[Mgs] E10 or ethanol at 10%

[D Councill]

I have been using E10 fuel for over forty years with favorable results. I
switched to E10 when I was in college in Nebraska in the 70s. Gasohol was
cheaper there since Nebraska is a major corn producer. My 65B ran cleaner
although it was prone to vapor locking during summer months, but that I
mostly attributed to the fuel pump the previous owner mounted in the engine
compartment to replace the SU pump. When I moved to Montana in the 80s, I
did not have gasohol available, and during the bitterly cold winter months,
I experienced fuel line freezing issues from water absorbed in the fuel. I
ended up adding "fuel line antifreeze" aka methanol which was commonly
available at gas stations and auto stores, about 250 ml. to my tank after
fill up during the cold months. I was working as a  chemist so I started
buying methanol rather than the higher priced packaged "antifreeze".

 

Sometime in the past 10-15 years, E10 became the predominant fuel in  the
USA. Where I live, you can get non-ethanol gasoline but it costs a good 30%
more. I always use the ethanol whereas my son believes that E10 is bad due
to the corrosiveness. That to some extent is true - my MGs get in a lot of
regular driving whereas he might take a few months to go through a tank of
fuel. Still, I think the ethanol corrosion issue is greatly over-rated.
There was an issue in the 70s with rubber components in some cars but not,
from my experience, with British cars. 

 

The real issue, as I see it, is not with ethanol but with water. Water comes
from the air and condenses in the tank. Ethanol will absorb it to some
extent whereas it will separate out sooner in pure gasoline. Either way,
water accumulation over time will eventually corrode the fuel tank and cause
rusting. From my experience with the 80s with fuel line freezing, I try to
keep the tank full, particularly if the car is sitting for extended periods.
I also add Sta-bil if the car is going to sit for more than 4-5 months. But
I do that mostly to reduce fuel evaporation and water absorption rather than
ethanol concerns.

 

Searching the Internet, I do see different schools of thought on ethanol
usage but a number indicate beneficial use in classic cars, a few below  -

 

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1313318/classic-cars-uk-fuel-e10-p
etrol-changes-damage

 

https://www.footmanjames.co.uk/blog/e10-fuel-good-for-classic-vehicles

 

David Councill

64 B

67 BGT

72 B

 

 

 

 

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