Ethanol damage, especially on MB's - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alamostation · #1 05-29-2008, 12:53 PM

KHOU in Houston ran a story on ethanol damage to cars and interviewed several Houston mechanics.

http://www.khou.com/video/?z=y&nvid=249261

Interestingly, they went to a Mercedes dealer as an example of high end cars that have trouble with ethanol gasoline. A nice under the hood shot of a newer Mercedes. The car identifiable from the rear in the video is a 300SD. No wonder they had trouble with gasohol.

MTI · #2 05-29-2008, 01:13 PM

The video wouldn't play for me, but was the piece about E10 or E85?

The operators manual for my 1999 C280 specifically allows the use of up to 10% ethanol (E10).

aklim · #3 05-29-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

The video wouldn't play for me, but was the piece about E10 or E85?

The operators manual for my 1999 C280 specifically allows the use of up to 10% ethanol (E10).

E85 might eat your injectors for breakfast. My Flex-Fuel cars had different injectors for that reason. Well, larger and ethanol proof.

SwampYankee · #4 05-29-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alamostation

KHOU in Houston ran a story on ethanol damage to cars and interviewed several Houston mechanics.

http://www.khou.com/video/?z=y&nvid=249261

Interestingly, they went to a Mercedes dealer as an example of high end cars that have trouble with ethanol gasoline. A nice under the hood shot of a newer Mercedes. The car identifiable from the rear in the video is a 300SD. No wonder they had trouble with gasohol.

It wouldn't surprise me with older cars. It's really wreaking havoc in the marine industry, the fuel lines and older tanks (especially fiberglass ones) can't stand up to it. Never mind the now dissolved resins working their way through the engines.

LaRondo · #5 05-29-2008, 04:13 PM

This why Germany now backs away from a higher percentage mixture of ethanol in fuel, because the finally figured that about 3 million vehicles would be affect by internal damages, such gaskets, piston rings, hoses etc and even aluminum compounds.

http://www.politicsandcurrentaffairs.co.uk/Forum/peak-oil-economics-environment/47637-germany-backs-away-biofuels.html

PaulC · #6 05-29-2008, 04:42 PM

Today I had to travel on the PA Turnpike and pulled into one of their dedicated service plazas and topped off the tank with E85 for the first time. The truck ran very well; I was pulling 90 up some fairly long hills with no noticable degradation of performance.

As an aside, while my Tahoe is designed for this fuel, it lacks the FlexFuel badge found on the tailgate of later-build '07s and '08s. I was grilled by the station nanny regarding the suitability of E85 for my vehicle. She related to me a story of a man who filled up his non-compatable car with E85 and subsequently left the plaza with his car on the back of a flatbed.

aklim · #7 05-29-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

As an aside, while my Tahoe is designed for this fuel, it lacks the FlexFuel badge found on the tailgate of later-build '07s and '08s. I was grilled by the station nanny regarding the suitability of E85 for my vehicle. She related to me a story of a man who filled up his non-compatable car with E85 and subsequently left the plaza with his car on the back of a flatbed.

My 01 had a badge of some sort. I think it was on the back side of the gas door.

DieselAddict · #8 05-29-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Today I had to travel on the PA Turnpike and pulled into one of their dedicated service plazas and topped off the tank with E85 for the first time. The truck ran very well; I was pulling 90 up some fairly long hills with no noticable degradation of performance.

As an aside, while my Tahoe is designed for this fuel, it lacks the FlexFuel badge found on the tailgate of later-build '07s and '08s. I was grilled by the station nanny regarding the suitability of E85 for my vehicle. She related to me a story of a man who filled up his non-compatable car with E85 and subsequently left the plaza with his car on the back of a flatbed.

On E85-compatible vehicles performance may remain the same, but expect your mileage to drop like a rock. About 30% IIRC.

PaulC · #9 05-29-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

On E85-compatible vehicles performance may remain the same, but expect your mileage to drop like a rock. About 30% IIRC.

A fair exchange; at the plaza 87-octane was selling for $3.95/gal. E85 was selling for $3.03/gal.

TwitchKitty · #10 05-30-2008, 10:44 AM

My mileage had dropped when I got back to town in the winter. I thought it was ethanol but now my mileage is back to normal. Someone in another thread said it might just be the temperature, seems to be the case. Maybe the temperature, maybe winter gas formulation, the season is a factor.

Hatterasguy · #11 05-30-2008, 11:17 AM

I wouldn't use E85 just because its a bad idea, lets use the corn we need for food to run out cars! Great idea! Only Congrass could come up with that one.

PaulC · #12 05-30-2008, 11:39 AM

The world would be a better place with a few less Frito's.

aklim · #13 05-30-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

The world would be a better place with a few less Frito's.

I kinda prefer Cheetos if it is all the same.