[Healeys] Ethanol and Vintage Cars

[Leonard Hartnett]

.and speaking of oil for old cars, how about ethanol for our 'vintage'
vehicles?

The January 14, 2008, edition of AutoWeek magazine has an article, "PENNY
WISE, POUND FUELISH   Ethanol blends and your vintage car: Are they a potent
mixture?".

The article starts by mentioning the relatively few pumps nationwide offering
E85 for flex fuel vehicles and mentions that Virginia and Maryland mandate E10
to help conserve fossil fuels. Following are some excerpts from the article:

".Here's the bad news: Ethanol acts as a solvent that can loosen the sludge,
varnish and dirt that accumulate in a fuel tank. Ethanol also absorbs water,
and the ethanol-water mixture may separate from the blended gasoline and sink
to the bottom of a fuel tank where the fuel pickup is located. This mixture
can clog fuel lines and block carburetor jets and may be incompatible with
older rubber compounds and some metals.

"...Hagerty Insurance Agency in traverse City, Michigan, . has just initiated
a $50,000 study, in conjunction with the Kettering University Advanced Engine
research Laboratory (AERL) in Flint, Michigan, to find out what happens over
time when an ethanol-gasoline blend is used in old cars.

"...The study is expected to take one year, though preliminary findings may be
announced this summer.

"...In the interim, the experts suggest that you drain and clean your old
car's fuel tank, use a fuel-tank sealer that's impervious to ethanol, replace
fuel filters, keep all screens clear and use a fuel stabilizer.if your vintage
car is to be stored for any length of time."



NOTE: Based upon reports on The List of clogged fuel lines due to tank sealers
separating from the tank and clogging filters, tank sealer may not be a good
idea.

(The Other) Len
Vacaville,  California,  USA
1967 3000 MKIII, HBJ8L39031