ethanol additives

[Anonymous]

i own a 84 westy now that they are adding ethanol additive to gas will there be any engine problems in the future such as seals wearing out  i know with newer motors there are no problems just wondering about older engines

[thilole]

searching google for just this question i found your posting and so i was wondering what's your experiences with ethanol in the gas as i have an 84westy as well and just started to get in trouble (sputtering, less power) when i got 10% ethanoled fuel.



thx! thilo

[MrLiMBO]

Check out Roger Lippmans website. http://http://terrasol.home.igc.org/alky/alky-preface.htm



He has a booklet you can buy that covers converting cars to Ethanol and a section of the air-cooled VWs.  I know the waterboxer is different, but it has some insight on what might fail as far as seals and what not.  



Massachusetts had been running 10 percent Ethanol in their gas for years and I haven't noticed much of a difference in performance.   I live close to Vermont and I occastionally get non- ethanol mixed gas.  



I have noticed that there seems to be a higher failure rate of Catalytic converters.  Here at the shop, we're doing almost one a day.   I'm not sure its related to the alcohol or not.



I know I've had to replace the cats on all my cars.  I figured it was just age.  All my cars have high mileage.  I previously owned serveral 1.9L Vanagons and  golf.  I currently have a Eurovan and a Jetta

[Stanagon]

Boston Bob and others (including myself) have been experimenting with increasing the main jet on carbureted (split) buses to compensate for this ethanol mix. My 12- and 26-year old fuel injected VWs seem to be doing OK though. I don't have a waterboxer though.