E10 fuel in the USA
Experiences with E10 Ethanol fuel from people in the USA, which has been available in some states since the mid-70s:
- We've had problems with pretty much all small gas engines, mowers, trippers, chainsaws etc.. Repair shops say it is critical to use stabilizers in the fuel and especially to winterize small engines because the ethanol attracts moisture - Scott Bonacker, MO.
- I haven't had any problems at all. I have five cars that are thirty plus years old. Two American, two British, and one German. I've used the ethanol gas in them for years. The cars are inside and the temperatures are constant during the year. (maybe the reason)
I owned a Yamaha motorcycle that was ridden less than fifty miles a year. I got curious and looked into the carburettors. After twenty years they were like new.
Last year I put one of my push mowers under the porch. Winter temperatures down to zero. Summer temperatures near ninety. After a year it started on the first pull. - Jim Williams.
- E10 has been available in the US in various locales since at least the mid-1970s. I used to run it in my 65 MGB regularly when I lived in Nebraska in the late 70s. I have also used it when available and priced right the past few decades in my current MGs. The ethanol actually does help clean the fuel system so the first few tanks may cause some debris removal. Ethanol is a lower BTU fuel so there will be a slight decrease in fuel economy. In addition, my 65B had a replacement after market fuel pump mounted near the carbs on the inner fender and this fuel pull was subject to vapor locks under hot driving conditions when using E10. On the other hand, during the winter months I never had to worry about fuel line freezing (in cold climates, auto stores sell gas "anti-freeze" which is just a small bottle of methanol). However, some American cars reportedly had problems with rubber lines and seals using E10 but I never had such problems, at least noticeably, with my MGs. - David Council.
- I have been using E10 exclusively for the past 9 years and have experienced no issues at all. - Kimberley Rae.
- We've also seen zero problems with our aged Troopers which have seen E10 since whenever California made it mandatory. - Paul Resch.