Ethanol Corrosiveness

**Sarge** · 01-28-2011, 01:51 PM

Two trucks. Identical.
One ran 10% ethanol (left) the other 85% ethanol (right)
35,000 miles on both trucks.
All services/oil changes etc. identical.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-28-2011, 02:02 PM

**bluehawk2000** · 01-28-2011, 02:05 PM

Holy cow that is rediculous I didn't realize that it put that much wear on the parts, what is the reason behind it because it burns hotter?

**Sarge** · 01-28-2011, 02:24 PM

Attracts moisture like a bitch. Corrosive as hell. Still think you do not need any TCW3 in your fuel?

**Cutlass** · 01-28-2011, 05:32 PM

Yes ethanol isn't the greatest thing in the world, but I don't see how those pic are possibly the real deal. Simply not possible in my opinion.

**bluehawk2000** · 01-28-2011, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

Yes ethanol isn't the greatest thing in the world, but I don't see how those pic are possibly the real deal. Simply not possible in my opinion.

Why do you think it's not the real deal?

**Cutlass** · 01-28-2011, 06:49 PM

Pic looks staged. The pic is small but it looks like a pushrod and some lifters. The "ethanol" ones look rusty. Thats pretty much impossible since they are covered in oil constantly.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not defending ethanol. But in my area, 95% of the gas sold is 10% ethanol. I'm constantly pulling engines apart at my work (not for ethanol related problems) and I've never seen a rusty lifter, pushrod, rocker arm, or bolt inside an engine. The only problems I ever see with ethanol is running issues. Ethanol absorbs water like Sarge said. And ethanol doesn't have a long shelf live. Phase separation is an issue here.
And what happens is the ethanol and the moisture/water it attacts sinks to the bottom of the gas tank. Guess what else is down there? the fuel pump pickup. The pump pumps "water" to the fuel injectors and the engine doesn't run well or doesn't run at all if the problem is bad enough.
Same thing happens frequently to my old boat and my friends boats.

**Mr. Luos** · 01-28-2011, 08:58 PM

With Cutlass here.

Personally know a few guys that have been running E85 with stock type fuel systems in 03/04 Cobra's and a few LSx F-Body's.
I have seen the inside of the motor on the Camaro....and it looked nothing like that. Been running it for 20K+ and clean.

Originally Posted by Sarge

You got your e-teeth in this one don't you pal?

Who has their e-teeth where??

With that said....
Not a fan of ethanol myself. High octane comes at a price.
More likely to the rubber hoses of most fueling systems, but still, having trouble seeing the E85 causing the damage to the internals.

**DaddySS** · 01-29-2011, 02:39 AM

Ethanol absorbs water at a much higher rate than gas, this creates two problems - corrosion from the water and corrosion assisted by the increased conductivity.

**Sarge** · 01-29-2011, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

Pic looks staged. The pic is small but it looks like a pushrod and some lifters. The "ethanol" ones look rusty. Thats pretty much impossible since they are covered in oil constantly.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not defending ethanol. But in my area, 95% of the gas sold is 10% ethanol. I'm constantly pulling engines apart at my work (not for ethanol related problems) and I've never seen a rusty lifter, pushrod, rocker arm, or bolt inside an engine. The only problems I ever see with ethanol is running issues. Ethanol absorbs water like Sarge said. And ethanol doesn't have a long shelf live. Phase separation is an issue here.
And what happens is the ethanol and the moisture/water it attacts sinks to the bottom of the gas tank. Guess what else is down there? the fuel pump pickup. The pump pumps "water" to the fuel injectors and the engine doesn't run well or doesn't run at all if the problem is bad enough.
Same thing happens frequently to my old boat and my friends boats.

Drop some oil on a plate. Take a drop or two of E85 and drop it in the middle and watch what that "oil film" does. Then you will be a believer.

**Z28_Driver** · 01-29-2011, 11:40 AM

I'm going with Cutlass here. No corrosion like that in the Tahoe engine at 103,000 when it blew a head gasket. It was a daily driver running E-85 since new.

Maybe if it sat a lot? The parts in the picture look like what you find in a junkyard engine that sat for a long time outside.

Are any more pictures available Sarge? How were the vehicles used?