thinwater
Well-known member
In 1995 Kevin Krause of the US EPA wrote an internal memo detailing the conditions necessary for phase separation (see attached). Depending temperature, about 0.3-0.45% water will cause separation. As a result, only absolute (not azeotrope) ethanol can be used.
In practice...
In practice...
- The E10 is not dry when you get it. It contains some tiny amount of water.
- Most of the water gets in the tank through filler leaks.
- Silica gel vent filters work great.
- On portable tanks, keep the vent closed when not running.
- You will most likely see separation when the temperature drops in the fall, because it has all summer to absorb water, and because tollerance is less when cold.
- Aluminum corrosion is a problem even if not separated. The water increases ion mobility and carbs have aluminum and brass (a bad galvanic pair). The cure is an anti-corrosion additive, suc as Stabil 360 or Biobor EB.
- There is no safe additive the will prevent separation. The are chemicals that will do it, but the engine manufactures have lobbied against them, because they can damamge the engine. Do NOT buy an additive that claims to help burn water.
- Burn the gas through. Gasoline has never been the most stable stuff. Run the engine enough to burn through it several times each year.