Piston Slap: Tolerate the Government's Ethanol Boondoggle?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

David writes:

Hi Sajeev,

Is it worth the extra 40¢/gallon to go for 91 octane ethanol-free gasoline based on its durability merits?

Hy-Vee grocery stores in Kansas City have gas stations that sell fuel at a discount with a grocery store card. Besides shopping there for our family anyway, it’s the only station near me that sells ethanol-free 91 octane gasoline. Besides the political boondoggle I refuse to support, I have heard from lore that ethanol is bad for internal-combustion engines, specifically the rubber and plastic bits. This was confirmed by my lawn mower repair place that’s been in business 30+ years, scooter mechanic, and my motorcycle dealership service department.

The political boondoggle is enough of an answer for me, but what about the potential service issues? Are they real? My thought process is simple: by the time higher octane’s efficiency is tallied, added to the fact that ethanol-free does not attract water and degrade fuel lines, the real cost difference is minimal.

Your opinion matters to me more than most, son! What say you?

Thank you in advance. I enjoy reading your column.

Sajeev answers:

I’m no fan of the ethanol-blending boondoggle ( that we’ve discussed in painful detail years ago), but my decade as a blacklisted auto journo (i.e. no press cars) proves that my own rides run fine sans ethanol-free gasoline.

Let’s discuss the known problems with ethanol blends discussed on this website on our own vehicles. I’ll go first (obviously): I own a 1988 Mercury Cougar with 200,000 miles (150,000 miles on a stock Mustang 5.0L engine) and a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII (100% original) with 178,000 miles. Both sat in various states of disrepair for one to two years with E10 in their tanks, at least once in the past decade.

  • Wear and damage of internal engine parts: The Cougar is weak at high rpms, but valve float is a problem for worn Mustang E7 heads. Ethanol problems get a pass!
  • Damage to metal, rubber, and plastic parts of fuel system: As mentioned in a recent Piston Slap, the Cougar needed new injectors, maybe ethanol-blended fuel killed them.
  • Gumming-up of fuel injectors, carburetors, etc. due to release of accumulated deposits in engine from ethanol alcohol’s solvent properties: See above.
  • Corrosion of metal parts in fuel system and engine: The Cougar looked fine when I upgraded the fuel pump and when I removed the upper intake.
  • Deterioration of elastomers and plastic parts: See above.
  • Drying, softening, stretching and/or cracking of rubber hoses, seals and other rubber components: The rubber hose between the Cougar’s fuel pump and the fuel line split like an arterial dissection this year.
  • Oxygen sensor damage: Maybe, the Cougar gets mediocre mileage unless I drive 67 mph on the dot and the exhaust does smell funny.
  • Damage or premature disintegration of fuel pump: Nope.
  • Carburetor damage, including clogging: This is the only reason I hate my lawn mower.
  • Dirty and clogged fuel filters: Nope.
  • Clogging and plugging of fuel injectors: Maybe that’s why the Cougar needed fuel injectors!
  • Piston/bore failure through knock/pre-ignition: No, but next week is a brand new week!
  • Unsuitable ignition timing resulting in ignition failure: Sounds like a personal problem to me.
  • Piston ring sticking: HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE THAT … I’M ALL MAN!

So while I don’t care for the decreased fuel economy (10-percent loss on the Mark VIII) and loathe the boondoggle, I ain’t been burned by ethanol in the last 10-ish years.

Conclusion: I am less than motivated for you to spend that extra $0.40 … unless you drive a carbureted vehicle.

[Image: Shutterstock user Tonographer]

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • Tankinbeans Tankinbeans on May 26, 2016

    My thoughts: I live in Minnesota, my car has two quoted power ratings (253 on premium/242 on regular), I get better mileage with premium. The station I use offers E0 premium fuel so I use it. I also have a 2003 Century that gets the cheapest fuel I can find, secondary car which my mom uses and all that. So far no issues. My mom has never gone out of her way to find E0 and her cars have always been the definition of deferred maintenance. No ill effects directly attributable to fuel. I don't really think about it much.

  • Duaney Duaney on May 31, 2016

    Reply to 285exp, I've seen vapor lock with E10 in 1990's cars, (Colorado altitude), fuel system rubber parts degraded and made inoperable 1990's and 2000's, rusty gas tanks, 1990's, fuel injectors gummed up, 1990's 2000's. Some of the damage is due to vehicles sitting for too long, and not having fresh fuel, but these problems didn't exist on the same scale prior to the ethanol blends. It's my belief that none of the manufacturer's fully "ethanol proofed" their fuel systems, even until today, unless the vehicle is a flex fuel design, where E85 can be used. I dare anyone to show me any new gasoline car with a stainless steel fuel tank, there aren't any, but that's just one component that's needed for even E10, to be safe and trouble free. Buy a new gas cap, with a nice new rubber seal, for any car or truck, within a few years, like two or three, the rubber seal is split all over, from the E10. So much for the "modern" sealed fuel system.

  • Joe This is called a man in the middle attack and has been around for years. You can fall for this in a Starbucks as easily as when you’re charging your car. Nothing new here…
  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
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