Ethanol Alert

Hi all, thought I'd check in and give you a heads up notice. Have had many issues with our gas here in Delaware (10% ethanol) but now have a new chink in the armor. My bike ran rough for a while...popping and hesitating. I actually broke down and had to be towed in. Well the ethanol has produced a new problem...it seems to have eaten the inner lining of my tank. After pulling the tank and hoses apart, we noticed grey particles in the filter and in the carb and tank. After talking to my mechanic at length, he has informed that if the gas is prone to sit for any lenght of time, the ethanol based gas has been known to eat through plastic and rubber. It has led to a flurry of hose replacements and fuel filter changes. I looked at my tank crossover hose and sure enough, it had cracks and breaks. My wife had been complaining the garage smelled like gas more than normal, and now I know why.

My mechanic is also a volunteer fireman. He told me they have been having to remove the gas from the power jaws, cutters and chainsaws for the exact same reason, because they sit in storage intil they get used.

So everyone...heads up! All you new ethanol fuel users...it's doing more than just creating a rough ride. Have your ride checked out. There could be more going on than you think...

That just sucks Carminemw. I hope you get it worked out.

Thanks for the heads up.

That just sucks Carminemw. I hope you get it worked out.

Thanks for the heads up.

I'm straight now but I had to put on another tank, flush the carb and redo the hoses and filters. To the tune of over 350.00 in labor and I had to use my other paint chipped tank as a replacement. It's rediculous, and my carb still hesitates because of the ethanol. And Maryland has started using the ethanol gas in some areas. We're really gonna be SOL shortly...

I have a boat in Delaware that sit for long periods between uses sometimes. I go to the boat shop and get an additive that neutralizes the acids in the ethanol and alleviates the problems that you just listed. Almost all of the boating supply houses carry it. Luckily my truck and bike do not keep Delaware gas in them long enough for this to become an issue. I feel you pain though. I spend most of the summer in Delaware and the gas is an issue especially in the MPG and performance areas.

I have a boat in Delaware that sit for long periods between uses sometimes. I go to the boat shop and get an additive that neutralizes the acids in the ethanol and alleviates the problems that you just listed. Almost all of the boating supply houses carry it. Luckily my truck and bike do not keep Delaware gas in them long enough for this to become an issue. I feel you pain though. I spend most of the summer in Delaware and the gas is an issue especially in the MPG and performance areas.

I've been using the "Startron" product by Starbrite that's supposed to do that. But as you can see, the gas seemed to bite me in the butt anyway. It's rediculous how so many problems are affecting so many drivers, boaters, and other other engines, and yet the good old boys seems to keep pushing it!

I believe that in your case there was an issue with whatever tank prep was used. I would try to contact the prep manufacturer and see if they certify their product for use with ethanol blend. Then threaten to sue them for damages after they say it is OK for the ethanol blend. I believe that before this is all over, you will see numerous lawsuits because of damage caused by the blends.

Another problem from ethonal is in the older cars...the pourus floats in the carbs will swell, and eventually stick, allowing fuel to overflow the flaot bowl...
I believe the newer floats since the 80's are safe to use in ethonal...it was a pretty big issue in the auto industry, and I think they figured they had it figured out...sounds like you're sending them back to the think tank

Something doesn't sound right... I thought anything from the early 80's on up was Ethanol compatable... I know when I ran the auto parts store in Illinois, all of our fuel hoses were Alky safe...and the OEM's were suppose to have had everything switched.

In Brazil, almost all the vehicles there run on pure alcohol... Ethanol (grain) is not supposed to be as corrosive as Methanol (wood).. To keep Aluminum from being attacked, it just has to be anodized.

Our Super Modifieds and Sprint cars ran on pure Alky with no problems..

Have things done a 180 turn around in the last 25 years since I played with Alky ??

Doc