Northy Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I was reading a few bits about E10 and potentially E15 ethanol coming to the UK. Should we be changing fuel lines regulalrly now? If so which ones? Anyone doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hak Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Start by using E5 super unleaded exclusively - the lower ethanol content is far less harmful than E10, and a damn sight cheaper than replacing fuel system components. Will we see the results of your research Dom? I can't wait - the clock's ticking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carreracat Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 not very scientific, but a few years ago i drove to thailand and did a lot of b road driving in my 2005 JCW supercharged mini. the only fuel we good get in a lot of the rural areas was E85. it caused no problems with my car, but a friend who was with us in his 90's E36 M3 had a lot of trouble with his fuel pump and various fuel system leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kroggers Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Keen to know the impact and results from Dom's investigations... At what yeas did cars start getting ready for ethanol from the factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kroggers Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Thank you for the info Dom... What about the fuel stabilizer stuff that you can get in the shop. I try to use the 911 as much as possible (and the Boxster should be OK based on the fact that it is from 2001), but do worry about the winter when the car is parked up for 4 - 6 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALEX P Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 So without starting some sort of oil type debate, which fuels are best to stick to, a quick google seems to think that Shell V-Power and Tesco Super unleaded are both E5, so are these safe bets??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 but loosely speaking don't leave your car parked up for a while with a lot of fuel in it. Sounds more like without any fuel in it, even with the tank gauge on red the fuel lines, pump, etc are still going to be awash with fuel whether the tank is full or nearly empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP72 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 So without starting some sort of oil type debate, which fuels are best to stick to, a quick google seems to think that Shell V-Power and Tesco Super unleaded are both E5, so are these safe bets??? Esso and ive read Total don't contain any ethanol (E0?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPerkles Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 whats ethanol do ? Im looking forward to the scientific results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kroggers Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 V powers known for not being good when left in tanks for a while, not sure of exact reason as the 102 race fuel we use has a shelf life of 4 years as long as tins kept sealed and certain storage conditions are met.... But that is £4.10 a litre plus vat, How long is "a while"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hak Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 V powers known for not being good when left in tanks for a while, not sure of exact reason as the 102 race fuel we use has a shelf life of 4 years as long as tins kept sealed and certain storage conditions are met.... But that is £4.10 a litre plus vat, This is getting more worrying by the minute. I thought I was safe with V Power in the tank - although I have started keeping a lower level in the tank than I used to. Trouble is, condensation then becomes an issue! Oh well, I'll just have to use the car more often....but then there is the issue of salt on the roads and drivers sliding around in icy conditions, then there's the UV exposure in the summer cracking the dash and fading the paintwork..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northy Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 My main concern is perishing fuel lines spraying fuel over the engine whilst driving along! Has anyone changed their rubber fuel lines? which ones did you change? What should we look out for? symptoms? which pipes to check etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryH Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Has anyone changed their rubber fuel lines? which ones did you change? What should we look out for? symptoms? which pipes to check etc? I though late SC's all had metal injector fuel lines ? Mine does. Are there other rubber fuel lines in the system ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northy Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 I though late SC's all had metal injector fuel lines ? Mine does. Are there other rubber fuel lines in the system ? There has to be a rubber line connecting the hard lines on the engine to the body and there is definitely a rubber line on the fuel pump to the hard line through the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryH Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Correct Lewis. Flexible feed and return lines and pump hoses also. It's not an issue yet but will become one. Ok, so replace with what ? Aren't braided metal lines still rubber inside ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bernau Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Some braided are PTFE inside. I think you can buy either rubber or PTFE with overbraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryH Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Cheers RB, so PTFE is resistant to ethanol, yes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 But don't need to panic just yet, still some time to go. Why can't we just tell 'em to jog on- we don't want this ethanol stuff in our fuel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryH Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 I don't know for sure about ptfe but it's probably ok, just need to confirm first, but modern cars use a very similar plastic to ptfe so it's probably fine, A quick Google turns up: "We're also seeing a lot of PTFE sealing components for the seats in the valves, and those are highly compatible with ethanol." from this article. But don't need to panic just yet, still some time to go. Ha, I'm too old for panicking Why can't we just tell 'em to jog on- we don't want this ethanol stuff in our fuel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 (edited) I would be more concerned about ethanol in my coffee....... Got this off the TR club website BP Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol at all sites across the UK. BP Ultimate (super unleaded petrol) does not have Ethanol added, except in the South West of England. Esso Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol at most sites in the UK. Esso Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol, except in the South West of England (Devon & Cornwall) Shell Shell has repeatedly refused to answer the question. It is therefore an assumption only, that all Shell petrol should be considered to contain 5% Ethanol. Texaco Ethanol is added at 5% to unleaded petrol. Texaco Super Unleaded petrol does not contain Ethanol. Total Ethanol is not added to any Total fuel (including standard unleaded petrol). Except in the North West and South East of England. Total have kindly provided a list of filling stations where E0 petrol can still be purchased. Click this link to download the list TOTAL E0 Fuel Sites.xls Edited August 13, 2012 by Phill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Good job there's a Total garage around the corner then Frost have an additive out, called Ethomix.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP72 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 This link suggests potential for E5 'end-life' to be extended to 2015 Gotta love additives .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topcarrera Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Old rubber hoses can perish and split over time so if the presence of ethanol in unleaded means that this process is accelerated and new sections in resistant material are needed then I can't see this being a major worry. What is more of a concern is the potentially corrosive nature of alcohols on any steel, brass, zinc, aluminium etc.. components within a fuel system + bimetallic corrosion since they have reasonable conductivity (unlike staight hydrocarbons). I would have thought corrosion inhibitor additions could be made to and compatible with the fuel to minimise this risk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPerkles Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 although you would be amazed at how much of a modern production car fuel system is made up of plastic parts, so maybe not.... thats mainly down to cost and weight,anyhow before ethanol disolves our cars off the road the government will tax them off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPerkles Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Weight, yeah that's why cars are so lightweight now:-) i blame ipods and all that crap,get a day booked off for mtbing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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