It used to be you could pull up to the pump and look for a sign that would say 10% ethanol. Now you have to go out of your way to find a pump that says "non oxygenated for use in collector vehicles lawnmowers and motorcycles only". Or, something to that effect. :noidea:
From what a local fuel distributor told me is that you could already be pumping as much as 50% ethanol from some pumps. Despite what the
experts proclaim the ethanol does separate from the gas. If the holding tank is low or sits for extended time separation can become a problem.
out:
I've already seen it do some nasty things to carburetors and possibly some rubber parts in a matter of a couple of months. Is it capable of doing that to the fuel lines? I can't say for sure, but I would suspect it to be the cause. If your lines look like that, imagine what the inside of your fuel filter looks like. :tsk: The ethanol could easily gel the inside of the filter simply sitting over the summer. Drain it? Maybe. Sta-bil makes a product specific for ethanol too. Not sure what action should be taken.
As AK stated additives for cleaner burning fuels shouldn't be ruled out either. If they are corrosive enough to remove varnish and gum from injectors, valves and pistons, they could easily be strong enough to damage fuel lines.
It won't be long and we will all be buying race fuel just to keep our toys from self destructing.
