Stations in my area switched to e10 some time ago and I've been using it since. I put it in everything, my driver, my boat and my Model T. I've never had a problem. I am not sure but I think the T can run on pretty much anything. I have heard a few people complaining that Ethanol did this or that to their car but I have never had any concrete evidence. I think it's probably unreasonable to blame the deterioration of a 30 or 40 year old fuel line on a little alcohol, and in most cases it's a good idea to replace that old stuff anyway.

Greg Jacobs,
Minnesota


In Michigan, gas stations aren't required to label pumps that sell ethanol blended fuels, so you never know what you're getting unless you ask the station operator. From everything I heard I was a little hesitant to put anything but pure gas in my tank, so I started asking around. There are a couple stations in town that sell premium without any ethanol, and I use them as much as I can with my regular cars. I only put premium from these stations in my Chevelle's tank. I wonder how long they'll hold out before they start putting ethanol in everything.

Marc Allen,
Michigan


I think it's probably fine, I burn E10 in all my cars, I've replaced a few rubber parts over the years, and everything seems to be holding up ok, I only put 670 miles on my car last year. I am just going to keep an eye on it.

Tom


Ethanol [does not have] as high of a BTU content and is also an oxygenate. As such, it contributes nothing to the fuel except perhaps as an octane enhancer. One will use more fuel to go the same distance as before on straight gasoline so will therefore use more fuel thereby negating any decrease in emissions by using more gasoline to offset the loss in mpg caused by the addition of ethanol. Ethanol is also likely to have a destructive effect on old seals and rubber compounds as they were not designed to be compatible with Ethanol.

Anonymous


Ethanol [does not have] as high of a BTU content and is also an oxygenate. As such, it contributes nothing to the fuel except perhaps as an octane enhancer. One will use more fuel to go the same distance as before on straight gasoline so will therefore use more fuel thereby negating any decrease in emissions by using more gasoline to offset the loss in mpg caused by the addition of ethanol. Ethanol is also likely to have a destructive effect on old seals and rubber compounds as they were not designed to be compatible with Ethanol.

Anonymous


I have a '70 Bertram Flybridge Flybridge Cruiser and I just spent an ungodly amount of money replacing my old fiberglass gas tank with aluminum. The old tank was actually getting soft to the touch when I took the boat out of storage. Now my mechanic tells me that my engine is running rough, probably due to deposits from the old glass tank. It absolutely drives me nuts to have had to do all that work for no reason, but what can I do, I'm not selling my boat and no one would buy it anyway with the old tank.

Ed,
Massachusetts


I have worked as a Fuel systems technician for over 25 years and I am very familiar with the damage that can be done to fuel system parts.

Anonymous


I just replaced my aftermarket electric fuel pump after 4 months use. The pump uses an internal rubber bellows and when I took it apart the bellows had been perforated. The package had a warning about using alcohol fuel but I didn't know there was alcohol in our gas. I ordered a different pump but haven't installed it yet.

Bob,
Michigan


Both of my cars have hardened valve seats to run on unleaded, ethanol should not pose any noticeable differences.

Anonymous


My 1972 BMW 2002tii has a rebuilt mechanical fuel injection system. The experts warn against using alcohol in the fuel.

Anonymous


After having generator problems at the VTR 2002 (spending 3 glorious days under the bonnet of our 59 TR3, missing out on all the driving activities, and the Concours and Competetors Choice events, we filled with Ethanol - Already using the lead replacement additive - The car ran fairly well, however when we stopped for breakfast, the faithful starter when warm, nearly took the battery to the basement. When we got home, it was the same trouble. After filling with unleaded premium and the lead replacement, and leaving the car run while refueling. We drove about 40 more miles through the country before things finally settled down. I have chatted with others at VTR and TRA events that have had similar problems. As for me and my TR, ''When shall I fill with ethanol, I can tell you, NEVERMORE'' Thanks for the forum,

Dale & Jan Olson
Brookings, SD


The lack of leaded fuels is enough of a problem. I don't know what the impact of the ethanol will have on my collector car. Also have the claimed benefits of ethanol fuels really been proven or is just another unsubstantiated quick fix?

Anonymous


Glad somebody is looking at the situation. I never did want gasohol because it ate up the fuel pump gaskets in a 78 pickup!

Anonymous


They are trying to get a law passed that all fuel in Iowa will be an ethanol blend leaving us nowhere to buy gas.

Anonymous


[I am] Very concerned! I want to rebuild my 1957 engine so I can go to the local gas station and fill up, but now what will be needed to do that? Regular gasoline needs to be available forever for the car collector, but then the price of this gas will go way up. This is a very bad thing for the car hobby! Steve Searles [is] the owner of [his] grandfathers 57 Chevy that will be handed down to my children. How will they drive this car??

Anonymous


Michigan gas pumps are no longer required to post whether the product sold at that pump contains ethanol. Bad change for collectors!

Anonymous


Car is only driven about 1500 miles a year, but the last thing I need, is to be replacing fuel hoses and gaskets every year...

Anonymous


I own a carburetor restoration shop. Here are some tips to deal with ethanol-blended fuel which I have developed over the years.

1) Always replace all fuel hoses with fuel injection grade hose, even in carbureted vehicles. It has a fluoroelastomer liner which will tolerate contact with alcohol. It looks identical to old-style fuel hose.

2) Always use a fluoroelastomer accelerator pump (blue in color) or a leather accelerator pump whenever rebuilding your carburetor.

3) Always coat new or used brass floats with one coat of clear moisture-cured urethane to protect them from ethanol and other additives in modern gasoline. Never re-use a cork float; always coat a new cork float with three coats of clear moisture-cured urethane.

4) Always use nitrile diaphragms when rebuilding a fuel pump.

5) Never install a new-old-stock (or rebuilt-old-stock) carburetor on fuel pump for use "as-is" without rebuilding.

I hope that these tips save some folks from an engine failure or an engine fire.

Jeff Dreibus
Nebo, NC