[AT] Ethanol

[Larry Goss]

I don't really want to become a part of this thread, but I will inject a bit of information I gathered from my coffee-drinking buddy in MacDonalds last week.  He's a retired chemist.  He lived and breathed Chemistry when he was employed, and he still does.  He says you cannot add Ethanol to anything without adding water.  It's a matter of the molecular makup of the chemicals and it is going to happen whether you want it to or not.  It doesn't just apply to gasoline, but it applies to liquor also.  It's one of the reasons why you never see 200-proof alcohol.

When he launched into his monologue, my eyes glazed over.  So I can't explain any more than that, but the man does appear to know a little something about chemistry.  I took another swig of my Dark Roast Senior Coffee and came back to consciousness after he went on for a few minutes.

Larry


----- Original Message -----
From: carl gogol <cgogol at twcny.rr.com>
Date: Monday, June 16, 2008 18:29
Subject: Re: [AT] Ethanol
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>

> Gene-
> I took my Stihl chainsaw back to the dealer about 6 weeks after 
> I bought it 
> complaining I couldn't get it to rev and have enough power - 
> this was about 
> 2 weeks after I took it back so the mechanic would set the max 
> RPM with his 
> tach after break-in .  They said the problem was the gas; 
> probably water in 
> it.  --- and of course I was using high test they 
> said!  They had just 
> dumped the gas and put a little of their own high test mix in it 
> and 
> everthing worked fine.  High test for a simple old 
> chainsaw?? - I sputtered! 
> Looks of "How stupid can this guy be"  were focused at me - 
> of course I knew 
> that everything else has varying degrees of ethenol in it and 
> absorbes water 
> like crazy!  Well I didn't ever think about it and I am 
> quite sure the 
> manual says 87 octane is reccomended.  Like you, the gallon 
> a month I use in 
> the saws and weedwacker won't break the bank for high test, it 
> is less than 
> $ 10% more these days.
> Now I am really confused, because ethanol is also a good way to 
> increase 
> octane - so what is really going on here.  Does ethanol in 
> 87 octane regualr 
> allow them to put something cheaper into the blend that really 
> does who 
> knows what to our fuel systems?
> Carl Gogol - Manlius, NY
> Tasty grazing in the Oran valley of Central NY
> AC D14, 914H
> JD 5320 MFWD
> Kubota F-2400, B7300HST
> Simplicity 7116H, 3112H
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gene Waugh Elgin, Illinois USA" <gwaugh at wowway.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:02 PM
> Subject: [AT] Ethanol
> 
> 
> > This thread got me to thinking.  I have had a Honda 
> lawnmower for years;
> > it is a great mower, bu I have had continual carb problems 
> with it.
> > Sometimes I can fix it, sometimes I have had to take it to the 
> shop.  I
> > had become almost paranoid about clean gas cans, not getting 
> crap in the
> > tank, etc.  I 
> 
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