Hello, I'm relatively new to this forum but have had my '83 Z for quite a few years now. I have gotten info off of this forum for quite a while and finally decided "hey, it'd be a good idea to just join it!"

I digress, my question is this: I've recently moved into an urban area where ethanol-free fuel is next to impossible to find (actually, might not exist...) and I am wondering if using a product such as this one is necessary:

http://www.drivenracingoil.com/dro/c...case-of-6html/

My set-up is as follows:

GM Performance 385 Fastburn crate engine, roller rockers, GMPP Vortec Eliminator high-rise aluminum intake, Holley 750 double-pumper carb, Holley blue pump.

This car will only run on premium, or higher, fuel. If you try to run mid-grade or regular unleaded it will diesel and kick and sputter and be generally unhappy.

 

Sorry I cant link from my phone.
Search--
User name--

Brother Al

Thread title--

Etanol-free gas.

There is a listing of places to get ethanol free gas across US & Canada.

 

t-top havoc: I'd actually seen that site before, but there aren't any stations close to me and I would just burn out whatever gas I put in getting to those stations and back again.

 

Understood.

I have not used a stabilizer or treatment for high perf motors so I have no comment.

Just gas anti-freeze & water remover in the winter in other cars.

 

No worries, thanks for trying to help!!

 

Well, I did some more research and called a local Chevrolet Dealer that also is the area's GM performance parts dealer and found out that burning premium fuel (even with the ethanol blend) should cause no long-term problems for me.

Good news!

 

may I point out that ethanol is a CORROSIVE agent. its the nature of it. im finding that it corrodes fuel tanks,pumps,injectors. and it plays hell with regulator diaphrams as well . not trying to bring you down ,but do be advised

 

Duly noted, thanks!

 

May I point out that your statement is incorrect.

Ethanol is not corrosive to the metals used in engines and fuel systems. However, it is a great water solvent, which is what causes the corrosion problems typically associated with it. Keep the fuel sealed from moisture, and/or keep it fresh, and you won't have any problems.

Some soft goods in fuel systems are not completely compatible with ethanol. However, those materials have not been in common use by the OEMs, or quality aftermarket manufacturers. You might run into problems with cheap overseas replacement components.

 

I Agree!

Just a side note, I just had an accelerator pump diaphragm go bad on my Holley 570 over the last winter (wound up cracking). Also on a Holley 600 that I had rebuilt a year before I installed my 570 I had that pump dry up and hardened and it only saw about 8 hours of use, drained, cleaned and stored. Both carbs had E10 fuels in them and in other motors that I have run racing fuel in the pumps have lasted a lot longer. Not saying it's because of E10 because street fuel has other additives in there as well (summer blends) but it makes me wonder what's going on here.

The Holley 570 had the factory pump in it.
The Holley 600 was rebuilt using a Barry Grant kit.

 

I think it depends on how you run your vehicle, this fuel is hygroscopic, thus will absorb moisture from air and tends to harden many rubber compounds. If it sits long enough can even separate in the fuel tank and generally make a royal mess. I would remove this fuel from the tank for winter storage purposes, or at least use stabilizer to extend the life and keeping the tank full to reduce air space will reduce the chances of phase separation. For carbs that I store on the shelf, or for winterization storage, I fog the engine and pour enough storage oil into the fuel bowl to get oil into the accelerator pump, I figure it keeps the rubber cup from drying out and reduces the possibility of corrosion as well as helps to lube moving parts like throttle shafts on startup following storage period. Maybe stabil will also help to keep rubber parts from drying out, I'm not sure, but viton is the material of choice and many cheapo carb kits don't use the good stuff, maybe some high dollar carb kits sold by fuel system gurus aren't really high quality either?