Let's talk a little about using fuel with ethanol. I think just about all the fuel available in my area contains ethanol. I've had my '72 for almost 2 weeks and I have run maybe 25 gallons of 87-octane fuel with ethanol through it so far. My brother-in-law has a '66 and he warned me about fuel with ethanol, saying it caused him to have to rebuild his carburetor. He also told me about a place here in my town to get ethanol-free gas without having to pay a huge price. So that got me to thinking about it. I found a website http://pure-gas.org that lists places to get ethanol-free gas. I guess my question is, what does everyone here do? Do you use ethanol-free gas, or is there some additive I can put in gas with ethanol to neutralize the bad effects? I'm interested to hear some "expert" commentary!

THANKS in advance!!!

 

Ethanol is hygroscopic meaning it attracts water, it will attract water out of the very air itself, it will also clean out your fuel lines, etc which may clog your fuel filter. When ethanol and water mix with other contaminants it becomes like a jelly and if you leave your vehicle and don't start it for months it will become like plastic in the carb, etc.
It's bad stuff all around

 

I do not like to run it. There is very few station in my travels that do not off corn free fuel. It just easier to plan on using it and deal with the crap you get running it.

 

I use 87 gas which "may contain up to 10% ethanol". Ethanol-free gas is available here in Vancouver but only as 94 octane which is even more expensive. So far no problems with the AFB carb.
Eric

 

I can't remember where I read about it but there were some plastic components in older carbs that were not compatible with ethanol but if you rebuild with a new kit it should not be that big of a deal. Leaving any fuel in a carb for months is a bad idea imho.....

 

I run ethanol blend gas in my 78 , no problems . But it is my daily driver . I do Not use it in my 50 or 53 . My 2 stroke engines never see it either , seen many killed by it !

 

I started using the ethanol additive for my blower and weed eater 2 years ago and haven't had any issues since. I had to do a number on my blower due to that crap.....thought I heard taps in the distance....

 

I own a weed-eater, 2 chainsaws (McCulloch and Stihl), a lawn mower, a snowblower, a 1998 Plymouth Voyager (wife drives it), a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and Frodo, my 1969 F250 CS.
None of them get ethanol. I may pay 25c more per gallon, but when you factor in the loss of gas mileage versus the price differential, I'm actually coming out ahead of the game.

 

Red, I'd say try to find a station close by with the least amount of Ethanol blend and go with it.


John

 

You are stuck, pal, like all the rest of us. We burn corn with 3/4 of the energy value of gasoline. We ship cleaner air to India and China and their crap blows back to us unimpeded with no change in the grand scheme of things.
Corn gasoline will eat your small motors to death.

 

Thank you all for your opinions. I have been converted and will now use ethanol-free 94 gas in my lawn mower. Can't afford it in my truck.

 

I run Chevron's 87 <10% Ethanol with no problems in my bumpside. No issues. On my dirtbike though I always run the 94... but that thing has 13:1 compression.

 

Back in the day when that gas was introduced I sold more carb kits and mechanical fuel pumps that Carter has little pills. The old rubber diaghrams,seals,etc were ruined by the new Corn gas. I would assume these have already been changed in your Bump. Corn gas has been out for a whole lot of years now. Note. A relative of a neighbor of mine still lives in back woods Virginia. He burns home brewed Moonshine to power his house's generator. Which is not necessarily made with corn.

 

Aww Jeff that old dude in the woods must have been running Virginia high test stump water to power up this Generator.

Man does that stump water ever burn going down. I had some a few times at a gun truck reunion a few yrs ago at Pigeon Forge Tn. It must have been 100% stuff..

orich

 

I've been told that ethanol gas doesn't keep very well. In Canada there is no alcohol additive in premium gas. I just keep premium in my jerry cans for use in all my mowers, weedwacker, tiller, etc.