10% Ethanol Concerns

[DevilSun]

Ok, so I'm watching the news last night, and turns out we are one of 9 counties in Oregon being forced to use 10% ethanol fuel, at all stations, all the time. Well sweet mother of informing people!

So obviously, my first concern is how different is this stuff and I run across tons of people saying they are starting it all over the country and is already in quite a few counties, and people are seeing MPG decreases...no solid proof though other than consistent lower MPG than with full on high caloric normal gasoline.

Then I start wondering how this affects older vehicles, and especially high performance cars...how it affects performance and A/F or tuning and didn't find too much. So far I've only really found one article, and it had this to say:

Originally Posted by http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/ethanol.html

up to 2 million vehicles manufactured before 1986, and a number of late-model vehicles and sports cars will not operate "satisfactorily" when consuming petrol with a 10% ethanol blend

So, although that's an Austrailian link, is it going to be much different over here? I am slightly miffed that they're just dumping this on people, and you just have to deal with it.

Obviously, I'm more concerned about tunability and performance with the Roush Cobra, and I found this at Innovative (makers of LM-1) -- scroll to bottom of page, they explain problems people were having tuning. MPG decrease, well that sucks, but the car sucks gas anyways. I'm concerned about getting it tuned one way or another (because I know tuners have to tweak it a little) then running the other gas and pushing the car very hard...should I be? Are you concerned or figure the government knows what's best or what? I'm interested to hear comments, feedback and tech on this.

[Blkstg2x]

Hmm...on a side note...I found a local gas station that sells 94 octane Sunoco fules...I was pretty thrilled about that.

[Mustanger]

Sorry to hear that!

Move to Josehine co. Darren...at least for now we are ok...hehe, or park it in my garage!

Question (related)..does the ethanol affect any rubber or other flexible components in our fuel systems?

[Roushinator]

Originally Posted by Mustanger

Sorry to hear that!

Move to Josehine co. Darren...at least for now we are ok...hehe, or park it in my garage!

I dont know what he is worried about.... It does not run anyway.

[Blkstg2x]

Originally Posted by Roushinator

I dont know what he is worried about.... It does not run anyway.

BURN....

[family man]

IIRC all fuels in Michigan contain 10% ethenol too. Never had a problem in any of my cars.

[360Rocket]

Originally Posted by Roushinator

I dont know what he is worried about.... It does not run anyway.

Thatta boy Ryan, a few more of those may get him off his dead ass and fixing that pile.

More alcohol in our fuel can only be a detriment to anything rubber and seals.

[FNSweetS3]

We in the Communist State of Maryland (or little California) have had 10% stuff for a while now (couple years).

Sometimes I notice a difference... but it also may just be bad gas. Most of us here just use the 92+ stuff the use an octane booster every tank or two. My car (when running) gets Sea Foam'd every few thousand miles too.... this is what most of the Cobra guys around here are doing to.

All in all it is not a terrible thing per se