These posts on octane are funny. Alcohol does indeed raise octane ratings and makes the engine run cooler. Ethanol will affect rubber hoses and gaskets in older engines. The hysteria about alcohol is way overblown. IMHO.
“Ethanol will affect rubber hoses and gaskets in older engines. The hysteria about alcohol is way overblown.”
Explain the juxtaposition of those sentences.
Affecting gaskets in my 2006 Explorer seems pretty darned serious, given it otherwise runs well.
Methinks the whole point of the requirement is to affect rubber hoses and gaskets in older engines, as in destroy them (”Cash for Clunkers” writ large, without the compensation and without the voluntary part of destroying the cars). That warrants hysteria.
What has me so mad is to get the better mileage rate mandated by the EPA, they are using lighter metals aluminum instead of steel in the engines. So at 80,000 grandma miles with a $48,000 vehicle, it had a defective crankshaft that cracked and I had to have the engine rebuilt cost $7,000! I hate GM is an under statement
Why? If it affects rubbers hoses and gaskets, shouldn't it be cause for concern? Also, alcohol has less energy per gallon, so you consume more, and get lower MPG as a result. I've never understood the desire to run alcohol. It costs more to produce, reduces MPG, so you have to use more to go the same distance, negating any positive impact you may get when blending it with gasoline.
I used to race go-karts. I ran methanol and after every race we'd have to run WD-40 through the engine, otherwise it would ruin the innards. It attracts moisture, it left deposits on filters and ruined regular rubber hose, we had to run a clear plastic hose, not rubber. Without the WD-40, you'd get nowhere fast the next race.
You need to do research. Ethanol not only eats rubber hosed, but seals, o-rings, soft metals like aluminum, accelerates condensation inside fuel tanks and systems, goes stale faster, and, oh yeah, pollutes.
This absurb abuse of power affects the poor the most and just about anyone in the car hobby, weekend gardners, motorcyclists, recreational vehicles, including boats.
But other than all of this, its totally fine.
Carry on...