Watch out when filling up using gasoline with Ethanol

[Doggiedog]

Link

My fuel pump just failed after 2500 miles. It isn't a coincidence either. This problem seems to be rampant within the BMW community.

 

[boomerang]

I can't get your link to work by any means.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: boomerang
I can't get your link to work by any means.

Sorry. Messed up the link.

Fixed now.

 

[DeviousTrap]

I agree with the article that from a practical point of view, ethanol is a sham and that the mandate is basically designed to add profitability to a failed industry. But I'm not sure I can go as far as saying E10 (or even E15) is significantly worse than using gasoline. It is slightly more corrosive than gasoline and it will lower your gas mileage slightly, but it does have a higher octane rating than gas.

You can't really tell people to watch out when filling up with gas with ethanol in it as it's mandated is just about every single state. The automakers have had more than enough notice about it and any new car should be more than capable of handling the slight E85 mix. I can see some older cars having issues eventually, but it would basically be with your fuel lines corroding, not any significant engine damage.

Unfortunately, the reason your HPFP failed is because of some sort of design flaw. I'm an active member on e60.net and people have been going through 3 or 4 fuel pumps on even the newest post-LCI cars. Last I read BMW is on its 4th revision of the pump right now. Audi/VW have been using very similar HPFPs for years now with their DI engines and nobody in that community has been complaining about fuel pump failures. I really think that BMW's repeated insistence that bad gas is causing the issue is just a way for them to redirect the blame, in hopes that they finally get it right with the latest revision.

 

[BUTCH1]

Wow, quite an eye-opener, I don't think you can buy gas without ethanol in it anymore, that's what sucks..

 

[thescreensavers]

10% wont harm anything, but anything more will start to. All I can get here is 10%/90%

 

[desy]

We've used E10 and E15 in NA cars for decades already with NO noticable damage
He needs to talk to a few more mechanics.
He does have a point with E85 but its damn hard to find E85 pumps anywhere and of course E85 is worthless in non TC engines, who would even bother even if the vehicle was rated to take it?

 

[LTC8K6]

I agree with the article that from a practical point of view, ethanol is a sham and that the mandate is basically designed to add profitability to a failed industry. But I'm not sure I can go as far as saying E85 is significantly worse than using gasoline. It is slightly more corrosive than gasoline and it will lower your gas mileage slightly, but it does have a higher octane rating than gas.

You can't really tell people to watch out when filling up with gas with ethanol in it as it's mandated is just about every single state. The automakers have had more than enough notice about it and any new car should be more than capable of handling the slight E85 mix. I can see some older cars having issues eventually, but it would basically be with your fuel lines corroding, not any significant engine damage.

E85 is 85% ethanol and will kill your gas mileage. Even the EPA agrees on the gas mileage. E85 is what FlexFuel vehicles can tolerate.

E15 would be 15% ethanol and should only drop your mileage slightly. This is what the corn lobby is trying to push for the whole country. This is a higher % ethanol than most cars are rated to use.

E10 is 10% ethanol and is what is common all over the country now. This is what most cars are rated for.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
E85 is 85% ethanol and will kill your gas mileage. Even the EPA agrees on the gas mileage. E85 is what FlexFuel vehicles can tolerate.

E15 would be 15% ethanol and should only drop your mileage slightly. This is what the corn lobby is trying to push for the whole country. This is a higher % ethanol than most cars are rated to use.

E10 is 10% ethanol and is what is common all over the country now. This is what most cars are rated for.

You're right, my bad, fixed the original post. I was talking about E10 and E15.

 

[BUTCH1]

Here's another link Text, anti ethanol coalition where you can find links to voice your opinion regarding the upcoming mandate. Seems if you've got a situation where the gas is going to be sitting for awhile blended gas sucks, even the small motor manufacturers are coming out and saying it may cause damage. This sucks as it's in my generator right now, treated w/stabil additive, guess I'm gonna have to run it dry and store it like that.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: desy
We've used E10 and E15 in NA cars for decades already with NO noticable damage
He needs to talk to a few more mechanics.
He does have a point with E85 but its damn hard to find E85 pumps anywhere and of course E85 is worthless in non TC engines, who would even bother even if the vehicle was rated to take it?

Yup, it has been in use in Ohio since the early 1990's, probably longer, but that's as far back as I remember seeing the stickers on the pumps.

ZV

 

[Bignate603]

My '81 Cadillac had a thing in its owner's manual that said 10% ethanol in the gas was ok. We've been using it for quite some time now. I think the issue is with the higher mixes and the whole argument that it's better for the environment.