[Healeys] Ethanol and Vintage Cars

rrengineer at dslextreme.com rrengineer at dslextreme.com
Thu Jan 24 11:07:31 MST 2008


I  have a brand new aluminum tank for my BN2 restoration.  Do I have to
coat the inside of that before I install it?  In fact, it will be all new
fuel lines, pump and H6 carbs.  What exactly should be done from the tank
forward to the carbs if I will be using ethanol?
Mike MacLean
56 BN2
60 AN5


tomfelts at windstream.net
> FWIW, I had my E fuel tank coated 17 years ago.  Still going strong.  My
> biggest concern is what can happen to the jet rubber in the carb.  I think
> i heard someone say that the "blue" colored rubber pieces were compatible
> with the mix and I'm using the blue ones and no problems-----yet!:)
>
>
>>
>> From: "Leonard  Hartnett" <thehartnetts at earthlink.net>
>> Date: 2008/01/23 Wed PM 06:19:33 EST
>> To: "Healey Mail List" <healeys at autox.team.net>
>> Subject: [Healeys] Ethanol and Vintage Cars
>>
>> .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


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