<VV> RE: Ethanol No Corvair

Sun Jun 19 15:04:40 EDT 2005

I lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the late 70's a ran Mohawk gasohol 
in my 1977 Caprice.  Mohawk sold gasohol then (and still does).  When the 
temperature dropped below minus 20 C the car started like a dog.  With it's 
block heater plugged in it was OK but only after I put in a 1000 amp 
battery. (It was carbureted)

At that time, I ran gasohol for its antifreeze properties, but never 
attributed its poor starting characteristics on the fuel.

I run ethanol enriched fuel here in CT (MTB is gone thank goodness) and my 
2005 Taurus is a slow started on the first start in the morning - regardless 
of temperature.  Once it starts and runs for a short period it fires up 
immediately  on subsequent use.  It is fuel injected and I have never driven 
a fuel injected car that required five to six seconds of starter time before 
it runs.Could it be the fuel? I know that Ford offers an ethanol option but 
as far as I know, they only upgraded the corrosion resistance of the wet 
parts in the fuel delivery system.

Interesting thread...

Regards, Garth

(PS - Just finished a 4 part article on the Firebird - Corvette, Mustang and 
Barracuda are next)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Noakes" <mark at noakes.com>
To: "corsaconvertible" <corsaconvertible at gmail.com>; 
<virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 1:13 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> RE: Ethanol? filter problems?

> Interesting on your no starting problems down to below 0 degrees; that has 
> not been my experience.
>
> All our company vehicles at Oak Ridge National Laboratoy run on E85.  When 
> the temperature drops to 25F or so, they won't start...at all...till it 
> warms up.  The remedy is to mix in more gasoline until the weather 
> improves, which wouldn't work in more northern areas.
>
> GM vehicles don't seem to have trouble with the fuel; Fords most 
> definitely do and have a higher maintenance cost associated with them from 
> my discussion with the guys in the shop.
>
> Also the "gas" mileage is much lower with the E85 though the cost is 
> higher.
>
> Mark Noakes
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: corsaconvertible <corsaconvertible at gmail.com>
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> RE: Ethanol? filter problems?
> Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 23:59:44 -0500
>
>>
>> I've used ethanol in everything exclusively, when available, since
>> 1974. Several cars have over 100,000 miles on them with ethanol.  No
>> problems, all cars were daily drivers, just preventive extra fuel
>> filter changes for awhile. Many people have purchased ethanol
>> unknowingly when they bought high octane gas.
>>
>> All cars have started within a couple seconds at below 0 degrees
>> Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Gas mileage when checked
>> always was in the same range as people I've asked with the same type
>> of car.
>>
>> Cars include 1955 T'Bird, '65 Corvair Corsa, 1975 Cosworth Vega, '64
>> Buick Skylark, 1998 and 2001 Olds Aurora, 1995 LHS, 1992 Riviera, 1991
>> Lexus SC 400 , 1970 Camaro, 1979 Dodge full size van, 1981 Ford
>> conversion van, 1991 Taurus, 1992 Toyota Previa, 1995 Taurus SHO.
>>
>> 1973 Vega need was an exception, it needed a new carburetor float.
>>
>> Riding and push mowers, 1970 Kawasaki Bushmaster.
>>
>> BTW, I'm not a farmer. My daughter was born in Orange county
>> California which was my home for 13 years. Raised and presently live
>> in Iowa.
>>
>> --
>> Tony Hansen
>> corsaconvertible at gmail.com
>>
>> On 6/17/05, werp knarly <werpknarly at centurytel.net> wrote:
>> > yes we may have to deal with the "crud" left in our fuel systems from
>> > burning crude oil based fuel... but should ethanol be blamed for 
>> > cleaning up
>> > what gasoline left behind?
>> >
>> > and yes the farmers will be happy,, but best of all...
>> >
>> > the oil companies and the mid east countries wont be happy
>> >
>> > btw, today ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.  and even if it is a bit 
>> > more
>> > money per mile driven,,,, the oil companies and the mid east countries 
>> > wont
>> > be happy
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > Joe,
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: <mopar at jbcs2.net>
>> > To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> > Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 11:06 AM
>> > Subject: <VV> RE: Ethanol?
>> >
>> >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Back in the 70's during the first energy crisis, I tried a few 
>> > > tankfulls
>> > > of
>> > > "gasahol' blend. Paid more per gallon than the regular, then had it 
>> > > go
>> > > through the cars like guanno through a ducks behind. Also had to 
>> > > change
>> > > fuel filters on most cars as it seemed to have a tendancy to clean 
>> > > any
>> > > debris out of the tank. One car I had to use air pressure to blow off 
>> > > the
>> > > sock on the fuel pickup.
>> > >
>> > > I'm not looking forward to it..............
>> > >
>> > > Sure the Corn industry wants to see it, so does the sugar cane 
>> > > industry.
>> > > Not that it's a good thing though, there is money and lobbyists 
>> > > behind
>> > > this!
>> > >
>> > > Gary Swiatowy
>> > > how soon they forget..........
>>
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>
>
>
> Mark Noakes
>
> Personal, hobby, enthusiast vehicles, work/school, nature/travel/art 
> photography located at:
>
> http://blog.mark.noakes.com/
>
> "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in 
> practice there is usually a difference."
>
>
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