Who runs ethanol gas?

[ubtripn]

I have two stations in Boise selling non-ethanol. Its all I use since I put my crate motor in. Around here we have E10. What I was told was that means 90% gas and 10% ethanol.

Now the E85 - I was told it is 15% gas and 85% ethanol. That must be wrong.

In any case, since gas prices are down so low I am driving my truck everywhere (talk about a great time for all with classics) but I think I need to upgrade gaskets and fuel hoses to run even E10. Some said I don't have to but my Husqvarna lawnmower developed crystals off E10 that I had to remove then it ran fine again.

Does anybody just run the E10? Have you had issues? Sorry in advance if this is a sore topic.

[gvnick]

Here in California E10 is all we can get. It will be fine to run without changing anything, you will notice a slight loss of power and slightly worse MPG.

E10 does go bad when stored longer than a month, so add stabilizer if the truck sits during the winter.

I'd go out of my way to buy 100% gas personally.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Just replace any rubber lines with a hard line (I recommend that anyway!). You can use the rubber lines with the fuel filter along the frame rail, etc, as long as you swap filters every few years with new rubber lines you'll be fine.

They imposed the year round E10 (used to be winter only) thing like 7 or 8 years ago here and I've been running it in my truck with no issues yet. I pulled the carb not too long ago and it was pretty clean inside.

It doesn't cause issues for lawn equipment if you use the stabil thats meant for E10, especially if it's going to sit over the winter or for more than a few weeks.

I'd like to run the 100% stuff, but they charge 50 cents more per gallon no matter what the price of fuel is.

[ubtripn]

Yeah its about 25$ more here. Thanks all.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by ubtripn

Now the E85 - I was told it is 15% gas and 85% ethanol. That must be wrong.

Nope, it's not wrong. E85 is 85% ethanol. It should only be used in vehicles that are built for it - they're usually labeled flex fuel.

But... if you have a sniffer-type emissions test where you live, and your vehicle is having a hard time passing, E85 does burn cleaner and may just be what you need to pass the emissions test.

[Custom/20]

Up here in Washington there's a couple stations that I could go to for ethanol free gas but are to far away for me to bother with so I only use Chevron gas. It may have 10% ethanol but I don't let the engine sit for a month at a time so I'm not really worried about it.

[swamp rat]

I run Ethanol free in my rat because its not my daily driver and ethanol plays havoc on my carb if not run at least weekly.

[1968aj]

I wish I could get ethanol free. none any where near Houston that I know of.

[68Stepper]

E85 is a corrosive fuel because of it's alcohol content. The fuel system will have to be upgraded to handle the fuel. Also just a side note, you can make much more power on E85 than pump gas but you'll also lose roughly 15% fuel economy...

After upgrading the fuel system, your timing will have to be advanced and motor retuned

[chefk85]

We have 2 stations here. 1 in Hailey. 1 in Bellevue that sell non ethanol but they charge so much more that by the time the ethanol did gum up your carb(if it ever did. I run 85 octane E10 with no problems yet) you would be able to buy a brand new one! Just don't leave it sitting for months unless the tank is full or you have additives as ethanol attracts water and engines don't like to run on H2o. We need to start an Idaho truck club where we can get together and share/trade skills to help each other with projects.

[In The Ten Ring]

Easy with these questions! I asked about storing gas on here last year and the thread ended up attracting a lot of hot heads, upset over govt control (and rightfully so), but somehow angry with me that my mower doesn't have trouble starting after sitting all winter with E 85.

I would think we'll all have to run ethanol-mix unless we tow a tank of non-mix with us. I don't like mixed gasoline, I don't like govt intrusion, but until we can unite and get govt out of our lives, we'll have to run it at least some of the time.

My 1975 Pontiac Bonneville runs fine on it, no changes to the engine or fuel system at all from factory.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Easy with these questions! I asked about storing gas on here last year and the thread ended up attracting a lot of hot heads, upset over govt control (and rightfully so), but somehow angry with me that my mower doesn't have trouble starting after sitting all winter with E 85.

I would think we'll all have to run ethanol-mix unless we tow a tank of non-mix with us. I don't like mixed gasoline, I don't like govt intrusion, but until we can unite and get govt out of our lives, we'll have to run it at least some of the time.

My 1975 Pontiac Bonneville runs fine on it, no changes to the engine or fuel system at all from factory.

I haven't had any problems with my mustang or C10 on it either. I have eliminated all rubber fuel lines except where my fuel filters are. I bought a new rebuilt carb for my 65 3 years ago. I recently had some problems with the car (turned out to be electrical) but pulled the top off the carb and inspected it. I've put about 15K on this car and it was completely clean.

I wonder if the people having problems are running a cheaper, non fuel rated hose that's breaking down and gumming up carbs?

