This point came up in a winter-weather discussion somewhere... I lost track... but if the global warming trend and our joint government's (Canada-U.S.) typically hasty and irresponsible response to the demands of "urban-environmentalists" continues... (forcing an increase in food and fuel costs by using more bio-mass to dilute gas and simultaneously starve the rest of the world)... that's my own This topic may interest us all: Ethanol-blended fuels can damage classic cars in storage and cold weather. I don't know if any proof or evidence has been derived of as of yet... has anyone heard more on this? Hagerty Insurance has initiated a study to determine the long terms effects of 10% ethanol and the future plan to go 20-30% ethanol in gas. This fuel absorbs water and acts as a solvent to dislodge gunk and sludge in old cars so - when you think you're "cleaning out" your fuel system, you may actually be restricting it or causing premature failure through corrosion. Good for new cars and super clean freshly rebuilt race cars that run on alcohol, but old cars with un-vented/un-pressurized gas tanks can still absorb water during cold weather and winter storage (maybe even through the 40 year old charcoal cannister?). It can loosen sludge in the gas tank, cause it to leak, and the sludge can plug up the fuel system, corrode old worn out engine seals, and - apparently - the future incentive to increase the alcohol content to 20% or more - will adversely effect the operation of carbs. I wonder about valve and seal wear at this point as well... lower compression in the Mavs and Comets but they were designed when lead was standard in gas. In Canada, Mohawk stations were always touted as a "clean" alternative and we've had it available for decades. Brazil uses very high conc. biofuel but they also live in a perpetual summer. It's suggested here that we use 1 or 2 tanks before running our cars through AirCare testing. I've never used it faithfully but now... until I find out more... I'll avoid it in my Comets. I've only seen one article so far: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2779 Anybody know more or hear of any results on this study? Feedback?
Seems a simple solution would be to put a drying agent such as STA-BIL into the fuel every couple of fillups. The findings of this study will be interesting.
I know that most of the older cars that I have had will usually plug a fuel filter after a tank or two of winter gas. I run Seafoam in my cars about once every month or so. The stuff seems to help to keep things running descent.
Everything that sits for more than a week gets STA-BIL around here, lawnmower, power washer, snow blower, chainsaw, weed wacker, my pick-up, and my Maverick.
