It's offical... get ready!

With the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (gasoline/alcohol), on June 15th, for retail in the near future, so dooms the fuel systems of many cars. Now... when it actually rolls out is the next question.

Potential issues with rubber fuel lines, steel lines, fuel injectors, metal fuel tanks, etc... What are we looking at in the future? Yearly maintenance of the fuel system in the vehicle??? That's one way to create work for the repair shops. I guess that would also be one way to force the older vehicles off the streets once and for all. It's all part of the evil plan, muhahahahaha...

... "in the eyes of the federal government, E15 is a legal fuel for sale to cars, pickups and SUVs made since 2001." R.I.P. to anything earlier than '01.

Hopefully there will still be the gas companies out there that still sell the 100% gasoline. So, what do you think this does for the price of gas?

There is nothing they've ever done to make it LESS expensive, it would be a fair bet they will say something like "Since cows are competing for the plants, it will raise the price of beef as well"

(two birds with one stone)

E15 will be sold alongside E0-E10 gasoline, like E85 and diesel is now. Nothing is doomed.

Yeah, that doesn't mean you'll be able to find it....

There is a local "Fastrac" gas station chain which is now beginning to sell ethanol-free 91 octane in upstate NY. I shall be buying all of my small engine gasoline there from now on.

I'd be buying all my EVERYTHING engine gasoline there if such a place existed here in FL that didn't charge out the nose for boat gas....

There are only a few places here in Kentucky that sell 100% gas anymore and all of them are about a third of a tank of gas from me. I'm screwed. Cause you know kentucky will switch to 15% completely instead of offering the choice for the two. Here is a cool website that you can use to find gas stations that sell ethanol free gas: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Looks like some of the information is outdated though. DOH!

As for how it will affect the fuel lines and such I would assume that it would be the same as 10% though I'm only guessing and am in no way an authority on the issue.

Not sure if I posted it here, but a few weeks back I took the '79 Electra out for some exercise, and with the windows up and a/c on was smelling gas in the car. I popped the hood with the engine running and sure enough, the rubber fuel line had split right at the fuel pump.

I ran by the parts store for a new line, and the guy there, who I know, laughed when I told him what I needed. He said they are selling fuel line, fuel pumps, and even catalytic converters for older cars like mad lately. The Ethanol blended in all our gas down here over the past few years is really causing a lot of issues now.

Both my motorcycle guy and the guy at the boat shop have told me to be sure and put Sta-Bil with Ethanol treatment in my boat and the bikes. Same issues, the new gas is messing up a lot of boats and bikes.

-Mike


oh and ps...a few years ago this would have sounded terrible, but I filled up my truck this morning and gas was $3.14 a gallon. It felt like a bargain after nearly paying $4-per earlier this year.....

scoffman wrote:

There are only a few places here in Kentucky that sell 100% gas anymore and all of them are about a third of a tank of gas from me. I'm screwed. Cause you know kentucky will switch to 15% completely instead of offering the choice for the two. Here is a cool website that you can use to find gas stations that sell ethanol free gas: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Looks like some of the information is outdated though. DOH!

As for how it will affect the fuel lines and such I would assume that it would be the same as 10% though I'm only guessing and am in no way an authority on the issue.

That's a neat link. The goofy thing is there is nowhere near me (figures since I live in liberal-hippyland Austin) that sells REAL gas, but down where my wife's grandmother lives, Port Lavaca, on the gulf, sells it, and it's also sold near Lake Tawakoni, some of the best fishing I've ever seen, up in East Texas. Both are little podunk towns....but both are on water and get a lot of boat traffic. Bet that's the reason they still have real gas.

-Mike

Here's another link that looks more up to date:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks for that new link. Apparently there are 2 stations within reasonable distance of me that sell E-free 90 octane.

I know where I'm filling up tomorrow....

There exactly ZERO stations anywhere near me with ethanol free gas. I hate this stuff, I do small engine work on the side and swear 90% of the work now is carb rebuilds because of this stuff.

the closest station is a full tank round trip from me

You guys, have my deepest condolences. We still have a choice, even if the prices are insane (8$ a gallon) but we can pick the right fuel. I once overlooked the sign and filled the Cappy up with the blended stuff, man what a disaster. But it's a matter of time before Europe does the same.
Pete

Thanks Shawn,the last link shows a place about 4 miles from my house.Guess I will be taking both wagons out today to fill up.

Stopped by the station today to fill up with the good stuff, but it was closed. Who closes on a saturday! I guess they do.

Found one nearby as well. Thanks for the link!

This is a good time to ask this question. What parts of OUR fuel systems will suffer from corrosion or damage from the extry alcohol? Anyone know?

Only the metal and rubber parts will be damaged by its use!

Flasheroo wrote:

Only the metal and rubber parts will be damaged by its use!

Metal and rubber...

So you mean all of it.
What part isn't metal or rubber?

It was suppose to be a joke but went right over your heads!

Dutch Pete wrote:

You guys, have my deepest condolences. We still have a choice, even if the prices are insane (8$ a gallon) but we can pick the right fuel. I once overlooked the sign and filled the Cappy up with the blended stuff, man what a disaster. But it's a matter of time before Europe does the same.
Pete

In Finland 2011 became 95e10 gas (95 octane 10% ethanol) now about 1,58€/l (7,5dollars/gallon?)
choise is 98e5 now about 1,64€/l (7,8dollars/gallon?)

The amount of ethanol will rise but don't remember when.

jimbeau wrote:

This is a good time to ask this question. What parts of OUR fuel systems will suffer from corrosion or damage from the extry alcohol? Anyone know?

The rubber components will dry out due to the alcohol content of the fuel. As alcohol is often used as a drying agent.

The metal components will rust from the inside out due to the fact alcohol is hydroscopic (absorbs water), think Heet or another other type of "dry gas" out there.

So, with that being said, the fuel injectors are made of both metal and rubber components. Maybe time for a new set anyhow.

Surely someone will be coming up with an additive to counteract the effects of the alcohol. A fuel stabilizer as someone has already mentioned.

Components to combat the effects of the alcohol are nylon and stainless steel lines, plastic fuel tanks, new injectors with stainless steel innards, new fuel pressure regulators that are compatible with the alcohol and last but not least a re-calibration of the ECM to offset the effects of the "LEAN" air/fuel mix that will be inherent due to the higher alcohol blend fuel. I may have missed an item or two.

I forgot to post this [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to an article about the 15% Ethanol blend gasoline and some of the effects it has on the approved 2001 - 2009 engines. Now, imagine, for the non-approved engines out there today. And they are just talking about the engine and not the fuel system components.

Reminds me of the days of switching over to the unleaded gasoline and all the problems we had with the valve seats, can you say Déjà vu?

gmtech wrote:

Reminds me of the days of switching over to the unleaded gasoline and all the problems we had with the valve seats, can you say Déjà vu?

Yes, what a stupid decision that was.

I thought so, at the time, but tetra-ethyl lead (?) was a dirty component in fuel. They have done nicely, figuring out how to work without it. No more gasoline crudding up tanks, lines & carbs, etc. "Stabil" is unneeded today.

Just came across a sticker that will be placed on the gas pumps with the E15.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Woo Hoo 30 proof gas time for a party!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

My newest vehicle is a 94! I'm so screwed.

That can't be the true sticker...... it's only in English....