09-07-2021, 11:51 PM
My experience with ethanol fuel is mainly the problems it has caused with "blown foam" floats in Bing carburettors. They are designed for petrol but absorb alcohol and with it an amount of water. This turns them into sinks as I found when I checked a pair after about 5 years of use as I was having problems with flooding carbs. On putting them into a jar of petrol they sank to the bottom. I checked the weights and they were both 13.8 grammes, the new ones should weigh 11 grammes. Both had absorbed enough water to render them useless.
This, together with the erosion of the inner walls of flexible fuel lines convinces me that I would prefer to avoid using fuel with alcohol content. I have heard anecdotal evidence of the damage to zamac alloy and brass/solder components and would prefer not to have to deal with flooding carbs and replacing floats at £30.00 (plus vat & postage) the pair every few years.
This, together with the erosion of the inner walls of flexible fuel lines convinces me that I would prefer to avoid using fuel with alcohol content. I have heard anecdotal evidence of the damage to zamac alloy and brass/solder components and would prefer not to have to deal with flooding carbs and replacing floats at £30.00 (plus vat & postage) the pair every few years.