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How to get an old car running on ethanol?
12 January 2010 | Vanity

Posted on 01/12/2010 10:24:05 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

My mechanic just told me the older cars (1980s) will not run properly on ethanol which has been mandated by the federal government. He said it will cause some problems with the fuel injection (my project car is a 1989 Nissan Sentra). Does anyone know of an additive to put in the gas to counteract the effects of ethanol or to remove the ethanol from the gas? Thanks for any help.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; ethanol; fuelinjection; larryperry; magicmechanic; oldcars
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To: Frantzie

It works just as good as magnets on the fuel line and wearing your hat backwards to cut down wind resistance.


61 posted on 01/12/2010 12:00:16 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: Wooly
I think that some people are getting ethanol and methanol mixed-up.

You are correct.

I use ethanol for Bloody-Marys while methanol is strictly for Martinis.

62 posted on 01/12/2010 12:40:34 PM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: steve86

You can get testers, and most times the ratio has to be posted on the pump. We’re telling all our customers to make sure they don’t leave gas in their equipment for any length of time. Stabil helps some, but the ethanol is literally eating the fuel lines, carbs, etc and gumming up the carbs. Nasty stuff. Leaves a white residue.


63 posted on 01/12/2010 1:15:28 PM PST by gardengirl
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To: LRS

I think it varies from state to state whether it is required to list if gas has ethanol or not. For a while in Oklahoma, it was not a requirement, but people pitched a fit, and now it is.

Sometimes pitching a fit is beneficial! ;-)

If you are not sure what’s in the gas, there is a small device that you can buy at a lawnmower store that will detect ethanol. I think it’s pretty cheap.


64 posted on 01/12/2010 1:54:28 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: 9422WMR

Ah, that’s too bad. If you are really dedicated, you could try to find out exactly how far one has to go outside the DFW area to buy real gas. Or, you could call a lawn equipment store or marina and see if they know somewhere to buy real gas.

Our son fills up at the last real gas station in Oklahoma before driving into Kansas, because Kansas only sells that ethanol crap.


65 posted on 01/12/2010 1:57:44 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: kempo
CITGO gas has no ethanol if you don't mind giving your money to Chevaz.

I think they made them put it in there too.

66 posted on 01/12/2010 2:17:11 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Changed the fuel filter already. RPMs dip when I first start (it’s a manual) and each time I change gears, then it revs right up. Can’t figure out what is causing the dip in RPMs.


67 posted on 01/12/2010 2:20:05 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: brownsfan

I’ve got a ‘67 mustang with a 289 that runs fine on the low ethanol gas mix we all have.


68 posted on 01/12/2010 2:43:25 PM PST by brooklin
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
On older cars, that used to run on leaded gas, ethanol and unleaded caused big problems with the valve set.

This was solved by buying an additive which increased the octane rating and effectively leaded the gas.You might ask a Rod & Custom shop what they know about it.

69 posted on 01/12/2010 3:40:29 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

It could be something unrelated, like a vacuum leak or something.

I’d get a second opinion.


70 posted on 01/12/2010 3:53:00 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (:: The government will do for health care what it did for real estate. ::)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

BTW, some cars have more than one fuel filter, one in the line somewhere, and a sintered bronze one inside the carb or fuel injector housing.


71 posted on 01/12/2010 3:58:29 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (:: The government will do for health care what it did for real estate. ::)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

While your at it find out what we can do for older boats short of cuttin em open and replacing the tanks

TT


72 posted on 01/12/2010 6:00:45 PM PST by TexasTransplant (Parse every sentence uttered by a politician)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Iso-Heet is ethanol.


73 posted on 01/12/2010 6:04:47 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (usff.com)
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To: mad_as_he$$

sorry, it is isopropanol


74 posted on 01/12/2010 8:37:41 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: Jimmy Valentine
This was solved by buying an additive which increased the octane rating and effectively leaded the gas.

I'd sure like to know what additive.

75 posted on 01/12/2010 8:43:55 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
I am not sure. But, I guy I knew had a 1965 Corvette and he had to have an additive that took the place of the lead in gas sothat he would not mess up the valve train.

If you check with a speed shop, I will bet you they can tell you.

76 posted on 01/13/2010 3:06:16 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Pining_4_TX
If you are not sure what’s in the gas, there is a small device that you can buy at a lawnmower store that will detect ethanol. I think it’s pretty cheap.

Thank you for that info. I didn't know about that!

As for posting the ethanol content, I said "suppose to" because I have had my suspicions. I live in an area where boaters started griping, so that is why those postings began around here...

77 posted on 01/13/2010 3:46:10 AM PST by LRS (Just contracts; just laws; just a constitution...)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
OOps you are right!! Long day and to much skimming. IPA is is easier on the rubber etc but it doe pick up the water nicely..
78 posted on 01/13/2010 5:07:29 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (usff.com)
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To: LRS

You are welcome! I’m always happy to help out a fellow Freeper when I can. I hope you are able to find it.


79 posted on 01/13/2010 4:05:59 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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