Ethanol fuel solutions .. thoughts

[tmajor]

The problem is that the ethanol easily mixes with the moisture and does not settle out like water would in pure gas.

So, how can it easily be separated?

 

[Ken45101]

So, how can it easily be separated?

AFAIK, there is no easy way to separate it out, and that's the problem. Worse yet, that water laden ethanol gets gummy and nasty.

Fuel stabilizers help significantly. When I buy gas for the chain saws, ATVs etc., Stabil goes in right away. Seems to help a lot. A $10 can lasts a year or two, well worth it IMO.

Ken

 

[Ken45101]

Mr. Pimentel concluded that "abusing our precious croplands to grow corn for an energy-inefficient process that yields low-grade automobile fuels amounts to unsustainable subsidized food burning"

But it buys votes for the politicians and campaign contributions from the farm lobby, the real reason behind ethanol!

 

[tmajor]

So, I've come up with more questions.

Does the water content of the fuel increase, due to outside conditions, as the fuel ages? Or is it in the fuel from the start and goes through a phase separation?

What, exactly does Stay-Bil do and how? What is it made of?

Maybe, the answer is Stay-Bil and additional filters to catch the trash before it hits the carb. Once they plug up, change them. It would be easier than a carb rebuild.

 

[Dogballs]

Groundcover- What problems have you had with Avgas? And changing fuel system parts?

I've never had any issues except for the odd fouled plug.

 

[KYDan]

I believe, ethanol fuel, has been and will continue to be, a major headache for those of us, who have "intermittent use" engines around.

While there are "stabilizers" on the market, which cost as much as the gas, I don't think, they are the answer. Of course getting rid of the ethanol, would be the best approach, to this particular problem.

I was wondering, if, when not using the idle equipment, replacing the gas cap with a "non-vented" cap, would help? Possibly, even "lightly pressurizing" the tank, would help. If the ethanol attracts water vapor, the water has to come from outside the tank (through the vent?). Also, if the ethanol evaporates, it needs space to do so. Some believe, that a nearly full tank for storage periods, reduces the problem.

You can get ethanol-free fuel with a little effort, check the puregas.org website and it gives a state-by-state listing of stations that have it available. It also lists octane ratings. Anyplace close to a major body of water will have ethanol-free fuels readily available. You can transport up to 110 gallons without permits, etc. For long term storage consider using an intially higher octane as it degrades with time.

 

[tmajor]

You can get ethanol-free fuel with a little effort, check the puregas.org website and it gives a state-by-state listing of stations that have it available.

I'm out of luck on that note, not a source within a couple hundred miles.

 

[Skyco]

Anyplace close to a major body of water will have ethanol-free fuels readily available.

I fixed it for you- "Anyplace close to a major body of water may have ethanol-free fuels readily available"
There was a very busy Exxon/convenience store right at the Lake Murray dam in SC that did a huge business in non-ethanol gas. He cannot get it anymore and it appears his business has dropped off quite a bit to me.

 

[Iowachild]

But it buys votes for the politicians and campaign contributions from the farm lobby, the real reason behind ethanol!

Yep, and don't forget refineries love it because it is government (you and me) subsidized something like forty cents a gallon!

 

[slowzuki]

Actually the ethanol production process has become more efficient and the production takes far less fuel. The quoted numbers are way out of date. He claims it take 140 gallons of diesel to grow and harvest an acre of corn, if it did, there would be no corn grown. Notill corn is only something like 2.5 gallons an acre to plant and a maybe 5 per acre to harvest. Not sure how he got his numbers, even conventional corn is "only" about 30-50% more fuel.

They also always neglect to mention, how can an acre of corn feed 7 people? Its not a sweet corn that you're going to eat, and you can't feed people corn syrup solids which also take a huge amount of fossil fuel to produce. The feedstocks from refining are still used as animal feed after the alcohol production so it is still feeding people.

We dump alcohol into our fuel tanks up here in the winter to soak the water up, in the form of gas line antifreeze, surprising its such a problem.