least 10% ethanol---sometimes more!! 80 year old shellac on a soft porous material such as cork will eventually peel due to age,lack of humidity,heat,as well as a number of other factors such as expansion and contraction!! That being said,the ethanol has been proven to eat away at many older things such as gaskets,hoses,sealants,etc.Probably eats up the shallac as well though!!I have been advised by guys that have been around for many years that the OLD rubber used for gaskets,hoses,etc did not take to the ethanol because they were not formulated to be compatable with it,and therefore it basically eats it up!!Many tank coatings will simply melt away from contact with ethanol and turn to a gelatonius goop.