Date:         Thu, 31 May 2007 10:21:43 -0700
Reply-To:     Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Alert: MTBE out and ethanol in
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I was just thumbing through some junk mail from West Marine (boating retailer), and came across some info that should be interesting to anyone with an old gas tank, i.e. most of us.

The note says that since the MTBE has been replaced in motor fuel by ethanol, we are now essentially driving on E10 (10% ethanol fuel), and that the ethanol can act as a detergent in the gas tank, loosening up various rust, debris and sludge that can cause rough running problems.  Furthermore, the note says that the ethanol can absorb water and can undergo "phase separation" wherein a layer of low-octane gas forms at the top of the tank with a layer of water-saturated ethanol at the bottom....thereby also causing rough running problems or no running at all.  They suggest changing (boat engine) fuel filters frequently until you've run through several tanks of the ethanol laced fuel.

I don't see any reason why the performance of our rigs would act any different that a boat engine in this regard.  Could be the gremlin that has plagued many people on this list.

Cheers, Anthony
'89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)


---------------------------------
Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.