rexjan(at)bigpond.com
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 Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: Ethanol Ugh ! |
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We have 10% ethanol in all our auto fuel and octane ratings in the Chicago area
for the last five years! So far no ill effects in my fuel tanks nor my engine!
Herbert Gottelt M4-1200,UL.
Mt. Prospect, IL
Hi ! Herbert,
In a previous life I raced Karts. All two strokes In one particular class we all ran methanol for fuel and for quite sometime all but one of us at our club kept having bearing problems mainly the big end. We then observed that the one that didn't have any where near as much trouble was running petrol and mineral based oil through his motor at the end of the days racing. He would just wind in the primary and secondary jets to accomodate the petrol mixture and run the motor for a few minutes.
With a bit of thought we worked out that the Methanol and the synthetic oil both absorb moisture and if left in the motor the needle bearings were getting tiny spots of rust in a short time and so failed very prematurely.
Now i can understand your 4 stroke motor surviving on Ethanol but I wonder if anyone can comment on what 2 or 10% Ethanol is doing to two strokes. I have a 582 and frankly at this point in time I would not use it. Fortunately I am in Australia and we are just beginning to see this Ethanol in our fuel especially in South Australia where i am anyway. Of course Ethanol has caused many problems in 4 strokes with some car manufacturers not allowing it under their warranty. However to my knowledge the problems have been due to things like steel fuel lines rusting from the inside and corosion in carburetors. These things can be corrected but how do you practically overcome the problem of needle bearings rusting in a two stroke ? Does anyone have answers ? The thing is these bearings are not likely to fail on run-up but up in the air and a failure is going to mean engine out.
I realise we could run Avgas and then add an additive to overcome the lead in it fouling the plugs. However Avgas costs a lot more and then we also need to pay more for the additive plus mess around putting the right amount in. Any better ideas or experience ?
Rex.
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