Well, we’re told up here that our fuel has a shelf life of 30-60 days, as well. However, I never have a problem with “old” fuel sitting in any cars over the winter (typically 5 months), or gerry cans that sit around slowly being used for lawn mowers, etc, all summer and some into the next. I have a friend that works at a wrecking yard, and keeps all but the most “orange” gas out of the cars that come in. Some is clearly old, the smell alone tells you that. Yet he runs it in his ’72 Nova sporting a mild SBC (actually, an old engine of mine). No problems, and that car is quick. Because of that, I let him dump ~1/2 tank of that stuff in my ’06 Colorado. Within minutes, the check engine light was on (evap recirc valve), and the truck has a slightly less smooth idle. It also tends to act a little fun on ½ warm restarts. I don’t know if that was all a result of that wrecking yard fuel (even though he filters the stuff real good), but I’m never going to run it again, in anything, just in case. Even if it is free.
Interesting about the corrosion part. I’m assuming that refers to corroding aluminium. Not really sure that ethyl alcohol is corrosive to aluminium. But, what if it is to the cheap recycled stuff? Especially the stuff coming out of China? My father’s ’67 Newport had the carb done on it a couple years back. No signs of damage to it. It needed to be rebuilt because he never drives the damned thing. I took it out for a day right after the carb was done, and I think he may have driven it once himself right after that. The car basically sits, with me getting around to running it in the driveway every once in a while. So the carb packed it in from basically drying out. But again, it’s been subjected to E10 for many miles (it was mine prior, and I drove that car everywhere, and drove it hard).
Right now, I have it sitting in the yard, as well as a ’57 Nash Metropolitan, ’62 Nash Metropolitan, ’66 Chevy Biscayne, and my ’62 Dart. All doing perfectly fine on E10/blended fuels up here. The Newport sees little driving, and the Biscayne sees some. The Mets aren’t being driven right now, but had been basically daily drivers from spring until snowfall. My Dart doesn’t get as many miles as I would like to be able to drive it, but it certainly gets it’s share. None have seen the issues you guys talk about.
So now I’m somewhat concerned. I had plans to run the length of Route 66 with the Dart once the new mill was in it. Am I going to have issues? Just thinking, none of the local guys that make the run down to St. Paul for the Back to the Fifties show there have ever mentioned anything about having fuel issues. Now, I know some of them are filling as soon as the cross the border into North Dakota to save the fuel taxes, and that gas actually ships out of Canada. But most of those guys are lucky if they only have to refuel once on the trip. That tank, as well as the tank leaving St. Paul, and the one top-up between St. Paul and the border should be enough to indicate a problem, I would think….
Interestingly enough, I was just talking to my father about this, as he’s a veteran of E10/blended fuels as well. He just informed me that when in the U.S., he has found that he gets slightly higher MPG on non-blended fuel down there with his ’07 HHR running the 2.2. Yet me, with my ’06 HHR and the 2.4, I get the same MPG with whatever I stick in it. Perhaps because his is working harder and/or revs slightly higher on the highway? I don’t know….
My ’65 Valiant didn’t care. But I’m wondering if the fuel down there has changed since then? Damn, I hope that’s not going to be an issue. I do plan on making a run to the East coast of Canada and back, and hoping to also make a run to Alaska. I guess I’ll know more once those trips are done…
-Ray
RAY I LIVE IN INDIANA AND HAVE TO AGREE WHOLE HARTEDLY. I THINK THERE IS SOME DIRTY POOL BEING PLAYED ON US. THE FUEL DOWN HERE AS YOU PUT IT IS VERY CORROSIVE!! AND WONT KEEP MORE THAN A MONTH OR 2 AT BEST.. MY SNOWMOBILES ARE A SOB TO START AND THE LEST WE EVEN DISCUSS THE CHAINSAWS AND WEED EATER. MY GOODNES YOU CANT KEEP FUEL LINES ON THEM OR START THEM RELIABLY. ALCAHOL FREE GAS DOES RUN BETTER THAN THE SWILL WE GET SHOVED AT US. BUT… GET THIS …. MY 4 STROKE YAMAHA 426 DIRT BIKE LOVES 93 OCTANE BLENDED FUEL. I PUT RACE GAS IN IT AND COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING.. WHAT ARE THE ODDS.. ANYWAY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MASSIVE CORROSION OF THE GAS SYSTEM INCLUDING THE CARB BOWLS BEING CORODED TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE CARB. I WAS SHOCKED!! SOMETHING IS BEING PUT INTO THE FUEL OR SOMETHING, I THINK TO CAUSE THIS. ( ON PURPOSE I THINK).
WELL JUST MY RAMBLINGS
JASON
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network