Thread: Unleaded fuel to be phased out in NSW

Given that all Land Rover engines in the past were made to run on 3rd world fuels, I doubt the change would adversley affect the 3.5. Infact the ethanol should give the fuel an octane boost.

Some years ago I was reading about various fuel blends, and while we were having our ethanol scare here in Australia, in California some "Green" service stations were selling E80, with most car manufacturers saying their product would be okay with it.

I think the 3.5 is "old school" enough to be able to run on a wide blend of fuels. But having said all this, I'm no engineer, and I'm just surmising that an engine made for an international market in the 70's is going to be quite robust & adaptable.

But then again, most 3.5 V8s are running on LPG now anyway. I hope I'm right, because I can't afford to replace the RR so soon.

On page 55 of the RR 1988 Owner Manual say QUOTE:
Caution: Do not use oxygenated fuels such blends of methanol/gasoline or ethanol/gasoline (eg 'Gasohol') end of QUOTE

I just made the comment base on the factory recommendations not on the risks that we are prepared to take.

Cheers

The problem with ethanol is not octane ratings or anything like that but its ability to eat rubber bits and pieces - while some say 10% ethanol has no impact on these components the is evidence that it does speed up the perishing process for these components if they were not designed to take the ethanol.

Even modern engines do not neccessarily have suitably treated rubber components. What the govt should have done is simply legislate that new cars be built with ethanol compatible comonents.

GM - Holden make a lot of the international engines that are used by GM in south america where some cars run on 100% ethanol and various % blends - these engines work fine as they are designed to run on the stuff.

I cannot see NSW going alone on this - so unless all states also do it I cannot see it happening.

Garry

According to the article there is still going to be the choice of premium unleaded kept available which will remain ethanol free -- just a bit of a price premium and sometimes I swear its just the regular stuff being sold at a higher price to unsuspecting people...

A good friend with a restored 1948 80" has had to replace the diaphragm in the SU fuel pump 3 times in the last year and last week drove into an unfamiliar station of the Netherlands variety, filled up with unleaded, drove 5Km and parked. A few hours later the car wouldn't start diaphragm and fuel hose failed, he also has concerns about the accelerator pump diaphragms. All items have natural rubber. The red and yellow fuel company puts the 10% ethanol permissible under law without telling you.

Your only option to avoid ethanol is premium unleaded.

OH NO NOT ETHANOL it's the devil juice and nobody should use it ....PFFFFT what a bunch of crap i say . I have used methanol in race cars for years and never done any damage to my engines (standard vn v6). The only time ethanol and methanol does damage to newer engines is when it is left to sit for months on end without use . as L-A-L said it does wreck the older rubber stuff but it doesn't affect the newer cars like they say .... heap of people chasing a free dollar like some clown tripping over at safeway and wanting a dollar .

I saw a sign in a Bogas (Caltex) station advising customers that they would get lower fuel economy (i.e., greater fuel usage) with E10 (which Bogas sell).

Originally Posted by p38arover

I saw a sign in a Bogas (Caltex) station advising customers that they would get lower fuel economy (i.e., greater fuel usage) with E10 (which Bogas sell).

Yes is a drop in fuel economy of about 3% to 8%

THIS page from the Australian Institute of Petroleum mention
Economics: Poor – Ethanol costs approx 60cpl to produce, petrol 35cpl
Energy content less, Ethanol blends of 10% produce 3% less power