Volks,
The European classic-car boards are lighting up in panic because of a
proposal in the European Community to mandate E10 fuel -- requiring 10%
ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in all retail motor fuels. You'd think war had been
declared on old-timers and classics: Doom and destruction is being forecast
for all the usual reasons, mostly revolving around the hygroscopic
characteristics of ethanol. Of course, here in the USA, we've had E15 at
our pumps for a long time. And lead-free gasolines even longer.
The general question: What adaptations, if any, are required when ethanol
gets added routinely to motor fuels? Will our fuel tanks really rust away?
Will our butyl rubber fuel lines really turn to silly putty? Are we really
seeing any negative effects of our E15 gasoline on longevity, performance,
or economy? How about the absence of tetraethyl lead? In the USA, it was
the agriculture lobby that bought enough votes to require ethanol use. In
Europe, distaste for dependency on Khadafy and his ilk adds to the push
(though we've had our share of jingoism, too). What's the Real Story for
those of us who drive antique cars with antique engines? Are there any
additives we ought to consider? Changes in hoses and tubes? Fuel
treatments to spare our gas tanks?
Bert Knupp in Music City USA
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ü ° ° ü
Polizeikäfer '70
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