RE: [DML] Non-ethanol fuel

["John Hervey" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Farrar, 
There is really nothing to worry about with E10 in the DeLorean at this
point. There is no Rubber parts exposed to the drying effect of E10 ( 180
proof alcohol). If we are forced to go to higher concentrations of Ethanol
then we will have to readjust the fuel mixture and maybe use some additives
to help prevent the drying and water absorption. 
Factory stock fuel lines are made out of a specific blend of plastic called
Polyamide which has a high resistance to E10 just like gasoline. The O Rings
in the fuel distributor and around the fuel system that are exposed to
Ethanol are made out of Nitrile which also has a high resistance to ethanol.
The fuel distributor has a stainless steel separator between the upper and
lower chamber so there is no problem there.
And the last thing is our fuel tank which is a form of plastic that I have
found nothing to hurt it.      
There are no rubber parts in the DeLorean fuel system like in old carburetor
parts to do any damage. I only sell fuel hose with the 30R9 rating which has
the lining in it to prevent rubber deterioration. 
My replacement stainless steel lines are Teflon inside with stainless out so
nothing in the gas is going to hurt them.  
The only thing you might want to do is change the fuel filter a little more
often because of the material inside that holds the media in place. The
ethanol may attack it a little more often due to the water absorption.
That's about it.
John Hervey

  

-----Original Message-----
From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Farrar Hudkins
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:59 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [DML] Non-ethanol fuel

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 3:57 PM, David Griffith <dgriffi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> I'm wondering what can be done on a DeLorean to make it more compatible
> with ethanol.

David,

This is why I keep asking for information. An auto mechanic told me a
couple of years ago that the only thing I need to worry about with
ethanol is that for a while I will need to change the fuel filter more
frequently -- since the ethanol will pick up deposits left by
old/dirty gasoline over the years. He actually said that ethanol would
bring an advantage over gasoline: since it burns cooler, you wouldn't
have to worry as much about burned valves. I asked him about ethanol
and rubber, and he said that if ethanol exposes a leak, then the leak
needed to be fixed anyway because it was old rubber. He said if you're
putting a vehicle in long-term storage, drain the tank. Well,
everybody I know does than anyway. It looks to me like all we have to
do is not neglect our cars and we'll be okay.

The only thing I know for certain off the top of my head is that
ethanol possesses fewer BTU than gasoline. I don't see how that could
do any harm -- besides which, its volatility is increased when mixed
with gasoline, mostly making up for the difference -- something I
don't understand but I've seen it repeated many times over by
scientifically-knowledgeable folks. Anyone on this list who
understands the science of that, please feel free to speak up, for I
am curious how this works.

Anyway, as far as I can tell... Most DeLorean owners are so finicky
about their hoses, gaskets, seals, and such, that preventive
maintenance would stop any ethanol-based problems from occurring
before they had a chance to get started. Also, since most DeLorean
owners' cars are fuel-injected, they don't have to worry about
adjusting their floats and needles like owners of carbureted vehicles.
Here in the south, E-10 is everywhere -- I've yet to see a sign
advertising "pure gasoline." I've had E-10 in my DeLorean since I
bought it, and so did the previous owner who, from what I can tell,
almost never touched the fuel system. If ethanol were going to wreck
the engine, it surely would have done so by now -- but my problems
with K-Jet were caused by anything but the fuel itself.

I still await empirical evidence that ethanol will damage older engines.

Farrar Hudkins
#2613


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