Corn ethanol days are numbered

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
...
On May 4, 4:43 am, Bob Noel
wrote:
In article
,
"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

Dumb question: Is this ethanol-laced gas a problem for newer small
engines? It doesn't seem to bother my motorcycle, lawnmower or
tug (aviation content)? Or have I just been lucky and don't have this
ethanol-laced junk around here in the Boston area?

I'm not sure if your gas in Boston has ethanol or not. In California
we are either 10% or 15% ethanol as I recall. Most new mowers in
California come with a fuel shutoff valve. The shutdown procedure is
to turn off the fuel valve and run the appliance until its out of gas.
That ensures that the carb is clear of fuel. In addition, we use
stablizers out here. It appears especially important for 2 stroke gas.
I use Stabil myself. I also put it in my boat and any car that doesn't
use its entire tank in 30 days.

-Robet

I'm beginning to wonder if the problem isn't more specific to brands or
types. I have asked a number of people about it, and get hot and cold
responses. Some say it's a serious problem, while many others say they
haven't even heard of it. My experience has even been mixed. I have had
problems with weed eaters, push mowers and a power washer but little else.
But I have a 14hp Kohler in use almost daily with no problems.

On 2008-05-04 07:04:48 -0700, Dudley Henriques said:


The REAL problem is that we haven't even begun to see the result of the
unbelievable incompetence, corruption, and utter stupidity that has
been the result of the actions of the people we have elected to office
in the United States.
There will be a WHOLE LOT of suffering before things get better, and at
this point in time, a fairly viable argument can be made that things
indeed, might never be reversed.

Well, sometimes they do wake up and see their own insanity. The double
nickel speed limit was finally repealed, though not without a great
deal of chest beating. The front seat belt ignition interlock was
finally thrown out, too.

I do not see a coherent energy policy developing. Politicians say they
want us to be less dependent on foreign oil, but they won't let us
drill for oil in the US and they tax domestic production higher than
imported oil. Politicians say they want us to use less oil, but then
throw tantrums when the price of oil goes up. They say they will do
something substantive, then toss out gems like the gas tax holiday as
if they would have some sort of positive effect. These are the people
who want to be President. Scary.

You have people who criticize the war in Iraq threatening to use
nuclear weapons on Iran. You have Presidential candidates who think
that Israel should no longer be protected by our nuclear umbrella, but
they are against nuclear proliferation (just what do they think that
Israel would do if we were not protecting them?).

You have a guy who claims that he did not know what his pastor believed
and spoke about despite attending his sermons for more than 20 years
and considered him close enough to be a member of the family? Do we
really want such a naif negotiating peace treaties with Hamas or
nuclear agreements with North Korea?

Well, we survived Jimmy Carter (barely). I am not sure we can survive
the next idiot.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On May 4, 5:37*pm, "Maxwell" luv2^fly99@cox.^net wrote:
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in ...

I'm beginning to wonder if the problem isn't more specific to brands or
types. I have asked a number of people about it, and get hot and cold
responses. Some say it's a serious problem, while many others say they
haven't even heard of it. My experience has even been mixed. I have had
problems with weed eaters, push mowers and a power washer *but little else.
But I have a 14hp Kohler in use almost daily with no problems.

The daily use is probably preventing problems. It sounds like the
problem is that the ethanol fuel attracks water as it sits and that
make it break down.

-robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
On May 4, 5:37?pm, "Maxwell" luv2^fly99@cox.^net wrote:
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in ...

I'm beginning to wonder if the problem isn't more specific to brands or
types. I have asked a number of people about it, and get hot and cold
responses. Some say it's a serious problem, while many others say they
haven't even heard of it. My experience has even been mixed. I have had
problems with weed eaters, push mowers and a power washer ?but little else.
But I have a 14hp Kohler in use almost daily with no problems.

The daily use is probably preventing problems. It sounds like the
problem is that the ethanol fuel attracks water as it sits and that
make it break down.

Umm, no.

The fuel systems of things manufactured more than a few years ago
often contain materials that are degraded, attacked, or flat out
disolved by ethanol.

Why?

Because up until recently no one ever envisioned that gasoline would
contain a significant amount of ethenol.

For older stuff it is a crap shoot; if you're lucky the materials are
resistant, otherwise you're screwed.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

On May 4, 10:25*pm, wrote:
The fuel systems of things manufactured more than a few years ago
often contain materials that are degraded, attacked, or flat out
disolved by ethanol.

So why can't the EAA offer an STC that calls for the replacement of
parts that are attacked by ethanol? From my talks with the EAA they
are just going to let the mogas STC die.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
On May 4, 10:25?pm, wrote:
The fuel systems of things manufactured more than a few years ago
often contain materials that are degraded, attacked, or flat out
disolved by ethanol.

So why can't the EAA offer an STC that calls for the replacement of
parts that are attacked by ethanol? From my talks with the EAA they
are just going to let the mogas STC die.

Most likely because going through the entire fuel system of an airplane
to ensure everything in there is unaffected by ethenol and proving
it to the satisfaction of the FAA is a huge undertaking for one airplane
let alone the more common models of the GA fleet.

Add that on top of ensuring the engine itself runs properly on fuel
with ethenol to the satisfaction of the FAA.

Or in other words, money.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
On May 4, 10:25 pm, wrote:
The fuel systems of things manufactured more than a few years ago
often contain materials that are degraded, attacked, or flat out
disolved by ethanol.

So why can't the EAA offer an STC that calls for the replacement of
parts that are attacked by ethanol? From my talks with the EAA they
are just going to let the mogas STC die.

-Robert


Do you have such a list?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g...tj_AgD90EUHIO0


On May 3, 12:58 pm, M wrote:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1209...?mod=googlenew...

To stop the insanity, there's nothing better than the hard reality.

On May 3, 12:58 pm, M wrote:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1209...?mod=googlenew...

To stop the insanity, there's nothing better than the hard reality.


http://planetgore.nationalreview.com...Y0Nzc5ZDRlNjE=

Corn ethanol not only is bad for our airplanes, is really nothing
short of a homicidal binge of insanity.

So why can't the EAA offer an STC that calls for the replacement of
parts that are attacked by ethanol? From my talks with the EAA they
are just going to let the mogas STC die.

Most likely because going through the entire fuel system of an airplane
to ensure everything in there is unaffected by ethenol and proving
it to the satisfaction of the FAA is a huge undertaking for one airplane
let alone the more common models of the GA fleet.

Another example of regulatory insanity. My A&P could make my aircraft
ethanol-compliant in less than a day by changing out a few parts -- but THAT
isn't good enough for the FAA.

Why, if an A&P is willing to sign it off, is *that* not sufficient?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"