res@ihuxn.UUCP (Rich Strebendt) (03/30/84)
A short while ago there were questions on the Net about the effects on cars of the use of gasolines containing alcohol. I was at my local Pontiac dealer this morning and picked up an interesting "Customer Service Newsletter" devoted to this question. Since the publication contains the notice " ... Material may be used at will." I reproduce selected portions of it below. If you would like a copy of the entire publication, it should be available from your local GM dealer, or from the Public Relations Staff, Rm 11-226, GM Building, Detroit MI. (no ZIP code given in the document). ---------------------------------------------------------------- ... Vehicle performance and fuel system durability with gasolines containing up to 10% ethanol [grain alcohol], by volume, have generally been satisfactory. ... current use of methanol [wood alcohol] in gasoline can pose problems if used in today's cars over an extended period - even at low methanol concentrations in gasoline. ... There is limited information that suggests small amounts (up to around 5%) of methanol in gasoline may be suitable if a cosolvent - an ingredient that prevents the gasoline and methanol from separating when trace amounts of water are in the fuel - and a corrosion inhibiter to prevent damage to the fuel system components are used. Evidence on the suitability of such blended fuels is incomplete and, therefore, their use cannot be endorsed by GM at this time. It is likely some engines and fuel systems will be sensitive to methanol/gasoline blends that contain higher concentrations (greater than about 10%) of methanol - even if the fuels contain cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors. ... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted waivers, legally allowing the blending of methanol ... [in] concentrations as high as 12%, as long as cosolvents are used. [EPA investigation has turned up instances of legal concentrations of methanol without cosolvents, and also instances of as high as 15% concentrations of methanol. This is encouraged by the fact that methanol is much cheaper than gasoline at this time.] ... There are a number of disadvantages associated with the use of methanol/gasoline blends in vehicles designed for gasoline. Of major significance are: o Deterioration of fuel system materials [rubber, plasic and metal parts] o Driveability [tendency toward vapor lock] o Separation [alcohol/water layer formation] o Fuel economy [poorer milage on methanol] o Evaporative Emissions [due to increased vapor pressure] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Note that there seems to be no problem with gasohol (gasoline + ethanol), but that some companies are cutting their gas with methanol which could cause problems. Rich Strebendt ...!ihnp4!ihuxn!res