The ethanol threat to classic cars and bikes
- Thread starter togwt
- Start date
E15 is on the way folks, have a car made before 2001? Well yur SOL. The best part? As you increase the ethanol content in gasoline, you decrease it's potentional energy. Gas goes up in price, and goes down in stored energy, so not only will you pay more, but you'll pay more often! GENIUS!
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
Yeah, and good luck if you have a lawn mower, snow blower, or any other gas-operated power equipment (for some detailers, this means your pressure washer and/or generator) too.
I've had to rebuild multiple carburetors on small engines thanks to Ethanol, and sadly there are no rebuild kits available for most of them with viton seals that Ethanol won't eat through so it's a recurring problem.
I've had to rebuild multiple carburetors on small engines thanks to Ethanol, and sadly there are no rebuild kits available for most of them with viton seals that Ethanol won't eat through so it's a recurring problem.
jfelbab
New member
I still burn mostly pure, non-ethanol laced gasoline. It is available in most states if you know where to look. Here is a helpful link to make finding real gasoline easier: Find ethanol-free E0 gas stations
Another interesting fact is that I get an average of 2 MPG more out of pure, non-ethanol gasoline. This is on both my 20 year old MR2 and my newer Lexus RX330. In reality, I can travel another 30 miles on a tank full of pure gas for the same price. Since my home is in the manditory emission testing zone, I have my vehicles tested and they pass with flying colors on pure gas so I have to question the benefits of even using ethanol fuel. My cars don't test any differently with either fuel so that myth is exposed.
If the goal is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil then the solution is easy, open up the drilling here as we have a lot of untapped oil in the ground in the US.
Another problem alluded to is water use. Corn Ethanol production uses an enormous amount of water and it is almost entirely ground water. Corn Ethanol production typically consumes between 10-324 gallons of water per gallon of Ethanol depending on where it is produced. We will be running out of ground water soon in some regions at this rate of consumption. We are using it faster than it is being replenished. This may become a larger threat to our security than where we get our oil.
Besides autos; boats, bikes, recreational vehicles, lawn tractors and other yard & garden equipment benefit from the use of real gas. Ethanol, as alluded to in the linked article, has an affinity for water and ages poorly, so longer term storage requires an ethanol/gasoline stabilizer like Sta-Bil. I'd suggest Sta-Bil Marine for vehicles and boats and Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment for small engines, if you are forced forced to use that fuel. Fortunately, I live just a few miles from the border where ethanol fuel is mandated so I can readily get pure gas. Sadly, the ethanol industry and farm lobby want to make this fuel mandatory everywhere and in even greater concentrations.
Another interesting fact is that I get an average of 2 MPG more out of pure, non-ethanol gasoline. This is on both my 20 year old MR2 and my newer Lexus RX330. In reality, I can travel another 30 miles on a tank full of pure gas for the same price. Since my home is in the manditory emission testing zone, I have my vehicles tested and they pass with flying colors on pure gas so I have to question the benefits of even using ethanol fuel. My cars don't test any differently with either fuel so that myth is exposed.
If the goal is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil then the solution is easy, open up the drilling here as we have a lot of untapped oil in the ground in the US.
Another problem alluded to is water use. Corn Ethanol production uses an enormous amount of water and it is almost entirely ground water. Corn Ethanol production typically consumes between 10-324 gallons of water per gallon of Ethanol depending on where it is produced. We will be running out of ground water soon in some regions at this rate of consumption. We are using it faster than it is being replenished. This may become a larger threat to our security than where we get our oil.
Besides autos; boats, bikes, recreational vehicles, lawn tractors and other yard & garden equipment benefit from the use of real gas. Ethanol, as alluded to in the linked article, has an affinity for water and ages poorly, so longer term storage requires an ethanol/gasoline stabilizer like Sta-Bil. I'd suggest Sta-Bil Marine for vehicles and boats and Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment for small engines, if you are forced forced to use that fuel. Fortunately, I live just a few miles from the border where ethanol fuel is mandated so I can readily get pure gas. Sadly, the ethanol industry and farm lobby want to make this fuel mandatory everywhere and in even greater concentrations.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
I hear you.
When I got my 75 Ranchero, someone had ran the ethanol blend in it for a while, same with my 2000 Honda VT1100.
Had to rebuild the carbs on the bike, and right now have the carb off the Beast, rebuilding it. Choke, float, etc well all messed up, and I had switched back to reg gas when I bought it, but the time the previous owner had used ethanol in the Ranchero did it's damage.
There are supposidly, additives out that reduce the damage the ethanol causes if used on each tank, don't know yet, need to do more research.
Grumpy
When I got my 75 Ranchero, someone had ran the ethanol blend in it for a while, same with my 2000 Honda VT1100.
Had to rebuild the carbs on the bike, and right now have the carb off the Beast, rebuilding it. Choke, float, etc well all messed up, and I had switched back to reg gas when I bought it, but the time the previous owner had used ethanol in the Ranchero did it's damage.
There are supposidly, additives out that reduce the damage the ethanol causes if used on each tank, don't know yet, need to do more research.
Grumpy
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Just finishing up rebuilding the carb on the Beast, it was a mess, float screwed, gaskets screwed, the previous owner had ran E15 in it, I didn't but it still did it damage.
Had to rebuild the carbs on my Honda Shadow VT1100 last year due to the same thing, previous owner.
We can still get reg unleaded here and across the boarder in Mo or Ill.
I only use reg unleaded in the mower, bikes, etc.
The Sebring convert doesn't care, just small engines and older carb cars.
Grumpy
Had to rebuild the carbs on my Honda Shadow VT1100 last year due to the same thing, previous owner.
We can still get reg unleaded here and across the boarder in Mo or Ill.
I only use reg unleaded in the mower, bikes, etc.
The Sebring convert doesn't care, just small engines and older carb cars.
Grumpy
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Absolutely, Scott.
In Iowa, until Jan 1st, the gallon of the ethanol was 10 cents less due to a state subsidy.
No longer and from what I hear, now that crap is the same here as reg unleaded, sales have dropped considerably.
Guess the average car owner here is not quite a ignorant I assumed.
Grumpy
In Iowa, until Jan 1st, the gallon of the ethanol was 10 cents less due to a state subsidy.
No longer and from what I hear, now that crap is the same here as reg unleaded, sales have dropped considerably.
Guess the average car owner here is not quite a ignorant I assumed.
Grumpy