[TR] winter storage

[terryrs at comcast.net]

>With ethanol, the water combines with the ethanol.  Once the water concentration becomes high enough, both the water and the ethanol
>settle out to the bottom of the tank.  What is left might run, but is typically lower octane, so causes engine knock (like Andrew
>experienced).


All right.  For crying out loud.  Who can know this stuff!  I don't remember studying this in my Shakespeare class????  I am forced to conced, to relent now that, while literature remains the highest value field of study in the human experience, it is perhaps possible that engineering has some small role to play....

But gadfrey!  Who could know that 'Jerry' cans are stronger than automotive gas tanks?  

Oh.  Dumbledore.  

Literature wins.

Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
New Hampshire

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randall" <TR3driver at ca.rr.com>
To: "triumphs" <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 2:14:12 PM
Subject: Re: [TR] winter storage


> I have two WW II US Army five gallon cans that were 
> originally on a WW II US Army tank and at 75 years old they 
> are still good, do not leak, are not rusty inside or outside, 
> and hold fuel for as long as I need them to, which is a lot 
> less than 20-30 years.  

A bit different though; 'Jerry' cans are normally fully sealed (and strong enough to withstand the pressure from fuel vapor).
Automotive gas tanks are not.  Modern cars are closer to being sealed, but older Triumphs are totally open to the air.  

So if you live in an area where dew forms on the grass (and your windshield), it also forms in the gas tank.  With non-ethanol gas,
the water runs to the bottom, where it can't evaporate, and causes rust.  (In colder climates, it can even freeze, leading to
"frozen" gas lines.)

With ethanol, the water combines with the ethanol.  Once the water concentration becomes high enough, both the water and the ethanol
settle out to the bottom of the tank.  What is left might run, but is typically lower octane, so causes engine knock (like Andrew
experienced).

FWIW, and as I recall, the US copied the "Jerry can" design from the Germans during WWII, hence the nickname ('Jerry' being a
nickname for 'German' at the time).  Far superior to what we came up with originally.

Randall


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