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Ethano,l Old Car Killer!

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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Ethanol, Old Car Killer!

I have no monetary interest in the product Sta-Bil, but from using it for the past few years I have not found a better fuel additive for saving stored fuel and eliminating water build up from Ethanol in our old cars. I use the Marine version, but now they have put the Ethanol formula in the original type. It helps in preventing Ethanol damage to fiberglass fuel tanks in the boating industry,(Ethanol Eats/softens Fiberglass), rubber components, gaskets and actual scaling of some aluminum parts. Ethanol is a killer but, agree with it or not, it's here to stay. When I bring my stored cars out in the spring, the fuel in the tanks is as fresh as when aI filled them up in the late fall. I use the blue/Marine version, because I know it works. Just thought I'd pass that along. What you do with your car is your call, this is what i do with mine. PJ

https://www.goldeagle.com/engine_care/stabil-myths.aspx
 
I'm not having a problem with old fuel or ethanol for some reason. It's only 10% here but I've let it sit for a year or two and everything is fine. I've let 33 gallons sit for a year and a half before I put two cans of seafoam in it, then let it sit three more years. The boat was a little hard to start but ran fine. I've seen the stuff act weird with vinyl tubing but other than that I haven't had any problems.
 
Recently our governor signed a bill that eliminates the stuff in The Sunshine State... YAY!
 
DrEntropy said:
Recently our governor signed a bill that eliminates the stuff in The Sunshine State... YAY!
Click to expand...

As I understand the bill, it simply eliminates the REQUIREMENT that FL gas be mixed with ethanol. It still allows it at the dealers'/ company's discretion.

The bill was enacted primarily to eliminate the practice of sanctioning stations that sold ethanol-free gas.
 
Yup, but think about the marinas and the number of boat owners who've had to withstand the expense of repairing engines and fuel systems due to it.

I see it as the iceberg's tip. There will be plenty of suppliers peeling those "UP TO 10% ETHANOL" stickers off their pumps. And corn futures should become unpopular as well.
 
"There will be plenty of suppliers peeling those "UP TO 10% ETHANOL" stickers off their pumps. And corn futures should become unpopular as well."
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That may happen in CA but the slack may be taken up by the rest of the nation if the E15 legislation becomes reality. And even then, I don't see the residents of a State as air-quality challenged as CA being willing to sacrifice breathing just to preserve 2-cycle engines for a few more years.
 
I see more and more people starting to grumble about this issue. And now there are area gas stations proudly advertizing "ethanol free premium fuel". I'm hoping this is the start of a good trend.
 
Although there is a useful debate about the energy in vs. energy out of ethanol, I can't say I've had any actual problems with it in my cars.

The race Spridget sat all Winter with a mostly full tank of 10% ethanol (it's the only race fuel they sell at Watkins Glen).

And neither my '73 Midget nor my '69 MGB seem to have any issues with it.

My generator plus lawn equipment (push mower, 20 HP garden tractor and various 2-stroke devices) seem fine with it too.
 
"My generator plus lawn equipment (push mower, 20 HP garden tractor and various 2-stroke devices) seem fine with it too."
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Consider yourself lucky, but overdue. The number of small carbureted 2- and 4-stroke engines I've seen wrecked by ethanol over the past 5 years (as long as I've been paying attention to it) is remarkable. 4-stroke engines are leaning out and frying themselves because of the gum that forms in jets and passages when the ethanol mixes with water vapor. If they don't fry, the rings, valves and cylinder walls rust when the engines are in storage. 2-stroke engines just eat themselves up due to a lack of lubrication. The oil carried in with the fuel is displaced from wear surfaces by the water carried in the ethanol and the engines wear out in just a short time. Adding more oil to the fuel actually makes matters worse because the engines run on gasoline, not oil, and more oil means less gas and a leaner mixture. Many, many of the ultra-light and micro-light aircraft owners, kart racers and R/C model fliers I know have switched to more expensive but more appropriate synthetic oils that will dissolve in alcohol (something petro oils won't do) to prolong the lives of their engines.
 
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Count me with those who have no issues/problems with today's gasoline. They're all 4 stroke. The snow blower, the lawn tractor, the three late model autos and the five old car hobby vehicles all perform as expected. The 4 oldest engines do get a dose of MMO from time to time, but not because of a fear of stale gas (got that habit from my father).
 
DrEntropy said:
Recently our governor signed a bill that eliminates the stuff in The Sunshine State... YAY!
Click to expand...

That's the best news I've heard yet Doc! Maybe it will start a movement across the country. Who knows. PJ
 
Nial, stop at Lakes Gas on the way in to Montour Falls from the South on Rt 14. It's the station that's kinda out of town in a field on the right hand side. they have non-ethanol 101 octane fuel. leaded fuel too!
 
I decided that I pay the extra price,& put ethonol free gas in our '67 MGB GT.I went to the place where they sell it,& when I asked where I needed to put the carto fill it up was told - "You can't put that in your car".He explained that you can't useit for a registered vehicle,just off road vehicles & lawn/garden equipment. Just how do other states get to sell this at the pump while we can't in California? - Doug
 
Banjo said:
Nial, stop at Lakes Gas on the way in to Montour Falls from the South on Rt 14. ....
Click to expand...

Cool, Ben. Thanks.
I think I know where that is.

The ethanol has been a complete non-issue for me, so I don't really care about that.
But the cost of fuel at the track is about $11/gallon.
It would be nice to save a few bucks if I can get high-octane fuel nearby. Will check it out in October (I doubt I'll get to the SVRA event in Sept).
 
AngliaGT said:
I decided that I pay the extra price,& put ethonol free gas in our '67 MGB GT.I went to the place where they sell it,& when I asked where I needed to put the carto fill it up was told - "You can't put that in your car".He explained that you can't useit for a registered vehicle,just off road vehicles & lawn/garden equipment. Just how do other states get to sell this at the pump while we can't in California? - Doug
Click to expand...

Doug, methinks your answer is contained in your question.
 
California has always had a lot of clout when tapping into and changing some government regulations. Case in point, cars are made specifically for California's smog regs. I know of a couple who bought a new motor home in Arizona, when they tried to tag it in California, their home, they were refused as it wasn't purchased in California and supposedly not meeting their pollution regs! A law suit ensued naming the Arizona dealer, who knew the buyers address, plus other departments of government. Never heard the out come, but certainly felt sorry for the elderly couple. PJ
 
all new cars sold in NY are California spec emissions. I've never heard of any trouble trying to register non-cal spec cars here though.
Doug, just take some of those stupid spill-free 5 gallon cans to the station and fill them up for all your "outdoor power equipment". It's an extra step, but it'll work.
 
:iagree: Old proverb: Far better to beg forgiveness than to seek permission.
 
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