Ethanol in the USA

[rmw]

Now that ethanol is replacing MTBE in as a fuel oxygenizer in gasoline in the USA, keep a close watch on your automobile's fuel filters.

Ethanol is an alcohol that will mix with water and pick it up and carry it with the gasoline. Right now all the fuel storage tanks in the system, including your vehicle's are getting a good cleaning out of the water that otherwise just lay in the bottom of the tank previously.

I had my fuel filter changed twice in the last 3 months, and both times what I considered to be more than the normal amount of water was present.

rmw

 

[Knap]

In the UK the 5% bioethanol fuel appears good for performance

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/gcs_article.php?artid=64&typelink=http://

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/gcs_article.php?type=News&subtitle=0&title=0&text=0&toc=1

However, I do have concerns re Ethanol and infrequently used classic cars.

 

[PLeon]

"Ethanol is an alcohol that will mix with water and pick it up and carry it with the gasoline."

That's why there will be no visible water in your gas. I think there should be no water in the fuel filter (or tank).

Isopropyl alcohol is best to get rid of the water in the fuel system.

 

[GregLocock]

All the tests by reputable organisations using repeatable test methodology have found that typical cars will get increased fuel consumption when using ethanol. Given the difference in calorific value between ethanol and gasoline that is hardly surprising.

In that thorney link, which fuel is ethanol blend?

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Knap]

Greg

Tesco 99

http://www.greenergy.com/products/99_octane.html

 

[drwebb]

Any concerns with increased intake valve deposits with 10% EtOH?

 

[telecomguy]

GregLocock: "increased fuel consumption"

That's bad, right? ;o)
<tg>

 

[patprimmer]

drwebb

I would not think so. alcohol burns cleaner than petrol, and especially cleaner than the aromatics that are used to boost octane..

telecomguy

I suppose it's a simple sum of cost vs yield, except for drop of in range on a tank full.

If the engine is designed with the fuel in mind, some of the mpg can be recovered by high compression which can be sustained due to high octane. This can partly but not fully offset the lower btu's per gallon or whatever.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
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[swall]

I just read an article about vintage boat owners having trouble with 10% ethanol gas sold at marinas. Reportedly, the ethanol was leaching out resins in the fiberglass gas tanks and clogging filters and leaving sticky deposits on valves. I suspect the problem may actually have been with the sealants used in fiberglass tanks rather than the tanks themselves.

 

[Knap]

Saab acknowledge drop in mpg against price and performance

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/AutoshowArticles/articleId=108748

 

[patprimmer]

A chemical resistance chart for a range of typical polyester resins as used in boat building shows mixed results, therefore caution is advised unless the grade of resin is known to be suitable. An interesting note is that the same was true for unleaded vs leaded fuel with several resins listed as resistant to leaded, but not unleaded.

If the tanks are yet to be made, an all fuels resistant resin is obviously preferred.

Regards

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Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.