[Healeys] Ethanol in Gas

Mirek Sharp m.g.sharp at sympatico.ca
Sun Jun 21 21:12:00 MDT 2009


All the gas in Ontario has had ethanol, usually up to 10%, for some years 
now and I have noticed no ill effects the Healey, although it plays hell 
with my British bikes.  The bikes are relatively high compression and 
air-cooled.  The Ethanol, (and possibly other additives or changes in 
formulation from the 60s) slows the burn rate down.  The bikes with domed 
pistons and plug set to one side have problems as it takes the flame front 
has a long way to go to get something close to complete combustion.  As a 
result we have to advance ignition as much as possible without inducing 
pinging, and lower the CR.  Takes a lot to get them running well.  But the 
Healey - no worries. I am bad and even leave the fuel in it over the winter 
and it just starts right up in the spring as it has every one of my 35 years 
of ownership.

PS - I hate using additives - one more thing to think about (I am inherently 
lazy) and I have some faith in the chemists at the gas companies and do not 
want to experiment by adding something else.

cheers,

Mirek


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Spidell" <bspidell at comcast.net>
Subject: [Healeys] Ethanol in Gas


> Moss has some info on ethanol in gas (plus some plugs for products):
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ksalzp


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