ethanol issue ?

[Lionel Peuch]

Hello everybody,

I am closed to Goteborg and restarting my alfa 2600 from 65 after several years  of immobilization. I cranked the engine, it started well but then it stalled, and the more I try to start it, the worst it becomes…. I have done several checked and everything seems to be in order…So , I am suspecting it is the fuel I use that is not ok. Before I started the engine,  I drained the tank and now there is 95 in the tank from Preem. I guess it contains ethanol and that it is potentially not good for the engine / Carburettor… I heard it was possible to put some additive to sort out the issue. So, can you share with me your experiences and what product should I add ?

Thanks  Lionel

[Andreas Spaak]

Its called blyersättning. 

[Sune Karlsson]

The ethanol mix or the lack of lead in todays petrol/gasoline should in itself not cause any problems with starting the engine.

The problem with a high mix-in of ethanol is mostly that it tends to be more aggressive to rubber components (fuel hoses etc). Preem is probably (they claim to be environmentally friendly) the company with the highest ethanol content (10%) in 95 octane petrol. It varies for other companies but probably between 2 and 5%.

The lack of lead should not be a big issue either. The 2600 enginge has (I think) an aluminium head and should thus have hardened valve seats.

Går det så går det...

[Lionel Peuch]

Hello 

Thanks for your answers !

 I am a bit surprised that ethanol would not be an issue after reading this in the Alfa BB forum….

“Please learn from my bad experience and do not use ethanol laced fuel in your old cars! I have two old cars with long term ownership experience, 28 years and 22 years without a problem getting them to start- until they started putting ethanol in our gas! Now neither car will start; all four Weber’s are gunked up supposedly by formic acid which forms after ethanol has absorbed moisture over time. Yes the cars have not been used much over the last two years but that was not unusual. The brass jets and accelerator pumps have noticable green corrosion products, the fuel lines have been dried out etc.  
“

I agree that the lead by itself should not be an issue…

I am more and more thinking that I will not be able to fix what is wrong by myself. I am not exactly in Goteborg, but in Lilla Edet, 50 km north of Goteborg. Would you recommend a good mechanic in this area that could help me to fix the issue ? 

Thanks, Lionel

 

[Sune Karlsson]

Yes, that CAN be an issue. The ethanol mix-in supposedly reduces the shelf-life of the gasoline and there can be build up of residue in the carburator if the car sits for a long time. But my understanding was that you drained the tank and then put in fresh gasoline. If that is the case, I don’t think the ethanol in the new gas is to blame.

It is impossible to say what the problem is from a distance but it is possible that “gunk” from the old gas (if that car hasn’t been started for several years) has been dissolved (the ethanol can “help” with that) and ended up in the carburators causing the starting problems. Flushing the fuel lines, cleaning the carburators and replacing the fuel filter might be the thing to do then.

Går det så går det...

[Martin Atterhall]

Inlägg av lionel peuch på 2017-06-08 19:55

Hello 

Thanks for your answers !

 I am a bit surprised that ethanol would not be an issue after reading this in the Alfa BB forum….

“Please learn from my bad experience and do not use ethanol laced fuel in your old cars! I have two old cars with long term ownership experience, 28 years and 22 years without a problem getting them to start- until they started putting ethanol in our gas! Now neither car will start; all four Weber’s are gunked up supposedly by formic acid which forms after ethanol has absorbed moisture over time. Yes the cars have not been used much over the last two years but that was not unusual. The brass jets and accelerator pumps have noticable green corrosion products, the fuel lines have been dried out etc.  
“

I agree that the lead by itself should not be an issue…

I am more and more thinking that I will not be able to fix what is wrong by myself. I am not exactly in Goteborg, but in Lilla Edet, 50 km north of Goteborg. Would you recommend a good mechanic in this area that could help me to fix the issue ? 

Thanks, Lionel

 

Hello Lionel,

Sorry to hear that you have starting problems. I think Sune is spot on with the thought that the alcohol in the fresh fuel acts as a solvent releasing old “gunk” into your fuel system. This was commonly happening also in Sweden when low-blending was introduced 15-20 yrs ago. That’s also more likely the reason for the problems addressed on alfabb. Properly produced ethanol would not create a problem in itself…

[Lionel Peuch]

Ok, I wasn’t sure what to do tomorrow… it will be carb cleaning….hurray……

Thanks for the help

Lionel

[Lionel Peuch]

Ok, I wasn’t sure what to do tomorrow… it will be carb cleaning….hurray……

Thanks for the help

Lionel

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