Posted elsewhere, but the subject of ethanol in petrol is a bit popular these days.
I asked a very experienced oil company chemist about the shelf life of petrol now ethanol is added, and for his take on supposed metal corrosion directly attributed to the ethanol content. The issue of water corrosion was not mentioned but of the normally found materials, only steel can corrode in the presence of air and water.
I present the reply unedited apart from a bit of spelling and punctuation correction. The word ‘Blandeo’ is Spanish and presumably used idiomatically as a direct translation make little sense. As it is not that important, I’ll not ask on this point.
As a bit of context, both he and I are Morgan three wheeler owners.
rgds Martyn
Dear Martyn.
Please feel free to quote any of my stuff anywhere. Can't reply at length, but suffice to say that this apparent determination to take a negative attitude and to accept as gospel any 'advice' which shows modern fuel in a bad light dismays and puzzles me. We are brave vintage vehicle drivers, who go boldly, infinitive intact, regardless of a lack of crumple zones, anti-lock brakes (or even brakes, in some cases!), seat belts and all the rest, yet some delicate flowers are scared of a drop of ethanol. Tell 'em to get out and drive! The Porsche driver should have used that tankful, and a few more, before the fuel had chance to get 6 months old. Anyway, I bet it was corroded ignition points or something. With fuel being the fashionable whipping boy, it is easy to blame it for everything.
Shelf-life: Fuel and oil suppliers always quote unnecessarily short storage times for 'back covering' reasons. We do at Fuchs/Silkolene. Never had any trouble myself.
I simply do not believe all the tripe about corroding brass, copper, leaded steel etc. etc. Until someone sends, or tells me where to get the actual lab reports with test conditions, tabulated results and photos, then I shall continue to believe my own eyes and 45+ years of experience that tells me that such metals are NOT corroded by ethanol or petrol/ethanol mixtures. (My Amal 29 is virtually all brass, the 1963 1 1/4 inch SUs are brass and aluminium die-castings, with plastic and rubber bits. All are perfect, and I know what they look like internally because I regularly service them myself, the Amal for about 30 years and the SUs for 20. Morgan and Sprite tin-plated steel and galvanised steel fuel tanks, brass/copper fittings, hoses, plastic and rubber are all just fine.
For over two years I have been asking for evidence and samples, and all I get is daft gossip and urban myth. What more can I say? Oh yes, I can say this: The real killer of old vehicles is lack of use. We all know this deep down. In my less charitable moments I even suspect this over-reaction to a minor change in fuel composition to be an excuse to use the cosy and convenient Blandeo! (Yes, I'm guilty as well, but I ADMIT I'm getting soft!) Please quote all of that.
Keep up the good work, JR
