Moparguy,
I live in Atlanta where ethanol E-10 was mandated for clean air in 2007. Unfortunately the fuel companies aren't going to brew up E-10 for the 15 county metro area only and then supply the rest of the state with unadulterated fuel. It's all you can get anywhere with the exception of the random E-free 90 or 91 for $1/gal more.
Anyway, despite all the initial fear and hysteria about old car fuel systems being ruined by ethanol, I have not experienced it in nearly 20 years of using E-10.
I don't like it (It results in lower fuel economy), but it hasn't been the total disaster that many or most feared.
Two months after its introduction, the original fuel pump in my '56 Cadillac failed. Ethanol had stretched the diaphragm and wouldn't pump the requisite amount of fuel. When I replaced it with an ethanol tolerant pump, everything has worked as it should.
Ol' Roy has used E-10 87 exclusively since being brought back to life 5 years ago. I rebuilt the Carter YF carburetor with Jon H's regular kit with the standard black rubber accelerator pump and have had absolutely no ethanol related problems.
Even my chainsaw and yard equipment uses the E-10 without trouble of gunking up. I do use Stabil for long term storage in the can.
I wonder if the same formula for E-10 is used everywhere or if Atlanta has some different blend that is less damaging to rubber parts? I do use all my cars regularly so the stuff doesn't have a chance to sit around and cause trouble.
It seems like the only E-10 related problem I seem to be experiencing lately (never before on any vehicle over the last 20 years since it's introduction) is vapor lock. Several of my cars (not Ol' Roy) have recently fallen victim to the much lower temperature at which modern fuel begins to vaporize.
The installation of helper electric fuel pumps just ahead of the mechanical pumps seems to have solved that issue. When the stuttering or hot start issues begin, turning on the electric pump solves the issue immediately. Once moving down the road, the electric pump is switched off and the mechanical pump is used exclusively.
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