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Ethanol Free Gas and 1974 Blazer

Chief Brody

Chief Brody

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I saw cars ruined back in the 1970s when the first corn alcohol fuel came out.

My 74 has a carburetor and everything else stock...I should worry about Ethanol eating up the rubber components shouldn't I?

Anyway, I looked online for pure gasoline ethanol free stations and there is one about 15 miles away. I filled it up there and the cost is about 10 cents a gallon higher than Premium Ethanol 10% gas.

What's your experiences and opinions? Not sure I would have to worry if it were TBI. :dunno:
 
There where issues when the ethanol fuel was first introduced but that has all been worked out now. The rubber has been made from a different material now which will withstand the ethanol fuel.
 
4X4HIGH said:
There where issues when the ethanol fuel was first introduced but that has all been worked out now. The rubber has been made from a different material now which will withstand the ethanol fuel.
Click to expand...

Even in a Rochester Quadrajet....and the mechanical fuel pump?
 
Hey Chief, he did say it was worked out now meaning modern cars.You very well might have a problem with all the rubber fuel lines as I probably will also.I know you can now buy new fuel lines for your ride with a teflon or some other type of liner to prevent erosion .
 
Hemmings had a good tech on this


Several recommendations of things you can do that should help come from OE marine manufacturers who have been battling these ethanol-related fuel problems:

  • Replace any plastic or rubber fuel lines with ethanol-resistant hose or nylon tubing.
  • Install a water separator filter in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. Water collects in the filter and can be removed periodically.
  • Replace any fiberglass tanks with steel or aluminum.
  • Ensure that any O-rings in the fuel system are also ethanol-compatible.
  • Keep your tank as full as possible to prevent air space where condensation can form.
  • Use specific ethanol-compatible fuel storage additives. These are normally blue in color. Regular fuel stabilizers will not work unless they are labeled ethanol fuel-compatible.
  • Shop around for a marina or service station that does not pump E10 or E85. None of these stations will be affiliated with a major gasoline producer, but there are still some out there, especially in areas around lakes and rivers where boating is popular. You can find a “pure gas” map of many of these stations online at the Historic Vehicle Association website
  • Vent your fuel system during storage for extended periods; the moisture your fuel system might absorb from the outside will be less than the moisture created in the air space inside.
  • Use a fogging solution in your carburetor during storage to prevent condensation from collecting in fuel bowls.
  • Use of isopropyl alcohol-based dry gas will help to absorb system moisture. Regular dry gas is ethanol-based and will only make the problem worse. Isopropyl-based additives actually combine with the water molecules and removing moisture through the combustion chamber.
  • Use of a flex fuel-compatible fuel filter where possible will prevent degradation of the paper media in your filter by water in the fuel system.
- See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...fects-on-collector-cars/#sthash.npGOeBOk.dpuf
 
There were comments in a Q-jet rebuild thread about kits that allow the Q-jet to accept ethanol. Off the top of my head, the rubber head of the needle is what I'd expect to cause problems in the carb over time, along with rubber fuel lines.

In the EFI vehicles the rubber fuel lines split, but I expect that is partially a result of the ethanol weakening the hose PLUS the pressure the hose is subjected to. On a carbed setup that one doesn't wish to have fires, the pressurized portion of the line is steel and thus not an issue. May still cause issues with other sections of rubber line, but with little/no pressure, it would drip fuel at worst.
 
I had to replace the original rubber fuel hoses on many lawn tractors made before 1995 or so,they may not leak,but the ethanol made the inside lining collapse and get gooey,and it blocked the flow of fuel enough to create a stalling condition...

I agree the needle tip on the carbs float would suffer the most from ethanol if its not compatible,but I am pretty sure most carb rebuild kits made since the early 90's had the viton tipped needle valve and a alcohol compatible accelerator pump cup..if the carb still had the original 1970's parts it could be trouble,but I rather doubt any have survived that long,especially if they sat any length of time...

One trick I learned and should have done,was to fill the carb with diesel fuel or motor oil if your not going to run the engine a long time,thru the air vent pipe...my van's carb suffered from sitting way too long after I last started it with ethanol gas and I stupidly didn't run it bone dry and at least put some oil in the bowl ...if you store a carb off an engine the best preservation method is to submerge it in a pail of diesel fuel or oil...leaving one bone dry for long lets the zinc corrode and all the parts with rubber dry up and petrify..

I'll probably have to put a new accelerator pump in the carb at the least now..started it up to move it across the yard a few months ago after sitting a few years,and it sounds like the pump isn't working--big "bog" and wants to die when trying to accelerate...:(
 
diesel4me said:
the ethanol made the inside lining collapse and get gooey,and it blocked the flow of fuel enough to create a stalling condition...
(
Click to expand...

That's what it did in the 1970s...my dad was an auto mechanic and I remember him being pissed and cussing about the long line of cars they had in the parking lot waiting to be cleaned out and changed...I don't remember if they had "fix kits" or if they just cleaned stuff out...but seems like I remember him cussing that all that work and no commission because they were treating them like "recalls" or something...

I do also remember that we always went to Amoco and bought the 96 octane white petroleum fuel...it must have been pure.
 
Get a kit from cliffshighperformance.com, comes with pump assy, viton needle and seat, float, gaskets and misc piece. No more worries.
 
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My carb was refurbished with parts that can tolerate alcohol:


Part Number: 335001
Rochester 4BBL Quadrajet 750CFM

Description:
SMI - STAGE ONE - (750 CFM) ROCHESTER QUADRAJET SMALL BLOCK CHEVY STOCK

Our Price: $349.00

Features

  • Select highest quality cores for best performance and reliability
  • Strip to bare metal, inspect for defects, then apply dichromate coating for brilliant gold finish.
  • Strip and cadmium plate all hardware, including throttle shafts, linkage, levers, spring and screws.
  • Surface baseplate for flatness and glassbead for bright silver finish.
  • Install APT (ADUSTABLE PART THROTTLE) to allow adjustment of part throttle and cruise speed (steady throttle, 1800-4000 rpm) air/fuel mixture in seconds without any disassembly, tuning can be done while engine is running!
  • Apply epoxy to main body casting plug to eliminate common "leak down" problem associated with Quadrajets.
  • Install bushings in baseplate to eliminate any potential vacuum leaks at primary throttle shaft.
  • Assembled using the highest quality components, including:
  • New jets and metering rods.
  • High flow .130" needle and seat assembly.
  • Nitrophyl solid composite float that can't crack or sink.
  • Premium quality gaskets
  • High capacity accelerator pump featuring materials that are resistant to alcohol and other additive commonly found in today's fuel
  • New electric choke for cold starting and driveability.
  • New choke pull-off for clean, smooth warm-ups.
  • 1 YR warranty all parts and labor
 
Chief,

Did you come across any websites that help locate ethanol-free gas by zip code or city?

I'm fed up with fuel issues, and would like to figure out if there is anything ethanol-free within reasonable distance from my house.

-G
 
Thanks.

Nothing close enough to be practical.... By the time I got back home my tank would be empty again.


-G
 
Man!, that site has a lot more entries than the one I was looking at.

I have a Phillips 66 literally a half mile away that sells ethanol free.

And there is a bunch of Fuel City stations peppered all around that sell it also.
 
Greg72 said:
Thanks.

Nothing close enough to be practical.... By the time I got back home my tank would be empty again.


-G
Click to expand...

Is there an airport near you...looks like they all sell ethanol free fuel but they don't advertise ...probably fuel for small aircraft
 
Looks like the Shell stations around here sell ethanol free 91. I have one two blocks from my house...:waytogo:
 
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