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CORRECTION: Hank is correct in that ethanol isn't necessarily used
to boost octane in pump gas--my assumption was incorrect--it's only
added because of the federal mandate. It can raise octane, though
the effect is probably minimal (the Penn State article didn't give
the blend ratio, but 102 over 100 isn't much regardless). You can
refine 100-octane gas from crude, but it would probably cost
$10/gallon or more; and running E85 allows compression ratios to be
raised for better efficiency and performance. That's why TEL was
developed: to cheaply increase fuel detonation resistance while
simultaneously poisoning every living thing on the planet.<br>
<br>
In digging further, I came across this, which pretty much
acknowledges what a lot of us suspected: ethanol in gas causes vapor
lock, and not just in our Healeys. Also surprising to me, as ethanol
has a lower vapor pressure than gasoline--I'd assumed the
opposite--but blending them increases vapor pressure.<br>
<br>
"... Gasoline vapor lock causes engines to stall, mostly when the
car is in traffic and temperature is rising high. Similarly when a
car is parked for a short period of time the heated motor won´t
start. The higher the temperature, the higher the altitude, the more
likely it is that Gasoline vapors build a vapor lock, preventing the
fuel in the line from moving to the engine."<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.grabner-instruments.com/-/media/ametekgrabnerinstruments/files/pdfs/application--vapor-pressure--vl-ratio-of-gasolineethanol-blends.pdf?la=en&revision=00f78dc8-029e-4481-ba85-e640bdc7e338">https://www.grabner-instruments.com/-/media/ametekgrabnerinstruments/files/pdfs/application--vapor-pressure--vl-ratio-of-gasolineethanol-blends.pdf?la=en&revision=00f78dc8-029e-4481-ba85-e640bdc7e338</a><br>
<br>
Note there is some effort to change all gas to 93-octane only, which
would accommodate all engines and simplify the refining and delivery
process. We can hope, I guess.<br>
<br>
Bob<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/2/2024 10:32 AM, Bob Spidell via
Healeys wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:9b1b9045-3efa-4ed4-a300-6c39167abad9@comcast.net">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
"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"
moz-do-not-send="true">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">
<meta http-equiv="content-type"
content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<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>
-------------------- <br>
<br>
From: "Bob Spidell via Healeys" <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net" moz-do-not-send="true"><healeys@autox.team.net></a>
<br>
Reply-To: "Bob Spidell" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:bspidell@comcast.net" moz-do-not-send="true"><bspidell@comcast.net></a>
<br>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net" moz-do-not-send="true"><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>
<div> </div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
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