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"Ethanol boosts the octane number of fuel, which helps prevent
pre-ignition knock. Incidentally, the octane rating system for fuels
was originally developed by Penn State chemist Russell Marker in the
1920s. The octane rating (Anti-Knock Index, AKI) of normal unleaded
gasoline in the United States is 87. The octane rating of pure
ethanol is 100. What's interesting is that when ethanol is blended
with gasoline, it performs as if its octane rating is 112, making
ethanol a very effective octane booster when used in gasoline. High
octane is one reason why NASCAR uses ethanol for their
high-compression racing engines. Engines that are designed and
optimized for ethanol fuel have the potential to run at higher
efficiencies than engines designed for and using gasoline."<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://extension.psu.edu/fuel-ethanol-hero-or-villain">https://extension.psu.edu/fuel-ethanol-hero-or-villain</a><br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/2/2024 10:19 AM, Hank Leach wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:45f8343f-8584-9915-1bea-9b5fb0c78ce3@charter.net">
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<div>Ethanol will not raise the octane level of fuel-only the
"tanes" shown on the chart affect boost and the higher the tane
the more expensive the fuel.</div>
<div>If you procure fuel from an airport spout for road use there
is a hefty fine (about $50K I think) and maybe jail time, so
they won't sell you any. If clear gas (no eth) is not available
you are stuck with ethanol. Hank</div>
<div><br>
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<br>
From: "Bob Spidell via Healeys" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"><healeys@autox.team.net></a> <br>
Reply-To: "Bob Spidell" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:bspidell@comcast.net"><bspidell@comcast.net></a> <br>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"><healeys@autox.team.net></a> <br>
Sent: September 2, 2024 at 10:02 AM PDT <br>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] gas/alcohol <br>
Living in California, I have been running 'gasahol' in all my
cars longer than some. Best we can usually get is 91-octane; I
was able to buy higher-octane--93 and 100--fuel at times but,
guess what: the octane was boosted with ethanol (added water to
some and measured before and after; don't recall the exact mix
but IIRC I figured it was 10% ethanol; standard from the pump
seems to be about 8%).<br>
<br>
I have about 140K miles on my BJ8 running mostly 91-octane
gasahol, and there have been no negative effects save some
'vapor lock*' on starting when hot. I replaced the hard line to
carburettor flex line that had been on the car for a couple
decades and, except for it being a little stiff there was no
visible degradation. About 8 years ago I put a new carb jet in
pure/denatured ethanol and there is also no visible degradation.
Rubber components sold since the introduction of gasahol are
impervious to the stuff. Theoretically, due to its oxygen
content gasahol could cause an engine to run a little lean, and
at least one knowledgeable person recommends changing to rich
carb needles, but both my cars have long since been tuned to run
on it with std. needles. The BJ8 was rebuilt to standard 9.1:1
compression ratio, the BN2 is a 100M and has the 'high
compression' 8.7:1 pistons. I've been told Healeys will run fine
on 91 up to about 11:1 compression, depending on the cam and
timing. <br>
<br>
Good luck trying to 'steal' from an airport--when I owned
airplanes I would occasionally get some--but the fuel providers
aren't likely to be enthusiastic about selling it to you.
Technically, you would owe 'road tax,' and the stuff is full of
TEL and highly toxic (don't breathe any of it and don't let it
get on your skin). <br>
<br>
* not technically 'vapor lock,' but the alcohol vaporizes and
cavitates the fuel next to the exhaust manifold, causing some
stumbling for a mile or so.<br>
<br>
Bob<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/2/2024 7:45 AM, carl and gerry
rubino via Healeys wrote:</div>
<blockquote>A message from Canada. For the last 30 years I have
been running my 100/6 on 93 gas with no alcohol.
<div>In its infinite wisdom our government is going to legislate
alcohol in all grades of gas.</div>
<div>Other than stealing gas from an airport any recommendations
to deal with this?</div>
</blockquote>
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