Noticed that the local Freedom servo has a 95octane 10% ethanol for the same price as standard unleaded, was wondering what the consensus is on using ethanol blends with 2nd gens?
I know a recent report said that ethanol blends are perfectly fine with "newer" cars, if not better than standard fuel, but they didn't really specify what "newer" meant.

should be fine mate.

Yeah what he said. :stoopid:
In concentrations of 10% or less it can actually be benificial to a car designed to run on unleaded by helping to keep the fuel system clean. Our local unleaded is filthy stuff.

awesome then i might tell my mum to give it a try

The first gen did quite well in government tests with E20 - http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_communications/completed_inquiries/2002-04/fuelquality/submissions/sub2a1.pdf

From my experience with my car, ethanol petrol of 10% doesn't run as smoothly and i also get worser fuel economy (this has happened more than once, only about 50kms less a tank but it adds up). EG. I used ot buy united petrol as it contained no ethanol, they have now gone to 10% and the fuel isn't as good as it used to be. Though my engine is about to hit 299k kms, might run better with newer engines?

Im running the United servo ethanol PLUS ULP in my 2nd Gen. 94 oct. It's been a dream! The car's running beautifully. Bloody cheap compared to other fuels aswell. Filled up today for 102.3 !
Spoke to my mechanic, he said there shouldn't be any issues. It's actually btr for the car he reckons.

Im using 5% ethanol at the moment for a trial run...going well.

The first gen did quite well in government tests with E20 - http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_communications/completed_inquiries/2002-04/fuelquality/submissions/sub2a1.pdf


Interesting reading from page 169 onwards. It looks as though fuel system components do not tolerate the ethanol well. If you look at the pictures from page 173-179 there is significant rusting to fuel pumps, injectors and serious damage to fuel return hoses and diaphragms in fuel regulators. And this was after only 500-1600 hours of testing.

The conclusions on on pg 179-180 are a little worrying.

It should be noted that these test were done with 20% ethanol blend and where done on a VK and VN commodore and an XE falcon. I wonder how damaging 5% and 10% ethanol is on newer vehicles

5% isnt damaging at all. This is why there's SFA (if at all) places with 10% blend...and if they do they have to have it clearly marked.

From my experience with my car, ethanol petrol of 10% doesn't run as smoothly and i also get worser fuel economy (this has happened more than once, only about 50kms less a tank but it adds up). EG. I used ot buy united petrol as it contained no ethanol, they have now gone to 10% and the fuel isn't as good as it used to be. Though my engine is about to hit 299k kms, might run better with newer engines?




With my background (with qualifications) in automotive and engineering fields, I find it very hard to believe what some people say regarding ethanol.

In short, ETHANOL is a cleaning agent, otherwise known as METHYLATED SPIRITS, and people have been adding this to their fuel systems for at least 30 years that I can tell you of from personal knowledge, for many reasons, but usually was used to DRY OUT WATER from the fuel tank and fuel system.

The MAIN problems associated with ETHANOL in OLDER engines is simply that it CLEANS the carbon and other crud from the internal combustion chamber/s and therefore will REDUCE power, and INCREASE oil consumption / leaks (blow-by etc)

IF you utilise ETHANOL in an older engine that is in GOOD condition, or preferably which has been rebuilt properly, then the ethanol WON’T hurt it.
I speak from my first hand knowledge and experience having personally completing over 100 engine rebuilds on many old engines, which were upto 50 years old and originally meant for the old class of "STANDARD" fuel.

:stoopid:

and thats with my background, Mechanical Engineering, with qualifications :D


BUT dude.



In short, ETHANOL is a cleaning agent, otherwise known as METHYLATED SPIRITS

Umm Ethanol is C2H6O purely, metho (otherwise known as meddo ay bruss) is a mix of methyl which i think is ch30h and ethanol.

With my background (with qualifications) in automotive and engineering fields, I find it very hard to believe what some people say regarding ethanol. [

In short, ETHANOL is a cleaning agent, otherwise known as METHYLATED SPIRITS, and people have been adding this to their fuel systems for at least 30 years that I can tell you of from personal knowledge, for many reasons, but usually was used to DRY OUT WATER from the fuel tank and fuel system.

