It doesn't require any special synthetic oil. It also doesn't need a bunch of special components. It's often confused with the corrosive properties of methanol, which isn't the case. Kills cats...period? lol There's not enough real world data to back that up. I have never, personally, seen a bad cat that can be blamed on ethanol. There is a tremendous amount of false, negative information out there that is used by people to justify ethanol being bad. It's not ruining engines, it's not prank calling your grandma.

I know of a LOT of corn-fed cars in this area, and never see the issues people online pass on as gospel because it's something they heard somewhere. A handful of those cars are even E98, which is an awesome fuel. Ethanol is a huge asset to people with performance, force injected cars.

 

http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/Page?template=Myths

 

Evidently you don't know anything about Ethanol.

Ethanol in and of itself is NOT corrosive. It is well known and backed by scientific and real world studies, but it can absorb enormous amounts of water. That is what damages.

And even by itself uncontaminated by water, it DOES require special oil to be able to run E85, why does it void my warranty when I do not use synthetic oil with E85?



Go into Dodge Grand Caravan manual, it says it right in my own manual, I'll scan it just to prove it, E85 can reduce fuel economy up to 30%, and requires synthetic oil!

Why is it I have had to rebuild a literal hundreds of carburetors because they got damaged because of the use of ethanol blended fuel? Why is it they get varnish in them? WHY WHY WHY??????????? Ethanol attracts water, and water does it then. Ethanol is NOT a emulsifier or dispersant of water, it is a attractant.

If ethanol is really that good, why can't I go out and put E85 in my 1989 Carburetted engine and run it? It'll run like crap, if at all, and even if I adjusted that engine it would never last without synthetic oil. Ethanol dilutes engine oil. Period.

Why is it many of the fuel system parts I get have warranties that are voided if ethanol blended fuels are used?

Now if a car or engine is designed to handle it, then it can. But my point is: Our average consumer cars can't, so don't force it on us.

 

I like how you suggest I know nothing about ethanol, yet you keep stating incorrect information. No, it does not require synthetic oil. That's ridiculous. No, a standard carb won't work with E85...because it's not designed for it....adjust it all you want, you won't get the proper fuel needed. Yes, ethanol absorbs water, but not in the large amount you suggest.

You obviously have a very negative opinion about ethanol. I've ran into that plenty of times. What I always find funny about it is that those with the most negative opinion are the same ones that have all incorrect facts. Just keep hating.

I know ethanol isn't a replacement for gas. I know it has some pitfalls. I respect anyone's opinion on whether it's good or bad. What always gets me, though, is all the false information and myths out there, and how many people are 100% bought into them. Get the actual facts, quit listening to all the heresay.

 

So the info in my Caravan's owners manual is incorrect then that I need synthetic oil to run E85?

I do have a negative opinion about ethanol from experience, especially with harming small engines, but also where extreme performance is required, it just hasn't performed as well.

Not saying I don't use it, I have to use 89 octane minimum (which has ethanol) when towing with the Ram because otherwise it knocks because I have timing set ahead.

My only major concern is that ethanol DOES attract water, that's all, and if I can absorb less water, I will by all means.

And sorry if I came across as hating - I didn't mean to, I just have a distaste in my mouth from actual experience with ethanol.

Like I said before though, for all the politicians, don't force ethanol on us who don't want it. We don't want it for a reason, don't we have freedom of choice? Leave ethanol blends and non-ethanol gas out there so whoever wants whatever can get it.

 

Meh. Works fine, keeps your fuel system really clean, gets slightly worse mileage, absorbs water if you dump water into it and makes no economic sense.

Just another ethanol thread, nothing to see here.

 

Works fine in small engines, richen up the mixture and you won't have any issues with it.

 

Good to know that, I did not know that, but what about the water getting in and corroding carbs? I've seen hundreds of carbs corroded/ varnished and they were mostly ones with ethanol blend running in them, the non-ethanol did not do that. Also what about the rubber needle seals expanding because of the ethanol? Just curious.

 

Everybody I know with a negative opinion on ethanol based on personal experiences have used it incorrectly. Like dumping E85 into an older car. Older carburetors are not very ethanol friendly. It sounds like that's where your negative experiences have come from. As far as carburetors, I'd say (unless you have an ethanol carb) I wouldn't expect great results from ethanol. You could definitely make an argument on that. Although I've never had an issue personally with 10% ethanol. Our discussion is all over the place, though. E10, E85, carbs, injected, small engines, cars/trucks.....every one is a different discussion.

Ethanol is still fairly new. Companies that sell fuel related products often protect themselves by putting an ethanol warning on them....because they haven't tested them thoroughly enough to have the answers. That goes for engine manufacturers, too. That doesn't always mean they aren't safe for ethanol use, they just don't want to warranty it without long term testing.

Take a few minutes and read that link I posted. It's short and covers some of the more common myths (some right in this thread).

At most pumps in my area I have every option (0%, 10%, 30%, 85%) and it's not hard to source E98. So on the subject of being forced, I agree. I like having as many freedoms as possible. But it's like a seatbelt law...I don't care for being told I have to wear it, but I do anyway, so whatever.

 

Never seen it happen myself, the only way water gets in gas is if you pour it in there. There is not enough water in the air in the tank to impact the fuel at all.

If you stuff is 30 years old then you might have issues with non ethanol resistant rubber/fuel lines, but all the modern stuff works fine with it.

As for the residue - do you happen to use stabil? Nothing screws up carbs more than dumping red stabil into ethanol, stuff turns to jelly after while.