ethanol......is it bad?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by elvis3006

ok so lead was bad,but it helped lubricate the engine. we no longer use lead,so what can we do or use to protect and lubricate engines when using ethanol fuel, besides a lead additive? a mixture of stabil and automatic transmission fluid?

I would not use auto transmission fluid, the burning of it could cause plug fouling, even in small amounts, best to use a lead replacement additive. These additives not only contain a chemical that coats the valve seat, as lead did, but also have anti-corrosion, upper cylinder lubricant and other features.

[Ron Pier]

Richard Like you, I went for Superblend Zero 2000. Mainly because it was the one recommended for our low compression low rev MV's. By now most (but not all) of my vehicles have hardened seats fitted. But I have not been able to find it since my initial 5 litre purchase, which is now very low. I have found also that I can't buy STA-BIL at the moment in the UK. Any information by anyone on these products would be gratefully received. Ron

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Richard Like you, I went for Superblend Zero 2000. Mainly because it was the one recommended for our low compression low rev MV's. By now most (but not all) of my vehicles have hardened seats fitted. But I have not been able to find it since my initial 5 litre purchase, which is now very low. I have found also that I can't buy STA-BIL at the moment in the UK. Any information by anyone on these products would be gratefully received. Ron

Hello Ron,
I always bought Superblend in the dispenser bottles from Morris Lubricants. Had enough to cover me up until now. I see it is still on Morris stock list, see their website, but name changed slightly, not sure of the significance it that, might be worth talking to their Tech Dept. As for STA-BIL, not used it, but did find one made by Briggs & Stratton, supposed to keep petrol for up to 2 years.
I don't know if you suffer from stale petrol problems, but I have had vehicles standing for some months, then go to start them and they will not fire up, only way is to drain the carb and fill float bowl with fresh petrol, once they are hot, they will stop and start without problems, go back the next day and same again. But, I have noticed one thing, a lot of this depends on the type of carburettor fitted. My own Bedford and a friends Ford WOT6, both have the same type Solex military carb, no problems, leave it for a good few months and fire straight up.

[Alan Nicholas]

Gents, if replacing fuel lines or rubber parts needed to run ethanol blended fuels you have to ask for nitrile base rubber. Nitrile is chemical resistant rubber and is reasonably common. Beware though that if nitrile is burnt, one of the by products produced is hydrofluoric acid, which is one of the nastiest acids around. It banned or in very limited use in alot countries around the world because it is so nasty.

Regards
Alan Nicholas

[Little Jo]

Hi All

I asked a question from one of our elder club members regarding changes to fuel as we can only get unleaded fuel now which burns at 90 octane, our older vehicled like my 1942 MB Jeep burns around 72 octane, I asked what I could do and he replied, "Oh just throw a cup full of diesel fuel in the tank when you fill up and she will be sweet." That may be an answer.

Little Jo

[elvis3006]

i run my MV's regularly,should i still add STA-BIL despite the fact they are not sitting idle for long periods of time? i wonder if a cup of diesel in the tank would work ?