[Healeys] Bad running due to ethanol in gas?

[Bob Spidell]

Let's see ... my car runs bad, my gas has ethanol; therefore, ethanol is the cause of the bad running.  I know science 
is unpopular these days, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still apply.  Try this: empty your tank as much as possible, 
then buy a tank of gas that doesn't have any ethanol--it's still available: http://pure-gas.org/.  If your car stops 
running badly, you've proved your hypothesis; if not, time to look elsewhere for the cause of the problem.

The vapor pressure of gasoline--it's measured by Reid Vapor Pressure 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_Vapor_Pressure)--varies during the course of the year; lower in summer, higher in 
winter (usually).  It's closely monitored and controlled to reduce vapor loss and hence smog and, yes, the formulators 
consider its effect on combustion (that's why the VP is higher in the winter).

10% ethanol is allowed; how is 8% 'over-mixed?'

FWIW, the oil industry people I've heard espouse on the subject hate having to put any ethanol at all in their 
gasoline--they want to sell petroleum, not moonshine.

Bob



On 9/3/2011 5:17 PM, Steve B. Gerow wrote:
> Lately I've been experiencing bad running - loading up on taking off from a stop sign. Better in cool weather, worse in hot weather. It's like the fuel is now more volatile and vapor-locks at a lower temperature.
>
> A number of other collector-car drivers have mentioned similar problems.
>
> I did online research and bought an inexpensive kit which reveals the percentage of ethanol in the gas.
>
> My last tank, Unocal 76 Regular, which ran badly, turned out to be 8% ethanol.
>
> Pictures of the test, the kit and a link to the supplier's website which has lots of information on ethanol in gas, and how tax breaks are incentivizing suppliers to over-mix to a higher percentage of ethanol than is allowed by law.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/stevegerow/healey_tech
>


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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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