We live in a time when we are overwhelmed by 'Digital Truths'. This naturally applies to us as citizens, but also more specifically to us as classic enthusiasts. And we are currently in the middle of the discussion about E10 gasoline, the fuel with a neut. What should you believe now?
The government says it believes in global warming, and that's why we get E10.
But we have heard so many contradictions about global warming. Just like about bio-alcohols, biomasses and such serious things. And who still believes the government? But if we can solve the problem with alcohol? Fine right? Bio-ethanol has advantages and disadvantages. In the +: The octane number of ethanol is 108, while that of Euro 95 is - yes - 95. In principle, you could achieve a much higher compression with ethanol, without the mixture igniting itself. That would reduce pinging - the spontaneous combustion of the mixture. So you could flatten the head or mount higher pistons. But the calorific value of alcohol is lower than that of real gasoline. So you need more of it, you need more mixture, to achieve the same result. Is that theoretical squabbling or do you really notice it?
We had a very funny experience in that regard
A while ago we came in contact with Willibrordus van der Weide. He had taken a friction-reducing oil additive from his former east block construction mechanization time. As much has been written about this type of substance as about E10 gasoline. And because we are not experts at best, but at best, we believe everyone's blue eyes when the story sounds reasonable to us. And you are free to buy that kind of stuff or not.
From Willibrodus we received a 250 cc bottle of Yellow Miracle Oil at the expense of unevenness. That was before we went on holiday to northern France. The good 1400 cc Citroën BX with such a friendly old-fashioned carburetor instead of injection, 1 ran on 15 for that time. With Yellow Miracle Oil that became a neat 1 on 16. That was before the E10 gasoline was widely introduced. And it was a first-hand experience value.
Last weekend we spent three wonderfully sunny days in Zeeland
There we slept in Zoutelande a stone's throw from the beach, and we discovered "Rixx Food and drink" in Westkapelle. And that address alone is already a reason to emigrate to Zeeland. But there was also an educational component to the trip to Zeeland and back. Before the trip, the BX was filled with E10. That happened by accident. Of course, the small four-cylinder functioned on that new excise juice. But after coming home, after 514 kilometers, it turned out that the BX on E10 gasoline had not yet run an 1 on 14. While we had less luggage for three days in Zeeland than before for two weeks in France. The tire pressure was good and we had not had a stormy headwind or anything. The 'profit' of the Yellow Miracle Oil that we noted ourselves was more than offset by the lower combustion value of the E10 gasoline. Please note: this is purely a personal practical experience. If someone has a better story, they can report themselves.
In the meantime, the loyal BX has got a full tank again
And this time, careful attention was paid to what went into it. After all, alcohol is great stuff, but it should be in your glass, not in your tank.
And then for the coming winter
Storing your classic this winter with E10 petrol or even E5 petrol in the tank is not a good idea. Expected for next winter: water, bacteria and algae in the tank. The problem we mention here is hygroscopy, the degree to which ethanol attracts water. That doesn't seem like a big deal, but water attracts bacteria. Dead bacteria settle and can cause contamination in nozzles, injectors and carburettors. This is a problem that has been known for years in pleasure boating with diesel engines. In the long run, ethanol will also separate from water and 'petrol', and the water will collect at the bottom of the tank. After the winter, the engine will first run on water, and he doesn't like that. E10 petrol and Euro95 petrol last for about 60 days. After that, the volatile substances are out and starting can become adventurous for that reason alone. Refuel with Super98 for winter storage or invest in a liter or four of that pricey Aspen or MotoMix / Moto4Plus from Stihl. These fuels are ethanol-free and therefore have a long shelf life, optimal when your classic car is overwintered. Petrol to get the engine running smoothly again next spring.
But first look at the weather. Maybe we will have a few very nice days.
There are also people who believe in the Jesus story but never thought about how Adam and Eve with 2 sons brought in the rest of the population :-).
I do not believe in faith, and certainly not in the government, that agreement is only true in its own interest.
It is not without reason that the abbreviation of the National Government is 'Roverheid'
Consumption will definitely increase with E10.
My Honda CB1100 (a retro CB750 say) went from 1: 18,5 to 1: 16,2 on average. The daily Jaguar XJ V8 from a neat 1: 8,5 to 1: 7 average.
With the note in the story about the BX you have to remember that every car with carburetor on a long journey (while there is often driven faster) is / is more economical.
In the Jaren 70 I went a few times with a Peugeot 504 GL and a Ti (with mechanical injection with barometer) to Austria.
On average, the GL always ran between the 1: 9,5 / 10, but on its way to Austria, it ran at 130 1: 11, the Ti did it more economically.
So comparing average consumption with a ride of 1200 km to 1 piece is perhaps not a good comparison.
Hello Jan. Everything can always be better. But in NL it is not the case that such tests are feasible. We do not earn anything from the site. Just enough on the magazine to keep the site up and running for service reasons. Maybe we should do crowdfunding!
Ethanol leaves a green 'kind of enamel-like' attack on bronze nozzles etc. My lawn mower specialist regularly complains about this. Often this goes off again in the ultrasonic cleaner.
I myself add Briggs and Stratton fuel fit to all garden tools and motorcycles, because we do not use them (all of them) every week.
Gas lines become very brittle of gasoline with ethanol !!
The balance hose between the tank halves of one of the classic motorcycles here looked like a gloomy sausage after using E10. But we gave it a try. E10 is rubbish and probably only intended to make 'old' cars and motorcycles die out
Is it no idea to get the Yellow Castor Oil out of the BX's oil belly and then do the same ride again with E10? And then add regular oil. Maybe the BX still scores higher in its consumption😜 Think that the Lidl will soon have the motorole on offer again. 😬 Ethanol has a higher knock resistance but a lower calorific value per liter. This way you will be swept once more because you pay per liter. 😢
Hi Rjab, good idea. But to tackle something so serious, we have no time for that And I get oil from the Action!
Isn't it also an option to get all gasoline out of the system. I was thinking about this with regard to my GWing '81. This weekend, when I have (hopefully) done the last ride of the season. Then also drain the carbs. I also understand that Ethanol affects plastics niet Don't know if my floats can handle that🤢
Dry storage is now a good plan