Optimax Extreme, Boost98 And Other Ethanol Added Fuels - Verdict?

[nsanity]

We're talking long term use here guys.

I've heard both good and bad about using ethanol in engines, and fuel systems.

Is there any hard proof (preferrably backed by a chemical engineer or automotive engineer, not just heresay plz) either way?

The anti-detonation benefits are nice, but is the corrosion rumour true?

[Busky2k]

Soley depends on what car is being used and the % of ethanol in the petrol blend..

[nsanity]

Soley depends on what car is being used and the % of ethanol in the petrol blend..

Being the forum called SAU, Skylines Australia, i'd assume Skylines

I'll tune for it if its worth it

Edited September 6, 2006 by nsanity

[wrxhoon]

Next time you go to the servo have a look at the extreme pump nozzles, they are already showing sighs of corrosion and they have only been around for a few months.

[nsanity]

Current status, after 8 months of running exclusively Shell Optimax Extreme 100 ron.

After 3 fuel filter changes I still haven’t found one sign of fuel system rubber or metal deterioration.

I cleaned the injectors last week and there is not one sign of any effect on them either. I also flow tested them and they performed exactly as they did last time I flow tested them.

Based on the results with the R33GTST, I have now started to use it in the Stagea, which I will be tuning again very shortly to take advantage of the extra performance on offer.

SydneyKid's findings.

I'm just curious if anyone has anything to refute this

[Sydneykid]

What fuel lines are we talking about?

The steel ones? I don't believe ethanol has any affect whatsoever on steel.

The synthetic rubber ones? On the R33GTST that’s 5 really short pieces that are easily accessible;

Tanks/pump outlet to steel line

Steel line to fuel filter

Fuel filter to fuel rail

Fuel pressure regulator to steel line

Steel line to tank return

When I checked the fuel filter I removed #2 and #3. Any corrosion would show up as softness, loss of rigidity and thinner wall thickness. That’s a no to all three. Any flaking would show up as pieces trapped in the fuel filter. That’s a no to that one as well.

I have also removed, flushed and cleaned the injectors, plus I checked their flow and compared it to before we started using Optimax Extreme. Just in case something snuck past the fuel filters. Or the injectors themselves were somehow corroded or damaged by the ethanol. As you might have guessed, that’s a no to that one as well.

I haven’t measured the flow of the standard R33GTST fuel pump, but it still produces the same pressure (on the GReddy fuel pressure gauge) as it did before we started using Optimax Extreme. So that would indicate to me that some 2,000 litres of Optimax Extreme has had zero effect on the fuel pump

If I have forgotten anything that I should check, please let me know and I will gladly check it. I have asked Nissan why they won’t recommend ethanol, and the above were all the possible reasons they could give me.

cheers