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The effect of ethanol on rubbers and plastics that werent made with e85 in mind.
People who say this is a relic of the old days don't know what they're talking about. Talk to the people who design the cars. Probably won't notice a difference 5 years later, but 10 or 15 and let's talk. Even the nationwide switch to E10 caused some hubub at GM when GM was moving to the 10 year warranty thing. If you want to hear some real angry people, talk to guys who boat in areas where the boat fuel has ethanol in it now.
Last edited by marlinspike; 03-14-2009 at 10:01 PM.
The fires are because the car springs a leak because the increased alcohol content causes the fuel to eat through a rubber hose.
There is up to 15% ethanol in most gas now. Doesnt seem to be a problem now. Im sure it may been a problem for a 1986 Ford Pinto, last time I checked there isnt alot of new vehicles using rubber hoses for fuel lines....Just my .02
There is up to 15% ethanol in most gas now. Doesnt seem to be a problem now. Im sure it may been a problem for a 1986 Ford Pinto, last time I checked there isnt alot of new vehicles using rubber hoses for fuel lines....Just my .02
It's bad for aluminum too. Actually, since 1985 just about every car has been made with e10 in mind, but even then e10 does reduce the life of the rubber parts (this is all rubber parts that come in contact with fuel at any point, not just those carrying fuel from the gas tank to the engine bay), just to within an acceptable range. E85 does MUCH more. Racecars that run on alcohol use different materials for parts that contact the fuel than those that run on gasoline for good reason.
Hell, during the past 2 years Chevron has spent $2 billion dollars trying to figure out how to make e10 not suck. Fun stuff this is. While the official line has been otherwise, I'm told internally GM had a shitstorm about warrantying engines for 10 years when e10 was to be used everywhere, and not just in the cornbelt.
Last edited by marlinspike; 03-14-2009 at 10:17 PM.