Ethanol in Classic car Engines

[Jordan]

It's been talked about numerous times so I thought others might be interested in this.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtqWT8ZfG5Y

[mdsalemi]

The problem is finding gas w/o ethanol is nearly impossible.  Not entirely, but nearly so.  I already use premium, get 16 MPG, and if I had to use aviation fuel or marine fuel, might as well just pack it in and sell it.

[wwheeler]

I looked into buying a drum of race fuel. There is an amazing selection of different octanes, leaded or unleaded; you name it. It was about $7.00/gallon but had a shelf life of like 5 years. They would even deliver a drum to your house for no charge.

But then there are all of the problems like safe storage, safe fuel transfer and the weight on your shoulders of having 55 gallons of a major explosive in your garage. Most cities have codes regarding the maximum amount of fuel that can be stored and it is well below a drum. If you are out in the country, maybe a different story.

[mdsalemi]

Yes, let's put a 55 gallon drum of highly explosive gas in our garage...how about a battery tender nearby, too!  Your insurance company might have something to say when they come to the smoldering ashes of your car and garage and see the frown on the fire marshal's face.  55 gallons isn't a good way to be nice to the neighbors, either.  Don't even think about it.

A restoration shop near me used to go to the local airport and buy small quantities of aviation fuel, leaded, 100 octane.  That is perfect for these old pre-war classics he works on that are trailer queens.  Problem is, with all the new FAA and anti-terrorist rules in place the only place they will now dispense avgas is into an airplane.  No containers.

I've lived with ethanol in the fuel for years, and will have to continue to do so.

[Jordan]

Michael, take a drive across the river to our side.  No ethanol in most if not all gas stations here.  Comes from Nanticoke and they are not set up to put ethanol in the fuel.   

[Benz Dr.]

Regular contains the least amount of ethanol from what I've been told. The higher the octaine, the more ethanol it contains as ethanol is an octaine enhancer. I haven't had one spec of trouble so far using whatever I've bought.

 Of course, that could change......

[wwheeler]

Yes, let's put a 55 gallon drum of highly explosive gas in our garage...how about a battery tender nearby, too!  Your insurance company might have something to say when they come to the smoldering ashes of your car and garage and see the frown on the fire marshal's face.  55 gallons isn't a good way to be nice to the neighbors, either.  Don't even think about it.

Michael,
If you completely read my post you will see that I am NOT condoning putting a drum of gas in a garage. I simply looked into the availablity of race gas. Yes, putting a drum of gas in your garage is a very bad idea which is why there is not one there in my garage now.

[badali]

I was in Norman OK last month and they sell non ethanol gas there.  You have a choice.  Also, it was only $3.15 a gallon when I left.  We pay $3.69 in Pa and have only gas with ethanol...

[Jordan]

I don't know how accurate these sites are but there are a few websites, such as this one, that tell you where there are ethanol free gas stations in the US and Canada. Listed by State and Province.   http://pure-gas.org/

[Paul99]

In the UK I have found that the "super" or higher octane fuels EG: BP high octain (about 98/99 I think) should have zero Ethanol in it - and will stay at zero.   - I hope!    so in the UK we still have this option.  I guess not the same in the USA?

its expensive (as is all fuel in the UK) about $10 a gallon (£6.5 ukp) but thats what I use, and no problems so far.

[mdsalemi]

Wallace: I know you would not do that.  It isn't you I was worried about--its the quiet lurkers who might think it is an OK thing to do!

Jordan: Last time I ventured across the border, on my birthday in March with my 89 year old father--we had a SWELL time on Erie St. in Windsor.  It was getting back into my country that was difficult, because they suspected me of something (what?  eating Italian food in Windsor's Little Italy?) and were incensed that they could find nothing to detain me past an hour.  It was a situation I don't want to relive.  Going to Canada is fun, always has been.  Coming back here is a mess.  Best option is don't leave.  Our customs and immigration assume every American is a terrorist or we are up to something no good when we leave the country.  They grilled my poor father about a passport that was pickpocketed from him 15 years ago in London, found by Scotland Yard 6 months later, returned to the State Department, and CANCELLED.  Dad had a replacement, and even that expired some years ago.  They wouldn't give up. I feel sorry for all the innocent people we have to treat this way.  Welcome to the USA.  If I went over there in my Pagoda and said I was going to get gas, I'd probably never be allowed to return home.  They'd never believe me.  Lying is a felony too.

Yes, I know about puregas.org.  The only station even remotely "close" to me is 25 miles away, and never on my way to anything with the Pagoda.  That's about 1/4 a tank round trip...

I think there are some racing fuel options that are probably closer.  Ethanol is just something we need to learn to live with.  The old cars are one thing, but current production vehicles need to adapt.  It's here and isn't going away anytime soon.

[Rolland]

Michael, they would probably let you come back across the border, but would keep your Pagoda.....;-)

I'm fortunate to have two choices where I can drive right next to the pump and fill up with non-ethanol.  A year ago, this wasn't an option.  The furthest from he is about 5 miles.  I can say this, my Pagoda runs a whole lot better now than before.

Rolland