The MAIN problems associated with ETHANOL in OLDER engines is simply that it CLEANS the carbon and other crud from the internal combustion chamber/s and therefore will REDUCE power, and INCREASE oil consumption / leaks (blow-by etc)

IF you utilise ETHANOL in an older engine that is in GOOD condition, or preferably which has been rebuilt properly, then the ethanol WON’T hurt it.
I speak from my first hand knowledge and experience having personally completing over 100 engine rebuilds on many old engines, which were upto 50 years old and originally meant for the old class of "STANDARD" fuel.

Well that's just what i've found, though i did say my engine has just hit 299,000 kms, and i'd say because i've lost abit of power, my right foot has been a little heavier?

Umm Ethanol is C2H6O purely, metho (otherwise known as meddo ay bruss) is a mix of methyl which i think is ch30h and ethanol.

Apparently what we call metho is now ethanol with bittrex (the worlds most bitterest substance) mixed into it. She said that this is because a few years back people had the bright idea of drinking metho, but methanol is extremely toxic to the body and they died. To stop this happening they decided to make it pure ethanol because it does the job but our bodies aren't as sensitive to it. All the bittrex does is make it impossible to drink, due to it making your body go into convultions. ie upchuck lol

The methanol was actually introduced to do this (ie. make it undrinkable). Obviously people figured it was worth poisoning themselves to continue drinking it, so looks like a new way of making it undrinkable without killing people had to be found.
But I'm sure they will adapt, and it will become an "acquired taste".

I posted this in another thread about ethanol.......


Methylated Spirits is made by adding a dye, and 9% Naptha to Pure Ethanol. Now for as long as i can remember i've been told if u suspect water in your fuel tank, to add some metho to a full tank as this helps to get rid of the water. So how can adding ethanol make your fuel 'carry water' if Methylated Spirits (which is almost the exact same thing) can remove it?

ayy you dont know cuz, ayy we just strain it wid bred ay

ayy you dont know cuz, ayy we just strain it wid bred ay :bowrofl:

I posted this in another thread about ethanol.......Originally Posted by Samurai - 17/11/05
Methylated Spirits is made by adding a dye, and 9% Naptha to Pure Ethanol. Now for as long as i can remember i've been told if u suspect water in your fuel tank, to add some metho to a full tank as this helps to get rid of the water. So how can adding ethanol make your fuel 'carry water' if Methylated Spirits (which is almost the exact same thing) can remove it?




Ethanol (metho) doesnt make it carry water as such, what happens is that it breaks the surface tension of the water and allows it to be passed through the fuel system (filters, jets / injectors etc) as it is less rigid on the surface.


To the other waste of time poster's:
It is a constant source of amazement to see such posts from people who like to think that they have knowledge, but really are just passing on more "hear say", usually from some try hard racer (read as "lapper") that has no mechanical knowledge OR qualifications.

IF you would care to do some investigations of your own utilising the internet, and your local library, you would, im certain discover that what I have stated is in fact correct!

And yes I would stake my 30+ years of factual, practical mechanical knowledge on that.

I (unlike some others) only post information which I know is correct and isnt just hear say thats been passed on like chinese whispers.

Im running the United servo ethanol PLUS ULP in my 2nd Gen. 94 oct. It's been a dream! The car's running beautifully. Bloody cheap compared to other fuels aswell. Filled up today for 102.3 !
Spoke to my mechanic, he said there shouldn't be any issues. It's actually btr for the car he reckons.

With that in the KS we are actually getting better fuel economy

To the other waste of time poster's:
It is a constant source of amazement to see such posts from people who like to think that they have knowledge, but really are just passing on more "hear say", usually from some try hard racer (read as "lapper") that has no mechanical knowledge OR qualifications.

IF you would care to do some investigations of your own utilising the internet, and your local library, you would, im certain discover that what I have stated is in fact correct!

And yes I would stake my 30+ years of factual, practical mechanical knowledge on that.

I (unlike some others) only post information which I know is correct and isnt just hear say thats been passed on like chinese whispers.
Thats what forums are like. The people in the know normaly get drowned out by the people who say "my mates mate ran magnatec and blew an engine, must be the oil". Once you have been on the forum long enough you realise who isn't talking out their rear end.

Thats what forums are like. The people in the know normaly get drowned out by the people who say "my mates mate ran magnatec and blew an engine, must be the oil". Once you have been on the forum long enough you realise who isn't talking out their rear end.


Its such a shame that good forums (which are so hard to come by) can be so easily degraded, quite easily, simply because once the people with factual knowledge which is supported by trade qualifications (and years at tafe, in the trade etc) get the sh*ts and leave the forum then all that is left is the hear say and w*nkers who often give false (or not so correct) information.