[AT] Ethanol

[Larry Goss]

Amen!  Thank you, Steve.  That's the sort of explanation that my chemist friend would have given -- if he could just get over the idea that he has to understand everything there is to know about the Internet before he can use it.  :-)

Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:31
Subject: Re: [AT] Ethanol
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>

> carl gogol wrote:
> > 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
> > 
> 
> The problem is that Ethanol is a SPONGE when it comes to water. 
> When it 
> is produced it can be pure 100% alcohol. However because it is 
> VERY 
> hygroscopic as soon as it hits any air it starts absorbing 
> water. Also 
> because it does raise octane it gets added to lower octane base 
> stocks 
> to make them into 87 or 89 octane fuels. The higher percentage 
> of 
> ethanol means that any water in the tanks along the way end up 
> in the fuel.
> 
> In this area at least the 10% stuff seems to be mainly the mid 
> grade if 
> it's a branded station (Mobil, Exxon, and the like) However the 
> ones who 
> buy gypsy gas (whoever has the lowest price when they call for a 
> drop) 
> just have a "May contain 10% Ethanol" on the pump. The local 
> Valero 
> store has just the mid grade tagged. I buy the 87 for the 
> vehicles and 
> 93 for the two strokes. The higher octane is needed in many two 
> strokes 
> because of the engine design. High power, light weight, air 
> cooling and 
> the oil mix (which lowers octane) all make the 93 a needed item.
> 
> -- 
> Steve Williams
> Firefighter,EMT, Fire Police
> VanHornesville Vol. Fire Dept
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