[davepl]

No truck should have more than four inches of rubber hose total anyway! One piece where tank meets frame, one piece where frame meets pump.

Say it with me: No rubber after the pressure pump + no glass filters == No Fires

And the rubber hose you DO have must be fuel rated - gasoline eats rubber, but ethanol probably makes that worse.

[CCCC]

Have been told that there is at least one very good/effective additive that will counter/prevent the damaging effects of ethanol. Can anyone here ID such additive(s) with certainty and cite a source/price? Thank for any useful info.

[ettsn]

Originally Posted by 1968aj

I wish I could get ethanol free. none any where near Houston that I know of.

http://www.buyrealgas.com/Texas.html

[engineer_gregh]

I've ran E10 in my trucks (4) and Chevelle for years. I always add StaBil marine treatment at each filling and have had no problems. I will say that when I run 100% gas they seem to have more power and get somewhat better mileage. We can get both here in the Nashville area. E85 is only for newer vehicles labeled as flex fuel, my Denali with the 6.2 runs like a raped ape on it but fuel mileage drops by at least 20% compared to 93 octane.

In the Ten Ring is right; I caught flack last year when I said that I add StaBil marine treatment at each fill up when discussing this subject last year. It costs about an extra .05 cents per gallon to use it and it makes me feel better about running the ethanol blend. So please don't give me any crap about it.

[In The Ten Ring]

I am not sure how much hose I have total, I did ask for fuel-rated hose but you know how smart auto supply store people can be. I have to redo my in-cab fuel line anyway, I'll go and have another look.

I am going to guess that I have about 7 inches of total hose, over the entire length. I might can decrease that a bit when I redo the in-cab pieces (yes, "pieces" ).

[Andy4639]

I drive my truck pretty much all the time. I have never had issues with E10 but it doesn't sit long a week are so at the most. I also have a 2004 6.0 FI.

E85 is for newer vehicles that can operate on it and you want catch me running it ever again if I don't have to no matter how high gas prices go.


Lawnmowers and weed eater are a different story.

[68Gold/white]

The biggest worry with corn gas is what it can do to your carb. The float needle
almost always has a rubber tip on it, and the important part of the accelerator pump is rubber, also. Then there's the corrosive effect on the metal of the carb itself.

Injected vehicles have none of these worries.

I've heard of folks testing their E10 gas, finding out it's more than 10% ethanol, supposedly this problem is worse in cold climates, in the winter...?

[1968aj]

Originally Posted by ettsn

http://www.buyrealgas.com/Texas.html

THANKS The nearest station on that site is 40 miles from me . I will go there and get some. the ethanol gas ruined the fuel system on my 2 lawn mowers; my weedeater; my chainsaw . it gets expensive rebuilding all of them. now I do not store them with gas in them . even by emptying the tanks just using ethanol it still screws them up.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by CCCC

Have been told that there is at least one very good/effective additive that will counter/prevent the damaging effects of ethanol. Can anyone here ID such additive(s) with certainty and cite a source/price? Thank for any useful info.

I used to buy a product from Yamaha that would eat the alcohol out of 5 gallons of gas, don't know if they still make it, sold my WR250 a while back.

[87Skier]

I have trouble now and then from E10. I've got a 72 Jimmy with a Quadrajet and an 87 Malibu skier with a 350 and quadrajet. The most important part is not letting the gas sit. My Jimmy never has fuel issues, but it got a new tank, rubber fuel lines, and a carb rebuild when I got it.

My boat is a problem child. It has an aluminum fuel tank and ethanol really hates aluminum. If I run regular gas the tank builds up an oxidation on the surface, which is fine. When I follow that up with ethanol it pulls all that off the tank which turns into a white powder and plugs up the fuel filters quickly. I always put a new filter in before leaving for the first trip and it doesn't always make it through that outing before I have to replace the filter.

[OregonNed]

No kidding about the dangers of rubber lines. Mine is minimal now too. When I bought mine in Idaho, and drove it all the way home - and then around for a few months, I didn't think to check mine. Then one hot day a bunch of us took a long cruise. The next morning I started it up, and kablooey! The line burst. Nothing was really hot yet, so I caught it. Gas spurting all over. Also changed out the glass filter on the manifold.

[dazza]

I think maybe it's possible that the ones having problems with rubber breakdown or carb build up might find that they're using GMO'd ethanol... ya never know what may happen in the future when messin' with corn genetics.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by truckster

... if you have a sniffer-type emissions test where you live, and your vehicle is having a hard time passing, E85 does burn cleaner and may just be what you need to pass the emissions test.

I've used racing fuel for that purpose.

To answer the question asked in the title, everyone in my state. Marinas sell real gas and there is one station up by the MD/PA line that sells real gas. So, I guess there are a few who don't. Ethanol is yet another thing forced upon us for what a few feel is for our own good, when it is actually for the oil companies' way to get more money out of every drop.