Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[baconsdozen]

My apologies for going off subject,I've given myself a hundred lines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ethanol_fuel_mixtures

[Penman]

Hi
Top of the page it says last update 29/04/13.

That may of course be the site rather than that page but it might be worth using the contact link at the bottom and asking if the info is up to date.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Riley Blue]

[colwyn500]

[baconsdozen]

I read that one problem with ethanol is that it encourages rust to form on the tank right at the top of the fuel where it evaporates off leaving a film of water. The author had experimented with an oil spray,misting in a layer of oil so that it coated the top,unused part of the tank with oil to prevent this.Obviously this layer will be removed by filling the tank and by fuel sloshing about in the tank when driving.
I'm experimenting with a weak two stroke mix to leave a fine film behind as the fuel level falls,I was amazed at the amount of rust in a fuel tank that had been left for a long time and looking inside it was obvious that most of it occurs fairly high up in the tank although the loose flakes and dust then fall to the bottom.

[websnail]

Just thinking out loud here..........
What about keeping a full tank, that means minimum air gap and fitting a temporary NON-vented fuel cap when parked in the garage.
The only other place evaporation could take place is the carb. A fuel shut off valve could be fitted in the fuel line to seal off this evaporation route. This could be also be used as a anti theft measure............

[trampintransit]

Back to the 'superunleaded' angle......it seems that super generally has less or no ethanol in it...does that not solve the problem for those of that can run super?
Who can't run super and why?

[JohnDale]

[quote="riley541"]

[captain bobo]

Forgive me if I'm covering stuff already known, but here's a comprehensive link which covers ethanol and other types of fuel and additives.

http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and-fuels/fuel-information/?site=fbhvc.co.uk

The hygroscopic nature of E5 (5% ethanol) and E10 (10% ethanol) means that it absorbs a little moisture easily. If the fuel tank is then left undisturbed for a while, these fuels tend to seperate into 3 layers: water at the bottom, petrol in the middle and ethanol at the top (according to their volumetric density). I'm sure I don't have to outline the undesirability of having a tiny layer of water at the bottom of a petrol tank.

E10 in particular, but also E5 can have undesirable effects upon other materials widely used in older engines, such as rubber tubing (or rubber diphragms as used in SU HD6 carburetters), bronze bearings, various metal alloys etc. I know to my cost, I've replaced the diaphragms twice in 5 years. I've also replaced the fuel lines in my 1969 Daimler V8 250 saloon after sludge started forming in the fuel bowls.

E5 and E10 are more volatile that ordinary petrol. This means vapour locks can form in fuel systems particularly if the piping is routed near sources of heat such as exhaust manifolds. Hot starting issues are increasingly common with older engines when E5 / E10 is used.

This volatility also means that the fuel burns hotter and faster than conventional petrol; possibly causing heating problems with older engines and usually requiring modification to the ignition timing.

Petrol retailers are not obliged to declare ethanol content if it is 5% or lower, I think I'm right in saying that 10% or above needs to be declared which begs the question in my mind what happens between 5% and 10%.

This is an exhaustive subject, so I'll close in saying that in a recent conversation with the good people at SU they told me of plans to coat carburetters and their internal components with an electrically deposited layer of a protective metal to eliminate corrosion of the aluminium and brass.

Apologies if I've covered (a) in too much detail, or (b) at too basic a level.

Best wishes, Dave B
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1937 Daimler 15 Mulliner Sports Saloon & 1969 Daimler V8 250 Saloon

[Rick]

Thanks for the input Dave, and everyone else, I think the more facts that we can digest the more we can form an informed opinion on the subject.

RJ
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[JohnDale]