Racing fuel and lead additives

Mr. Brady,

If you can actually prove that ethanol is destroying the diaphragms you describe, which sound like they are of recent manufacture and not new-old stock (NOS), you could probably have a successful lawsuit against the maker.

E10 has been ubiquitous in the United States for decades now. I first encountered it, then called gasohol, in the late 1970s not long after I learned how to drive. It was very common in many locations prior to labeling being mandated as well.

Any parts maker marketing fuel system parts in the United States that are not compatible with ethanol, or at least are not explicitly labeled as not being compatible with ethanol, should be avoided like the plague. Every non-collector car I've ever owned since I started driving has stated in its owner's manual that 10% ethanol blends were suitable as fuel. I have to believe that the fuel system components were selected accordingly.

The only problem that i HAVE HAD WITH Ethanol is that it destroys some carb diaphrams, probably as much the fault of the aftermarket green coloured diaphrams as the Ethanol.

Edited on 2013-10-30 11:27:05
I'm no promoter of ethanol, but I'm also not a promoter of urban legend.

Ethanol is far, far, far less volatile than most of the hydrocarbons that compose gasoline. You are not going to have ethanol "evaporate out of" a gasohol mix until most of the gasoline itself would have evaporated. Also at 10% concentrations ethanol will not ever, ever come close to boosting octane by 9 points [AKI, which is RON+MON/2].

Ethanol is being blamed for and credited for a lot of things it has little to nothing to do with.

There's plenty of factual information available and a quick search using scholar.google.com puts the lie to virtually every claim that's constantly made about "Satan Ethanol" in the collector car world.

Let's also not forget that the hue and cry about unleaded gasoline being the end of collector car engines has never come to pass. Lead substitutes (or, more accurately, replacements) have been part of the formulation of unleaded fuels since they became mandated by law.

Greg/ John;
May I also add that when ethanol/alcohol evaporates, it leaves the remaining gas that was once pumped at 93, down to 84 octane level, as well as low test that was 87 down to 78 !
Phil

hi Phillip - thanks for the info - I actually manage 2000 miles a year on each car - I live in manhattan and don't drive a "regular" car at all. I've favored Sunoco petrol which is highly recommended for its 93 ultra fuel - but I cannot find ANY gas stations in the area that do not have 10% ethanol. I'm wondering if that is some kind of local ny mandate and if others on the east coast find it impossible to locate non ethanol petrol?! Any info would be great! Thanks again
Greg

hi Phillip - thanks for the info - I actually manage 2000 miles a year on each car - I live in manhattan and don't drive a "regular" car at all. I've favored Sunoco petrol which is highly recommended for its 93 ultra fuel - but I cannot find ANY gas stations in the area that do not have 10% ethanol. I'm wondering if that is some kind of local ny mandate and if others on the east coast find it impossible to locate non ethanol petrol?! Any info would be great! Thanks again
Greg

Greg;
I run all my 9 Jags on Hi Test non alcohol blend 91, and do not bother with additives. I have not encountered any problems. Your 3.4, and 3.8's should be set up to this grade of gas, and then forget about it. You are probably doing 500-1000 miles at the most on each car...if that.
p.s. keep away from ethanol/alcohol
Phillip

be careful with Higher octane fuels. more power means more heat, running on "AV Gas" can burn up exhaust valves very fast.

Higher octane fuel will only enhance the engine's performance if the timing is advanced more (without pre-ignition) than you would be able to with lower octane fuel.....

A little lead is often a good thing for engines without hardened valve seats. Some substitutes work. One of the best combinations for cars that see little use (as well as chainsaws, leaf blowers, etc.) is aviation fuel, avaIable at your small local airport . It has no alcohol, is high octane, and has a little (very) lead.

As to global warming: it is now called "global climate change" because many of the models and theories have been discredited and "they" really don't know which direction the change is headed (if at all). The destruction of perfectly good cars causes far more environmental damage than any damage your tiny amount of lead will cause. So you can rest easy. I sleep well at night by avoiding coffee after 7 PM.
Good Luck!
Josh