E-10 is relatively new to my area (October of 2008). I still have about 10 or so gallons of regular unleaded gas left. (I use a lead substitute additive) I have a 1946 Ford ton and a half truck (100 HP flat head) and was wondering if the ethanol will cause problems for me. As I understand it, phase separation, or the separation of the gas and alcohol is a problem but it can be corrected by using an additive. (Star-Tron or K-100 are supposed to work, so I'm told) My question is more about the deterioration of rubber components in the fuel systems on older vehicles. I am told that over time, the alcohol will damage the rubber parts. I have an old Farmall tractor with an updraft carb. I have had that apart more than once and I know that there are no rubber parts in it. It is all cast and brass with cork gaskets. The old tractor also has a gravity feed gas tank so there is no fuel pump to worry about. I am not as familiar with my old truck. The gas tank is under the seat and has been coated on the inside years ago due to a rust problem. Does anyone have any information to share about the use of E-10 gas in my old Ford?

 

as far as rubber deterioration goes, only real issue may be diaphram in fuel pump, accelerator pump piston, and maybe power valve in carb. new items are available that are compatible with new fuel. just keep eye on hoses. i have a 59ab-v8 that i've used for 18 years now, and new fuel has'nt been a problem. i use marvel oil in fuel every fill-up. ( approx. 1 oz. ) the only problem that was experienced was that fuel broke down liner in tank. this was a big problem, as , once liner melted, tank started leaking! i replaced tank, should've done it years ago. make sure you have a fuel filter in line, cause that liner WILL turn to goop.

 

I just found out today that, at least for now, Canada still has gas without ethanol. Canada is only about 30 miles out my back door, so I am going to do some cross border shopping. (I only run my old truck on the farm and, including all of my other equipment, I use about 60 gallons per year). I found out about the ethanol free gas in Canada from a friend who's husband used to race snowmobiles for Bombardier. He still works on racing sleds and has been going to Canada for snowmobile gas since they started with the ethanol. To make it even sweeter, I travel to the border towns about twice per week on my second job so I'll even get paid to go get the gas.

 

Check around your area at other stations. Not all stations are using E10 gas as of yet. We have a couple in my area that still say no ethanol in their gas. I know a few guys that have old M's and a 48 Ford and they are using E10 gas and have not had any problems as of yet (Been running on it for a year plus now) As for the lead additive, you may want to check into if you really need it or not. My dad has a 60 Triumph he is restoring (Actually I am for him) and a guy that works on alot of those engines (They were made by Massey) that there is no need for a lead additive. The guy with the 48 Ford runs staight pump gas thru it with no lead and it runs just fine.

 

Thanks for the warning about the lined tank. I will have to either fabricate one or go to a junk yard and find an old tank. I can just mount it on the body.(Wooden 18 foot flat bed) It doesn't matter much to me what it looks like, all I do is use it around the farm anyway. I've already checked every station in the area, they all have 10% ethanol. I have filed complaints with all of the politicians, both state and federal. So, its off the Canada shopping, for now. As for the lead additive, I've been using it for 20 years and it hasn't hurt anything yet so I guess I'll keep on using it, for peace of mind if nothing else. Thanks everyone.

 

I'm investigating this topic for my gas powered antique toys (tractor, tractor shovel, chain saws, generators, etc) and am finding that if I want to buy gas guaranteed to be without ethanol I need to by aviation or racing fuel ($$$) or possibly gas from a marina (will need to test for ethanol though). Another alternative is to remove the ethanol, but this is looking like a tricky proposition, as the remaining fuel will be lower octane (ethanol is an octane booster) and the removal process itself is not simple (molecular sieve or fractional distillation). I have a thread going about this on the alternative fuels section, but it focuses on the removal.

I think that at the moment running an old Farmall or Ford truck on E10 should be mostly fine as long as the fuel isn't allowed to sit and separate and the fuel system has newer seals and hoses. My worry is what if in five or ten years they mandate E20, E30, or higher? This is part of my motivation to separate the fuel myself, as increasing blending requirements would be less of a problem.

 

I have a 1954 Ford Model 600 tractor that is worked regularly except in winter. We have been on E-10 since last summer and no problems. However, like Chevenstein suggested, drain the gas if it sits any longer than 2 months. I drain it around Dec. 1st.

 

I agree that draining the gas completely out when not in use is the best choice if E-10 has to be used. I can do that in my seasonal equipment but it would be a real PITA. I run my old tractor more in the winter but I still use it year around. I have another avenue to try first. It is my understanding that some airplanes, such as some of the ones built from kits and a few of the older vintage planes runs on regular unleaded automotive fuel (93 octane). There was an article in our daily paper a few weeks ago concerning this and the fact that there was no alcohol free automotive available for them. The pilots were very upset as this effectively grounded them. (I understand that one of the effected pilots is a state senator) The politicians agreed that these folks were exempt for using alcohol in their fuel along with the ones using the higher octane but that group was forgotten. I have been told that there is legislation pending that will allow lower octane fuel without ethanol to be sold at airports and that it should pass with ease. So, unless that comes about, or, there is a better alternative available, I my best choice is to go to Canada for my gas. When considering the imperial gallon, Canadian gas is, on average, a little over $1.00 more than we pay but I feel that it is well worth it especially when considering what ethanol can do to my old antique snowmobile and the to the gas tank on my old truck. I also pointed out to the politicians, the lack of public education on this matter, comparing it to all of the press that digital TV change over has gotten. The politicians had no choice but to agree with me, it wasn't right and it wasn't fair. (I guess that I had better get a passport so that I can get back home with my gas.)