Will Ethanol hurt my car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

GregZ · #1 04-28-2006, 10:25 PM

Dear All,

I am watching the news, and the reporters are asking the above question (as starting monday all gas will have to have 10% ethanol in it). The expert's answer is: "no, most cars manufactured in the past 5 years will be okay".

Well, this does not answer the question when it comes to my 1983 380SEC.
I know that some material that o-rings are made from (e.g., BN70) in the fuel distributor are gasoline tolerant but not so alcohol tolerant (they are so-so according to o-ring manufacturers).
So here is a question to the real experts:
Will ethanol hurt my 1983 V8 Mercedes?

Thanks and please keep it non-personal and non-political.

Greg

Duke2.6 · #2 04-28-2006, 10:46 PM

Start by looking in your owner's manual. Try the index under "fuel requirements".

What does it say?

Duke

pmally · #3 04-28-2006, 11:29 PM

doesn't this also mean that the gass is going to burn up alot faster?

trueog · #4 04-29-2006, 12:10 AM

My mercedes manual warns againest high mixtures of Ethonol in it. It's probobly to prevent damage to the cat... I'd have to look at the manual again to figure it out, but I know its in all of the Mercedes manuals...atleast in the 90's. So check it out.

dkveuro · #5 04-29-2006, 12:46 AM

I think you might find this interesting...although it mainly concerns motorcycles.
http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=5517
I do know that there are many vehicles with steel fuel tanks that have an anti-rust lining or internal skin of paint or epoxy.

I wonder if the POR company that sells sealer for leaking tanks can answer this ?
Isn't their sealer an epoxy ?

.

Matt L · #6 04-29-2006, 09:36 AM

I've run what was labelled 10% ethanol blend in a 70's Saab with K-jetronic for about ten years with no undue problems whatsoever. It's been hard to find gasoline without ethanol around here (St. Louis) for about two decades.

The alarmists did claim that the introduction of even 10% ethanol would break accumulated stuff loose and plug the filters, but I didn't notice even that. I have had to change fuel filters, but none at an early age. I also had a fuel pump fail, but I'm guessing that it had run for well over 150K miles - the odometer had been broken on that car for at least five years before I got it.

Running 10% ethanol will slightly hurt your fuel milage, but it's hardly noticable. It certainly doesn't cut it by 10%. Maybe 2%. Add in reduced emissions which just might edge you by in a test, and it's a win.

I've also mixed 10% ethanol fuel with fuel that was not labelled as containing ethanol, presumably containing MTBE, and have never noticed a problem. Fill it up and drive.

OzC36 · #7 04-29-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Use of unleaded petrol containing ethanol in Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and 4WD’s

The Federal government believes that the inclusion of ethanol in petrol, up to a maximum of 10%, will be a positive step toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainability of present fossil fuels.

As ethanol is already being supplied through some petrol outlets it is important that Mercedes-Benz owners are aware of our official company position in this matter.

DaimlerChrysler AG. recommends that your vehicle be operated on fuel containing no more than 10% ethanol. Use of fuel with an ethanol content higher than 10% may result in engine malfunction, starting and operating difficulties and materials degradation. These adverse effects could result in permanent damage to your vehicle. Purchasing your fuel from a reputable supplier may reduce the risk of exceeding this 10% limit or of receiving fuel with abnormal properties. It should also be noted that when using ethanol blended fuels an increase in fuel consumption can be expected due to the lower energy content of ethanol.

We can assure owners that all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and 4WD’s manufactured after January 1st 1986 to Australian specification are able to be operated on unleaded petrol containing ethanol, providing the maximum limit of 10% is not exceeded.

If you have any further questions in relation to this issue, please contact our Customer Communication Centre on 1300 300 896.

http://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/

GregZ · #8 04-29-2006, 10:03 AM

Mine is a 1983

TheDon · #9 04-29-2006, 10:05 AM

is it E10 or 10% of E85... and how are you guaruanteed that you will get your 10%.. its always bugged me .. and this is starting monday nationwide?

Matt L · #10 04-29-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

is it E10 or 10% of E85... and how are you guaruanteed that you will get your 10%.. its always bugged me .. and this is starting monday nationwide?

It's 10% ethanol, not 10% of 85% (8.5%). And it started other places decades ago, as I said above.

pmizell · #11 04-29-2006, 08:00 PM

Many major cities with smog problems (Houston, LA...) are required to switch to a cleaner burning blend for the summer months. MTBE is the preferred choice but it pollutes groundwater so manufacturers had to switch to ethanol which, unlike MTBE, can only be blended at the terminal and it has made for a difficult transition +higher fuel prices.

Most stations here have had the ethanol blend for about a month now. My 103 doesn't like it.

Lower MPG + higher prices =

karlmb · #12 06-13-2006, 08:48 AM

Hello,
We are quite a few who has been driving all sorts of old and newer cars on this superior fuel!
No breakdowns whatsoever, only minor problems like having to replace the fuel filter one or two times due to the cleaning effect of ethanol.
Start to learn more about E85 in old and new cars here:
http://www.etanol.nu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5607

BR/
karlmb