Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) E10

All good here, 1999 Land Rover.

I guess now that only bio-fuels are available at the pumps and E5 being the least bio available, there is not much in the way of choice. I have zero experience of bio fuel issues as yet.. fortunately. Just thought to post the link below in the off chance it might assist in advancing knowledge..?

https://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/classic/genuineparts/producthighlights/additive/

My biggest criticism of E5 and E10 is the longevity of the fuel. In the 'good old days' I could drag a bike out from behind the shed, tank half full of two year old fuel, and get it running. Now, even a couple of months is enough for the fuel to go doggy.

Had to drain my ZX10 tank/carbs and replace the filter twice last year due to fuel issues. Now sits with Sta-Bil and Valvemaster in the tank.....

Agreed I use stabil on the cars & power tool fuel.. Especially in lockdown

Main problem with ethanol in the petrol is that it attacks plastic and rubber components that aren't resistant to it.

But only with old engines that haven't had modern components fitted as part of a rebuild, and not if you put something like Valvemaster and/or Stabil in the fuel.

I lost a carb diaphragm in one of the generators (a cheap Chinese Honda knock-off) some years ago, but since then I just bung in 5mls of Valvemaster/5l fuel and I've had no further trouble in anything.

I have for a long time used TetraBoost (the latest mix is called EGuard15) in my older vehicles (Lotus Elan/MGB GT).

Its makers state: "TetraBOOST contains anti-acid formulations designed to minimise the problems associated with ethanol water absorbtion and acid formulation – unbeatable both for regular driving use and over-wintering situations"

It contains tetraethyl lead in solution and increases octane levels. It is NOT suitable for vehicles fitted with catalytic converters or permanently-mounted 02 sensors. However, later cars with cats etc are unlikely (as has already been stated) to suffer from ethanol in the fuel anyway.

I find mixed with super unleaded, Tetraboost (I have no connection with this product except as a customer) allows more aggressive timing curves without pre-ignition and commensurate increases in power and efficiency.

But, over winter, there's no substitute for (on a dry day) a really hard run for at least ten miles with enthusiastic use of brakes (to free up those pesky Morgan rear slave cylinders). Not much chance of that today -- it's snowing even in Cornwall!

Biggest problems with Ethanol are twofold - 1) the amount of rainforest being felled to grow the plants from which it is extracted and 2) the reduction in milegage from the fuel -i.e. more petrol is used to go the same distance equating to the amount of ethanol included hence it is not anyway beneficial to the environment -- in my view it is a VERY detrimental move brought about by the big businesses benefitting from the manufacture and sale of Ethanol!!

The argument is that bio ethanol and bio diesel are renewable, and "less bad" than fossil fuels. I'm unconvinced.
According to a major agrochemical producer, Agrii,about 60% of ethanol is produced from maize, 25% from sugar cane, 7% from molasses, 4% from wheat, and the remainder from other grains, cassava or sugar beets.
About 77% of biodiesel is based on vegetable oils (30% soybean oil, 25% palm oil, 18% rapeseed oil) or waste cooking oils (22%).
Rain forest isn't cleared to grow maize, but it is for palm pil used to make bio diesel.

Ethanol is also produced from petrochemical plant derived chemicals where it is manufactured by reacting ethene with steam. The catalyst used is solid silicon dioxide coated with phosphoric(V) acid. The reaction is reversible. ... By removing the ethanol from the equilibrium mixture and recycling the ethene, it is possible to achieve an overall 95% conversion. I have not been able to find out what percentage of ethanol is produced this way.

Higher-ethanol gasoline blends still produce significant levels of air pollution, reduce fuel efficiency, jack up corn and other food prices, and have been treated with skepticism by some car manufacturers for the damage they do to engines. Growing corn to run our cars was a bad idea 20 years ago and is still a bad idea. US is the driver, where maize growing is subsidised by Government to appease the eco. lobby who want cars to run on 50/50 ethanol/gasoline. in my view it is more stupid than battery electric cars.

That is my argument put with much more clarity by Peter!!!