New Fuels In Old Engines

By Bill Siuru
Progressive Farmer

Older equipment can handle new ethanol and low-sulfur diesel fuels. But you have to take precautions. E85 is only for use in the new flexible-fuel engines.

Like anything new, the next generation of fuels comes complete with question marks. Farmers love ethanol. But it can cause problems for some of the older equipment in the shed.

Ultra low sulfur diesel, or ULSD, is supposed to clear the air. But it also might damage older engines. We asked Bill Siuru, a Ph.D. mechanical engineer and automotive journalist, to answer some questions about new fuels and old engines.

Will ethanol-based fuels like E10 cause problems for older engines?

Vehicles and equipment less than 10 to 15 years old probably will not have a problem. Engines built before the mid-1980s are more likely to experience trouble.

Alcohol can cause numerous problems, including deterioration, swelling and hardening of rubber components like fuel hoses, carburetor seals and gaskets, and fuel pump seals. This may lead to fuel leaks.

Also, ethanol absorbs water more readily. This can be a problem for equipment that sits idle for extended periods of time.

Ethanol also can dissolve the lining of fiberglass fuel tanks. The resulting dark sludge can cause engine damage, and the tanks can leak fuel.


Progressive Farmer, September Issue