Cars > bencar’s Garage > Blog > Ethanol, Your Collector Car's Worst Enemy
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Ethanol, Your Collector Car's Worst Enemy
Mar 30, 2007 | Views: 447
Please read this, then give your Legislators an earful.
Legislation
Corn in da House!
As ethanol use becomes more widespread, old-car enthusiasts will have to modify their cars to protect against the fuel's corrosive qualities.
Many old-car owners are getting worried about the effects of ethanol on their gaskets, hoses, seals and lines as they weren't designed to be exposed to anything other than gasoline, and some materials, at least, can be weakened by it.
Federal legislation is on the way that will mandate the presence of ethanol in all gasoline. An amendment to the Clean Air Act, H.R.349 or the “10 by 10 Act,” will require that “After December 31, 2009, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, supply, or offer for supply, dispense, transport, or introduce into commerce, for use in any motor vehicle (as defined in section 216(2)) any gasoline containing less than 10 percent renewable fuel by volume.”
Rep. Rep John Kline of the Minnesota 2nd introduced H.R.349 in January, and it’s under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Thankfully, Rep. Kline had us in mind when he wrote the bill: “Such rules shall also provide an exemption from the requirements of this subsection in the case of gasoline for use in collector motor vehicles.” That doesn't mean it will be easy to find, but it's a start. We foresee a time when major clubs will have to arrange for their own gas supplies.
- By David B. Traver Adolphus
Legislation
Corn in da House!
As ethanol use becomes more widespread, old-car enthusiasts will have to modify their cars to protect against the fuel's corrosive qualities.
Many old-car owners are getting worried about the effects of ethanol on their gaskets, hoses, seals and lines as they weren't designed to be exposed to anything other than gasoline, and some materials, at least, can be weakened by it.
Federal legislation is on the way that will mandate the presence of ethanol in all gasoline. An amendment to the Clean Air Act, H.R.349 or the “10 by 10 Act,” will require that “After December 31, 2009, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, supply, or offer for supply, dispense, transport, or introduce into commerce, for use in any motor vehicle (as defined in section 216(2)) any gasoline containing less than 10 percent renewable fuel by volume.”
Rep. Rep John Kline of the Minnesota 2nd introduced H.R.349 in January, and it’s under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Thankfully, Rep. Kline had us in mind when he wrote the bill: “Such rules shall also provide an exemption from the requirements of this subsection in the case of gasoline for use in collector motor vehicles.” That doesn't mean it will be easy to find, but it's a start. We foresee a time when major clubs will have to arrange for their own gas supplies.
- By David B. Traver Adolphus
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Read comments on this blog post 1 – 3 of 3
- Oct 26, 2007 at 8:33 am
- While it is possible to overhaul an engine and Fuel System to accept alcohol laced fuels, it is far more expensive than the lead to no lead comversion needed for older motors when leaded gas was phased out. There are many of us, myself included, who cannot afford to convert our older vehicles to accept alcohol laced fuels, and on one seems to give a rats pitute about our crisis, or offer to help us.
- Oct 26, 2007 at 8:19 am
- I kind of have to agree too. Even my daily driver says in the owners manual to never use more than 5% ethanol, and yet I run into gas station after gas station after gas station with an 8 to 10% ethanol mixture.
Unfortunately it looks like pure gasoline is going the way of lead gas. I guess we should start investing in companies that offer replacement products for collector cars to make them ethanol safe.
And the bill makes provisions for "collector" cars. But what about my '95 Skylark. A 10% ethanol mixture would probably corrode the gaskets in the engine. It's not a collector car and it would kind of piss me off to be required to purchase a new car on account we've banned pure gasoline. I think a we should sell pure gasoline, and also pure ethanol. I still think there are too many automobiles on the road that can't handle that high an ethanol content for the passage of this bill to be realistic. I just hope our Congress realizes that.
- Apr 1, 2007 at 1:53 pm
- I'll agree that in older cars ethanol can be a problem. My attitude is - the first thing I do when I build or acquire a addition to my collection is to make it "ethanol ready" - The reason is as I drive across the states, more and more I can not find no-ethanol fuel.
I beleive it will be harder as time goes on.
So far my attitude has proven correct and I haven't been stalled in any car - - from 1905 Ford to 1950 MG TD.
Cheers, Dave Dunlavy
Cars > bencar’s Garage > Blog > Ethanol, Your Collector Car's Worst Enemy
