I live in the Atlanta, GA, metro area, and due to Federal EPA laws large metropolitan areas must switch to ethanol blends for the summer months.

The blend is 10% ethanol - or was in the past. Now I hear that they will also be putting out 15% ethanol blends, and that this may be bad for some vehicles fuel systems.

Does anyone know if the ethanol blends do any damage to our fuel systems, either near term or long term?

I don't know of any place (in the summer months) I can get straight unleaded gas in my area without driving 50 - 60 miles out of the way...

 

Don't fall for the garbage that's commonly posted on the internet about the 'sky falling', most of it originates from people who are trying to peddle a cure-all product that fixes things that aren't broken.

I've been using E10 for approx 20 years in all my vehicles- never a problem. Ethanol is nothing new, some parts of North America have had it for 30+ years, used to be called 'gasahol'.

As an example of misinformation having made the rounds, here's the truth about E15:

E15 (a blend of gasoline and ethanol) | Fuels & Fuel Additives | US EPA

note the lead sentence:

Update: As of November 7, 2011, E15 is not registered with EPA and is therefore not legal for distribution or sale as a transportation fuel.

 

E10 won't cause problems for daily drivers! Seattle has had 'Gasohol' for many years; I try to drive my 2007 XK at least once a week; fresh gas is the secret. Classic vehicles, motor homes, boats and garden motors are another thing............if you don't drive regularly you should always use an additive (eg. Sta-Bil) otherwise the E10 will separate into gas and alcohol!
I use Sta-Bil in my motor home and managed to use 100% gas in my XKE from the marina (3.5 gals at a time, in an outboard gas tank!)
So with care you will be OK.................bloody Feds are insane; they also reduced the Zinc in our oil but that's another sad story...........................

Cheers, Adrian

 

Ethanol burns hotter, is slightly caustic, and has less energy/gallon vs gas. It used to make a difference when fuel systems had genuine rubber bits in it, but these days they're all inert plastics, synthetic rubbers, and stainless parts. You'll get less MPG on an ethanol blend than you will on straight gas.

But like those above have said, it really doesn't make that much of a difference.

 

Again on the topic of myths, there is actually little truth to this. I store some of my toys for 6 months or longer each year with E10 in the tanks. No sta-bil, no special procedures and never any problems.

On the other hand, vehicles with an open ventilation system- boats for instance, is a different kettle of fish. E10 will absorb water from the amosphere which may lead to corrosion or poor performance when using the contaminated fuel. Sta-bil won't help much.

 

FYI. All Classic Jags (pre 197X) have open vent gas tanks and rubber and neoprene fuel system components.

Cheers, Adrian