ethanol fuel

D

Davz

Active member
 Wellington, Shropshire
Looking to protect the fuel system and engine of my Zed as I am thinking of keeping it for a good while, especially as early ones are now gaining classic status at 15yrs old!

I want to try to avoid using ethanol fuel. So far I have found out that Tesco momentum, which, having read Millbrook tests, has good performance and mpg benefits but is 9% ethanol, which is higher than the norm of 5%. Shell V power is 5% ethanol so that rules that one out. Texaco Supreme has up to 5% ethanol....crossed that one off the list.

So far there are two suppliers I have contacted that confirm that their premium petrol 97ron+ contains no ethanol, which is BP Ultimate and Esso Supreme+. If you are concerned about the effects of ethanol I would advise BP and Esso.

I did find out that bwoc, Bob Wayne's Oil Company, actually supply (legally) leaded petrol, this would be the best for your engine, not quite so good for your health though!

Does anyone else know of other makes that are ethanol free?
 
Don’t ever put leaded petrol in your tank - unless you want to screw up the Catalytic Converter.
 
I used low % ( less than 10%) ethanol for years in all my cars , never any issues,
Why ?? What are the issues you are worried about?
 
V Power won’t damage your fuel system pal and is probably the best for your engine.
 
I think high ethanol can damage some old style fuel lines, but they are on cars at least 20 years old, so the Z is fine
 
firebobby said:
I think high ethanol can damage some old style fuel lines, but they are on cars at least 20 years old, so the Z is fine
Click to expand...

It’s also dodgy on some plastic fuel tanks, they seem to distort & lose their shape 😲
Modern cars should be ok though.
Rob
 
ronk said:
Don’t ever put leaded petrol in your tank - unless you want to screw up the Catalytic Converter.
Click to expand...

......and you will be replacing lambda sensors every other month.
Leaded petrol will certainly not be the best for your engine.
 
I read a research paper the other day on the effects of ethanol and long life oil in combustion engines It seems that, based on a mean 1% blow past the rings, ethanol when mixed with the additives in long life synthetic oil creates acid. The acid will mix in the oil and start to corrode the engine internals, the oil/acid mix will also burn in the combustion chamber and then off to do its work on the cats. Hence my concern about ethanol, not withstanding the already well documented effects of water absorption and corrosion of internal engine components.

There is also an ethical reason not to use ethanol, with land being given over to grow the crops this creates competion with the food industry and this has led to increased food costs. There are currently 1 billion people who go hungry every day, mostly people of developing nations, so to make food cost more seems to me to be quite immoral.

I think in years to come we will all realise that once again politicians have made the wrong decision in the use of ethanol, much like diesel and its health concerns are now at the forefront of the news.
 
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