ethanol gas

Discussion in ''Da Nailhead' started by gsgtx, Dec 4, 2017.

  1. gsgtx

    gsgtx Silver Level contributor

    any opinions on ethanol gas vs non ethanol ?
     
  2. BYoung

    BYoung Stage me

    Nothing but non-ethanol in my GS.
     
  3. philbquick

    philbquick Founders Club Member

    If I don't plan to empty a gas tank in 90 days I use non-ethanol. All my collector cars, generators (I live in Florida) and other small engines have non-ethanol fuel in them. There's 2 problems with ethanol 1) It attracts moisture that causes corrosion. 2) ethanol can rot rubber parts.
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    If I had a choice where I live, I'd use non ethanol gasoline, but I don't:(
     
  5. 36racin

    36racin Platinum Level Contributor

    Non-ethanol in everything that has a regular fuel hose. Ethanol will eat up regular fuel lines and some parts inside carbs. Newer vehicles are all stainless steel lines. If you have non-ethanol gasoline available then I'd use it in all you small engine tools, utv's, atv's, motor cycles, etc
     
  6. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    Yep. As a kid I remember the gas jockey's asking: "Fill 'er up with Ethyl?" But they were talking about gasoline containing "Tetraethyl Lead", and not gasoline containing "Ethanol".

    I still hear "experts" telling people that "Ethyl" gas in the old days, is the same as the 10% methanol in today's gas.

    It's not.

    I am fortunate that I can buy alcohol free gas about 3 miles from my house.
     
  7. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    You'll find that your carb will hate the ethanol, and it'll gum up the valves. I used to use a blend because the octane was higher, but then the car started to run like a toilet. I went back to non-alcohol gas and life is better.
     
  8. 8ad-f85

    8ad-f85 Well-Known Member

    There's millions of engines that do not have gummed up valves from ethanol blended fuel.
     
  9. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    There's a small airport 5 minutes from me that I used to utilize in my old 72 Stage 1 for trips to New England Dragway.

    I also found out there's a gas station about 15 minutes away that has 112 octane right at the pump. Two options for next year.
     
    8ad-f85 likes this.
  10. Bigpig455

    Bigpig455 Fastest of the slow....

    All my cars run on whatever 87 octane pump gas is available wherever. If I'm headed to the track, I'll go 93 and spike with 5 gallons of 110, then I can generally go to 34-36 total timing with no detonation. I've got 4 cars that run ethanol, some will sit for 12 months before I get back to them if they're broken. I use Startron fuel preservative and I've had fuel last up to three years and be perfect. I've rebuilt all the Q-Jets over the years with ethanol resistant parts but I've still got old style fuel hoses back at the tanks, etc... that havent failed yet after how many years of E10? 30? I've never had any tanks scale up or debris in fuel filters. But I have to admit, that 110 octane fuel is like crack, smells so good and is soooo clean. If I was a rich man I'd run nothing but.
     
  11. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    the ethanol gas scare is a kin to the McCarthyism of the early 50s..
     
    Brett Slater and 8ad-f85 like this.
  12. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    Corns for cows n pigs.....
    Ethanol is not allowed for aviation use because of the fact it attracts water/condensation. Therefore, common sense would dictate it would be a poor choice for marine use , in close proximity to water. But boats don't fall from the sky when they stop running so the government does not care. If I use ethanol gas in my outboard (1977 60 horse Johnson) it runs poorly , and refuses to move at headway speed without loading up and dieing . Off to the small plane airport, refuel with ethanol free aviation fuel and I'm trolling at 2,3 mph without a hitch. I have eth-gas in my Skylark now, (Stabil added) , but when she hits the road, I'm off to the airport to fill er up.
    Your body has a tuff time digesting corn, don't ask your older vehicles and 2stroke toys n tools to put up with it.
    Hay is for horses.....
    And corn is for cows......
    Jim/Rott
     
  13. TorqueMonster1

    TorqueMonster1 Making My GS Great Again!

    Ethanol Sucks!! There is absolutely NO reason for fuel to be made out of corn! NONE! It’s a racket! There’s a handful of rich and powerful people that are benefiting from it. For everyone else it’s a sham!
     
  14. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    And that's exactly why we are having it forced into our gastanks, for no other reason. JIM
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2017
    8ad-f85 likes this.
  15. hvramesq

    hvramesq Silver Level contributor

    non ethanol is the way to go, with a shot of your preferred octane booster.
     
  16. 8ad-f85

    8ad-f85 Well-Known Member

    Why would anyone bother with a shot of octane booster and what would that be helping?
    Not trying to derail here.
    Build and tune them to run on pump gas.
    (My outboards don't run predictably or consistently with specific brands of ethanol coming from one refinery)
     
  17. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    ethanol vs non ethanol is readily available here. i run ethanol in everything. i don't have a fuel injected gas powered anything. the jetstar, my 79 100 horse johnson outboard, the cub cadet weed whacker and the chainsaw. none of them run any different or have given me grief at all. insinuating otherwise is hog wash and hence the McCarthyism..
     
    Smokey15 likes this.
  18. bhambulldog

    bhambulldog 1955 76-RoadmasterRiviera

    I mix 75% 87 non-ethanol with 25% leaded 112 racing fuel
     
  19. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Well, after reading all of this, I'm not sure what to think. My nailhead hated it, my carbs all required extensive rebuilds after being on it, and the fuel pumps were junk in record time. Yet, others have no problems. My lawnmower (4 stroke Honda) says don't use it, and when I ran it in there it ran terribly. I've pulled apart ethanol fueled engines and the crud in the stems was incredible, yet others claim it doesn't happen. Is it a racket? Sure, what in life isn't? But I just want what's best for preserving my old Buicks, and my experience dictates to avoid the stuff.
     
    Jonah Halbert likes this.
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    My engine runs just fine on it. I’d prefer not to run it, but in my area, there is no choice. My Q-jet has all the best ethanol resistant parts, and my fuel line is all Aeroquip push lok hose which is alcohol compatible. I’ve yet to have any problems with it. It does evaporate faster, and if I don’t use a stabilizer, it will go bad over the winter. I always manage to get the car out when there is no snow or ice on the roadway.
     

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