Words and Photos By: Dan Hodgdon

As the world grows ever more environmentally conscious, pump gasoline, and in turn many classic cars, have felt the effects. Ethanol now makes up at least a portion of every fill-up. While this may suit newer models designed to take advantage of the benefits of ethanol-blended fuel, which cuts down on petroleum use and greenhouse gases, it can be a nightmare for those vehicles produced when full-service at the local filling station was still a viable option.

Ethanol is “hygroscopic,” meaning it absorbs moisture. This can cause corrosion in both the fuel system and inside the engine. High levels of ethanol also may lead to increased moisture in the crankcase, which can cause rust and other corrosion problems over time.

Ethanol alone is corrosive to components made of aluminum and zinc, while gasoline-oxygenate blends (such as those found in pump gasoline) can also corrode magnesium and steel. This oxidation in fuel leads to fuel degradation and breakdown that results in gum formations and varnishes. The molecular makeup of the fuel will actually change, leading to a decrease in the octane rating and a lessening of fuel performance.

Using an additive like Driven Racing Oil Carb Defender can help prevent corrosion, stabilize fuel, and clean deposits from ethanol.

“Carbureted engines are most at risk because carburetors are made from the exact materials that ethanol attacks,” says Driven Racing Oil’s Lake Speed Jr. “Most carbureted engines’ fuel systems are vented to the atmosphere, which allows the ethanol-blended fuel to attract moisture from the air.”

In addition, problems caused by ethanol are made worse by long periods of storage between uses.
There are a variety of fuel additives on the market to combat these problems. While designed to remove ethanol, these products ironically often contain alcohol. This can also alter fuel itself. Using these products is usually not a good idea, since then you won’t know exactly how fuel will perform and what effects it will have on the engine.

“Most fuel additives that contain alcohol claim to prevent phase separation, which is the term for when ethanol-blended fuel be-comes saturated with water,” Speed explains. “However, the addition of alcohol only attracts more moisture, so these additives never remove the water from the fuel.”

One viable option is to utilize Carb Defender Fuel Additive from Driven Racing Oil. Carb Defender creates a chemical barrier so the fuel will not be altered. It provides fuel stabilization, deposit cleaning, and corrosion protection. It also will not affect the performance of O2 sensors or catalytic converters. In fact, it will help the engine run cleaner, which will promote better emissions. Inci-dentally, this is the purpose of ethanol-blended fuel, so everybody wins.

When parking your ride for winter, it’s a good idea to either drain all fuel or fill the tank, to help limit contamination from moisture.

“Since removing water from ethanol-blended fuels is a fallacy, Driven Carb Defender employs powerful corrosion inhibitors to protect the carburetor, fuel pump, and fuel tank from the water and ethanol in the fuel,” Speed says.

Choosing an additive with high levels of detergent also will help your engine run cleaner.

“Most pump fuels contain the EPA-mandated minimum level of detergency,” Speed says. “By increasing the level of detergency, you can improve power, fuel economy, and throttle response because the premium level of detergency cleans intake valves and combustion chamber deposits that can keep your engine from running its best.”

Selecting the right fuel additive is an important choice, whether you are pouring it into your hot rod, classic car, boat, or even lawnmower. It’s possible to protect engines and the environment at the same time.

Winterizing your car’s fuel system

When you put your classic or hot rod away for winter, you probably unhook the battery, throw a car cover over it, maybe add some mice repellent to keep rodents from chewing on your expensive upholstery. It’s not a bad idea to change the oil, too.

However, the fuel system is critically important as well. Be sure to add both fresh fuel and a storage additive. “Pump fuel is not designed to have a long shelf life, so proper preservative additives are needed to keep fuel fresh during winter storage,” says Driven Racing Oil’s Lake Speed Jr.

By delivering powerful anti-oxidants that preserve fuel quality, Driven Carb Defender protects carburetors and fuel system components from the deposits that form when fuel degrades during storage. It’s also necessary to fill the tank all the way up. This pushes air out of the tank and limits contact with the atmosphere, which could cause moisture to build up in the tank during the off-season. Following these simple steps will help to ensure you are ready to roll out of the garage or barn in the spring.

Source: Driven Racing Oil, drivenracingoil.com