<VV> Re: (VV) Ethanol?

[CorvairEd at aol.com]

n3lkz at yahoo.com writes:
I understand the gas-alcohol blend can damage some
seals and rubber parts in fuel systems. Will my
Monza's fuel pump succumb? What about other fuel
system parts on our old cars?

Arjay,
Fear not, alcohol will not harm your engine or seals.  Most gas around the 
country already contains some alcohol in the winter time (cooler weather).  The 
one problem you will nave with alcohol is it wants to vaporize more easily 
than gasoline thus has of a more tendency to vapor lock.  The fix is to install 
an electric fuel pump at the tank outlet and wire it through a switch on the 
steering column then to the ignition switch.  If you are one of those who just 
have to keep the antique mechanical fuel pump, the electric fuel pump will pump 
through it with no trouble.  When you encounter vapor lock, just flip the 
switch on till it clears and switch it back off.  I use and recommend the 
electric fuel pump in place of the mechanical one.  Are they reliable?  All new cars 
have them and they have a lower failure than mechanical pumps.  On the Corvair 
stick to the lower pressure pump, 4 to 6 pound, available at your FLAPS.  As 
far as damage to the seals and rubber parts of the Corvair engine, you're 
confusing alcohol with another additive used in gasoline called MTBE.  That should 
be phased out by now.  Back in 74 I ran my Rampside on straight alcohol with 
the manual pump and it ran great but the price of methanol was higher than 
gasoline so I went back to gas.

Ed Corson (CORSA member)
Inland Empire Corvair Club