Ethanol Fuels

[Grumpy Bear]

9 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

 

Thought it was already known to everyone that high ethanol fuels can cause corrosion in older equipment that wasn’t designed with it in mind. Especially seasonally used motors like a lawn mower or boat.
 

Beyond that the worst he can say is that ethanol fuel dilution reduces film thickness. Just like…oh I dunno…non-ethanol fuel dilution. 

 

I've posted a video before from the fella that does Engineering Explained where a military study showed no increased wear when Ethanol was used reguardless of percentage but it was an issue the Methanol. Never ran a blend in a carb car but bikes didn't seem to mind. 

[OnTheReel]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I've posted a video before from the fella that does Engineering Explained where a military study showed no increased wear when Ethanol was used reguardless of percentage but it was an issue the Methanol. Never ran a blend in a carb car but bikes didn't seem to mind. 

I have run E10 in everything since it was mandated here 10,000 years ago. Including small engines and even carbureted boats with Quadrajets. No issues. Run dry and use StarTron in the fuel when storage time is coming close. It’s a maintenance issue, not a fuel issue. 
 

Interestingly most UOA samples I’ve reviewed show much lower fuel dilution when run on E85. So while the potential for dilution is higher based on the higher fuel consumption rate, ethanol seems to be removed more efficiently and completely when operating temperature is reached? 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

I have run E10 in everything since it was mandated here 10,000 years ago. Including small engines and even carbureted boats with Quadrajets. No issues. Run dry and use StarTron in the fuel when storage time is coming close. It’s a maintenance issue, not a fuel issue. 
 

Interestingly most UOA samples I’ve reviewed show much lower fuel dilution when run on E85. So while the potential for dilution is higher based on the higher fuel consumption rate, ethanol seems to be removed more efficiently and completely when operating temperature is reached? 

 

I've been running E-85 in Pepper for the last 35K miles continuous. While I've only done one UOA on this fuel, the dilution rate was 0% by GC. Piston tops and plugs are carbon free and if they are then lands one and two are as well. 

 

Alcohol is so light that even when it gets in the sump it's gone almost as soon as it enters. Viscosity cut requires the solvent to stay in solution, right? Otherwise how would my still work?