There is still the mileage issue with alcohol.  My farm representative told me about a friend of his with a then-new pickup truck with all the bells and whistles, and E85 compatable.  There wasn't any local E85 sources, so he was using E10 and getting 15 mpg.  He was in Indianapolis one day and found E85.  He filled it up, and got 9 mpg on that tankful.  Back to E10, back to 15 mpg.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I think ethanol will be great once its conveniently available. Pure ethanol is around 113 octane. It's alcohol so it will require some tuning and rubber seal replacements but once the vehicle is set up to run on it, it will be quite fun. And if it does actually burn cleaner, then it will be win win.


Lawrenceville, GA

With the changes that have come to fuel regulations, ethanol "quota's", and all...wasn't a lot of that kind of thing birthed years ago with the move to unleaded gasoline? I'll have to admit, I am still pretty young compared to most on this site...the move to unleaded started before I was born.

Most of the changes in laws that are supposed to affect the current emissions requirements have a trickle down effect to discouraging us from keeping our vehicles on the road. Most of the time our hobby is not considered, and unfortunately Big Brother doesn't usually consider all of the jobs/industry/income behind it. Check the major hot rod mags and the ranting and raving from the editors about the state of California lately. Even the registration and titleing of cars has gotten pretty ridiculous evidently.

Hate to be a pessimist, but in a few generations (after we are dead and gone) there may be a push to get all of our old "carbon cars" off the roads and into museums. But then, within a few generations all of that may be a moot point. How many of our own great grandchildren and their children will want to run these cars and do what we do with our spare time? I would hope quite a few...but who knows? Take a look at the "green" cars and vehicles that are being pushed at the moment. These types of cars, or at least their concepts, are gaining momentum. Our gasoline will continue to change I am afraid. Hopefully we can see it happen slowly with a lot of red tape.

About the comment concerning our grandchildren and children, the government, whether Bush or Obama, should have thought about our offsprings' future a long time ago when we started throwing around all of this borrowed money again. The current administration continues to pile it on with extended bailout and government sponsored healthcare. Our offspring will be paying for a long time to come no matter what.

About Daniel Tinder's original post, I always use an Octane/stabilizing supplement in my Y blocks, even after purchasing the 92 or 93 octane fuels. They seem to run fine, and the internals look good, but then I haven't really had them running long enough to gauge any differences on seals, carbs, gas tanks, etc. Hopefully as the gasoline continues to change, entrepreneurs and companies out there will come up with even more solutions and additives to offset. I would think that the industry is still quite large enough to support manufacture of some type of product. Hard to talk about the issue of the fuel problem without mentioning anything about the government....

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Y-guys:     This is not a place for political thoughts, and I'll try not to

          let my thoughts interfere with the reasons for this forum. I'm

          just glad I live in the USA and can voice my idea's openly.

                                        Bill

Bill

Pelham,Al

Bill ,   You had better be careful what you say , or an Obama   fan  might report you to Washington D.C. ...I think you brought up a good question  on the gasoline we use today , and  what to add to make it last in usable condition in the tank ..I am haveing to order a new gas tank because the gas has ruined my gas tank on the 56 .................Sam...................................Florida     

56 victoria

Well, gee wiz there Bill, maybe it is time we started thinking of our Grandchildren and future generations instead of worrying about some chainsaw "reps" having to sell more carbs (but I doubt they are not complaining to much (more $$$ in their pockets) or doing anything about it. Can't comment on your statement about Obama, but Ethanol was around before he was and so were the problems that he inherited from the last administration...








BOB

Y-Guy Daniel:       I work on a lot of small engines and the ethanol

                is killing everything. I believe if you use the vehicle, on a

                regular basis, you're proabably ok.(Obama and his greenie

                buddies are trying to add up to 20/25%)

                         I judged a local "skills" competition a few weeks ago

                and Husqvarna, Gravely, and John Deere, all had reps there,

                and ALL of them said carb sales had increased several hundred

                percent, over the last year!!!!

                          There are  several new products, out there, to deal

                with it.(StarTron-New Stabil)

                                                     Bill

Bill

Pelham,Al

The bad press BP has been getting lately has me thinking about why they refuse to join the Top Tier group of gasoline brands that certify the amount of fuel injector cleaner in their product (they likely include it anyway?). But, I'm also wondering if the F.I. solvents needed for modern cars are possibly corrosive (along with alcohol) to the viton, etc. carb. components that keep failing? Anyone familiar with the chemistry?

Is it better to favor T.T gas and keep the internal carb. passages clean, or avoid it hoping to prolong the life of rubber parts?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA