I've been searching about and there's some information around but it's spattered about the place. I'm after some thoughts on two specific questions:

1. Is there any performance or mechanical reason not to run a mini on a 10% ethanol 98RON fuel? (relatively sporty 1380 in my case but also after general feedback)

2. If the answer to 1 is no, then should I be making any specific changes to the timing to adjust for it?

Have always used BP's 98 Ultimate but it's usually only one station per town and never seems to be on the way. Gull sell a 98 but it's ethanol and I know that comes with a bunch of warnings.

I think the problem with ethanol is it will over time, wreck all the rubber hoses and seals in the fuel system and carby.

Change the rubber hose /fittings for Teflon [& Ethonol compatible foam if you are using a Fuel Cell]. Electric Fuel Pumps are the main problem , depending on what is inside the pump. Definitely wouldn't use Ethonol with a mechanical Mini pump.
In saying all that^^^,you probably don't get a true 10% Ethonol Blend anyway....E85 varies between 70% & 85%,depending on the time of year...Summer or Winter.

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1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

Is this the same for EFI minis??

Petrol in sydney even at the 95 level is like 10c or more over the ethenol. Always so tempted to use it.

This may well be true and I think/thought so too, but Lockie has been charging about Australia lately in Bluey, it's often fed a diet of- you guessed it, E10.
[edit] It still runs an SU and (I think) mechanical fuel pump.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Hmmmm......so two schools of thought:

Don't do it you muppet!!!!

and

meh....give it a whirl and see if anything leaks......


I guess I could just use it when I'm not near a BP....if it's a rubber/seal issue then the odd tank here and there shouldn't be the end of the world.....

If it ain't a full and clear yes then it's a no.

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

Used E10 in the 1100 & it has a mech pump, no dramas at all.

Ran E10 in the mini for years without everything "melting from the ethanol" - I would rate it as "pretty safe".

cheers,

_________________
'72 Clubman Van - 1022cc, 295 head, 731 cam - Daily Driver
'69 Morris 1100 S - Dinged by a bus, in shed under repair
'64 Morris 1100 - Early 1100, long term project

The variation with E85[which this thread isn't about...sorry] is that "supposedly" the 70% Ethenol mix is better for starting in cold weather. who knows???
Would depend on your Tune in respect to EFI ??

you will use a bit more fuel [less MPG] using Ethonol...race cars using 85% ...1/3 more but the engine runs cooler...denser fuel/air mix...= more power.

_________________
1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

i have half a tank of e10 left (beforoe clutch problem) found that whith weber (not 100%tuned yet )ran like sh%* you use slitley more fuel and it ran like it was leaning out with efi it adjusts and runs fine iwill siffen e10 and try in lawn mower .alsow heard ethenol obsorbs water quicker than petrol if left for a wile this is when you get problems whith carbys .

Been reading a lot of specs etc for a new small engine for a slasher - Honda or B&S (can't remember which) are very pointed about NOT using ethanol blend fuel in their engines - say it will ruin the carby (diaphragm I guess) So not all 'modern' engines can take it - maybe certain rubber parts just can't be substituted

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I've been running the Moke on E10 for the last couple of years. No modifications and no problems at all. I find that it runs-on a bit less with it.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Ya the general warning given here is that it shouldn't be used in mowers and other small engines. For cars they say 'as per manufacturer' which of course means squat to us. Took it for a spin today to test a new clutch and felt just fine. Happy to use it as a sometimes drop I guess.

One comment I did pick up on - because it absorbs water rather than floats on it, those that have an immediate performance/stability issue may have had water in the bottom of the tank, and that has now been sucked through with the first tank. You wouldn't know for sure unless you fill again and see if the symptoms decrease.

I used one tank of E10 in my Morris 1100 and the hose from the float bowl to the main jet split and started leaking over the exhaust.
It only took a week from when I had filled it to when it started leaking.

The hose was about 12 months old and came with a Fuel Miser brand carby kit. None of the 46 year old hoses were damaged nor was the recently rebuilt Goss mechanical fuel pump damaged. It was only the one hose. When I removed the hose it just crumbled to dust.

I have a chain of emails from different people at Fuel Miser but it was never resolved. They did say that they had never tested their hose with Premium or E10!

I sent some emails to some different parts suppliers and got a couple of responses, Burlen Fuel Systems the makers of SU said that all their products were compatible with E10.

So if you know your car has the right bits you can use E10. But if it has the wrong bits it may stuff up.

That's a shocker! Doing a bunch of driving over the next day so the bit I have won't last 24 hours. Might stay alcohol free until I do a little more research.....