E10 havoc....

[Chuck Leeper]

Some folks have asked what I see in injs when they are run in E10.
This is what I found when t/s'ing a Vette/LT. [engine conversion]
30# lucas injs.
Engine nearly refusing to run.
Checked inj pulse = OK
Checked ign = OK.
Checked fp = OK.
No codes set.
Only cyls 1,3,8 are hot.
Took a look in the tank. [Stock 1973 Vette tank, that's steel.]
The fuel was so cloudy, it looked like diluted oj. Smelled poorly. My past experience w/ this situation prompted me to run a magnet onto the bottom of the tank...HOLY CRAP! So much crud that the magnet wouldn't pick up any more. Included in the rust, was a black, slimy substance, that would not wipe off your hands. [Melted HOSE LINER, is my guess!]
[Pump is external Walbro]
Here's a pic of the 4 worst injs. The 1 on the rt is full of crud, to the top of the basket. Once the baskets were pulled, the inner tubes are coated w/ rust.
NOTE the rust on the tops of the injs. Water was obviously sitting there.

So, given the Vette isn't driven a lot,[as are many Tr's], this E10 stuff has to be kept under close scrutiny..
The bottom line: A total fuel system replacement. $$$$

 

[larrym]

Yikes thats ugly

 

[BEATAV8]

Water got in somehow?

 

[novaderrik]

i've been running E10 in everything for the almost 23 years that i've been a licensed driver, and that stuff simply doesn't happen.

let my Regal sit for almost 2 years with a half a tank of E50 in it, and it fired right up and ran perfect 2 weeks ago when i decided to get it out of storage. i'm going to change the fuel filter this weekend since i haven't changed it since '04, i'll cut the old one open and see if anything is in there..

my guess is that it's not the ethanol, but some other additive(s) that is used in your region.

 

[Pronto]

40 years of accumulated junk in the tank. I think it would have been smart to replace the tank b/f the swap.

 

[TurboBob]

a friend of mine had an old 'vette, and before firing the new engine, he threw some Stabil in the old gas thinking it would help.

it turned the gas to goo.......

that rust is scary

Bob

 

[usetaboost]

stabil is a joke. clogged the shit out of my carb on my old lawnmower

 

[czimpel]

It's so funny how some many people have different experiences. I was a firm believer in not using stabile in anything, but with the poor quality of gas these days I was running into so many problems with my small engines. I was rebuilding carbs after before every season.

I started using stabile about 3 years ago, and haven't had a problem since. One issue with stabile, is that people think if a little is good more should be better. More stabile than recommended will cause major issues.

 

[usetaboost]

I just throw some fresh gas in stuff that I know is going to sit and 6 months later it's all good

 

[Chuck Leeper]

40 years of accumulated junk in the tank. I think it would have been smart to replace the tank b/f the swap.

Didn't do the swap......However, knowing the guy that did, he made sure the tank was GTG, B4 he re-used.
The swap was done in 2006.

 

[Mike T]

Ethanol must have some sort of corrosive affect (even 10%) or the auto manufactures would not have redesigned the e85 fuel systems. When buying a aftermarket fuel pump some or most will state e85 compatible, I know we are not discussing e85 but it would seem that e10 could have some of the same affects.

 

[usetaboost]

uh no. Have you looked around and seen all the 20+yr old vehicles still on the road? I doubt that's the case. Here's is what I've found on other forums. Have no idea if there's any truth to it but if you run e85 in an old gas tank that has seen nothing but crusty pump gas for it's life, all the residue left from the pump gas breaks loose, turns into sludge, and some of it ends up in your pump, some ends up in your filter, and the rest ends up in your injectors plugging them. Now, all this crusted stuff would not come clean with e85 BUT the person that posted the thread did say he tried using normal pump gas to clean everything up and it worked. Take it for what it's worth, fact or fiction. But I've seen more than one person post about converting to e85 after years of pump gas and end up with a clogged up system after some point. I have nothing against e85, aside from the fact it costs more to make and it costs more to run it (mpg) than normal gas.

If you're worried about ethanol being corrosive, better stand clear of methanol and brake cleaner.

 

[TurboDave]

i've been running E10 in everything for the almost 23 years that i've been a licensed driver, and that stuff simply doesn't happen.

let my Regal sit for almost 2 years with a half a tank of E50 in it, and it fired right up and ran perfect 2 weeks ago when i decided to get it out of storage. i'm going to change the fuel filter this weekend since i haven't changed it since '04, i'll cut the old one open and see if anything is in there..

my guess is that it's not the ethanol, but some other additive(s) that is used in your region.

I'm with nova on this one! Like him, I've been running the stuff (E10) in everything I own (Except the Excursion) since there has been E10. Nothing has suffered ill effects. Not my mowers, not my GN's, nothing.

Had to be something else going on in that vette that was neglected to be mentioned.

 

[usetaboost]

Years of bad gas?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

" BUT the person that posted the thread did say he tried using normal pump gas to clean everything up and it worked." I made no mention of that.
However, we just got the tank down, and it looks to be newer... [As in replaced when the conversion was done.] Regardless, it's getting replaced.

Could have been "old" gas.. Car doesn't get driven much.
Bottom line: SOMETHING caused the hose linings to go to goo, and the tank/injs to rust. As mentioned water is likely the issue w/ the rust. The shitty gas got the hoses...

 

[Pronto]

I guess the test would be put some E10 in a metal can and throw a pre E10 fuel hose in the can and let it sit. Check the hose in 6 months. In another can throw in a bad injector to see if it rusts. I think someone did something like that with E85 a while back.
I have a Honda lawnmower from the mid 90s that still runs fine and an early 2000s Toro snowthrower that runs fine. I just throw some Stabil in them at the end of season and run them dry...

 

[Shawn N]

The far right one looks more like an anus than a fuel injector

 

[Chuck Leeper]

The far right one looks more like an anus than a fuel injector

TMI!
Could see that coming from Charlie or Ty, tho...

 

[czimpel]

Using too much stabil will completely destroy rubber hoses. Not sure if it was used, but I've seen it happen.

 

[Shawn N]

TMI!
Could see that coming from Charlie or Ty, tho...

I've been waiting for a like from Charlie damn't He must be playing with his wood again