Fuel Problems sur la Continent

[oilyrag]

1971 2.4s mech. injection 911

On the subject that Robin posted a few months ago......Just returned from France & never had problems with E10 fuel having replaced my fuel hoses about 5 years ago BUT my fuel lift pump started making a terrible noise 3 days ago in Brive (approx 600 miles away)!
This pump has been replaced before I owned the car so at least 12 years ago & 72,000 miles.

Since returning to UK it's noisy on start-up but sounds ok after running for a few minutes.....I've yet to fill up with UK fuel in case pump needs replacing.

Two questions :- Does noise mean impending failure?
Where to buy one without needing a mortgage?

Any help appreciated ta. [8|]

 

[jamescharnley]

you can buy them new from Porsche .. can't remember cost but I seem to think it was circa £300

 

[Robin]

Hi Tom, I have recently returned from a more than 2000 mile trip round Europe and have used E10 fuel in my 911S (lots of it) without any problems, tankfull after tankfull. I wish someone in the know would say exactly why they say dont use it because it will do this or that to your engine, fuel pipes, fuel pump, injectors or whatever they think might happen to the parts it comes into contact with ???
The noise you say coming from the fuel pump could be because the MFI fuel filter is getting full and it may be affecting the fuel flow until it settles down. It should pump about 1500cc per minute when new, much more than the engine could use in one minute (one hopes).
Keep us posted please on what you find, good luck.

 

[wendysloper]

Below is the advice that Porsche themselves issued in "Classic News" last year:

Compatibility of E10 fuel with Porsche vintage cars and recent classics
Verify your classic car"˜s compatibility of E10 fuel with the help of our overview

E10 is a fuel which contains a higher proportion of ethanol than previous petrol formulations. The "E" stands for
ethanol. The number "10" indicates that the fuel contains up to 10% ethanol. Previously the proportion of ethanol
in petrol was up to 5%.
E10 fuels are suitable for refuelling and thus for running all Porsche vehicles as of year of construction 1996.
Specifically, the Boxster (model year 1997) and Carrera (model year 1998) models onwards.
These new fuels, which can include up to 10% ethanol in the future in accordance with new statutory regulations,
can be used in all new Porsche vehicles without any problems.

The fuel types Regular E10 (91 RON) and Unleaded E10 (95 RON) are not suitable for use in the following
Porsche vehicle types:
Type Year of construction
356 1950-65
911 1965-89
912 1965-69; 1976
964 1989-94
993 1994-98
959 1988-89
914 1970-77
924 1976-88
944 1981-91
968 1991-95
928 1977-95
These Porsche vehicles may not be run on E10 fuel. As an alternative, Super unleaded (98 RON) can be used.
With a maximum bioethanol content of 5% (E5 fuel), Super unleaded is compatible with these vehicles.
Please contact your nearest Porsche Centre for more detailed information.
23/5/2011

As a result I only use super unleaded when on the continent in my 2.4E.

 

[oilyrag]

Mmmmm............still begs Robin's question tho....WHY? ie what are the long term running effects for early cars?
Especially important if UK goes E10 route, as I don't see much 98 on our forecourts. []

 

[wendysloper]

There is plenty on the internet about E10.

For example this article in the Daily Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/9108430/The-ethanol-threat-to-classic-cars-and-bikes.html

To quote: "Yet ethanol is also a powerful solvent that, without a suitable additive, attacks many fuel system components including zinc and galvanised materials, brass, copper, aluminium, seals and hoses, cork, polyurethane and epoxy resins. In other words, almost everything used in a vehicle made more than about 20 years ago. It's also hydrophilic, and water causes all sorts of additional problems."

Regarding 98 octane fuel, Shell and BP certainly offer it on their forecourts, and I have not had problems finding it in France.

 

[Robin]

I wonder how Brazilian Volkswagens run in Brazil when their fuel is all Ethanol ??
Do their carburettors dissolve as is suggested by the Telegraph article when alcohol comes into contact with zinc based alloys.
Does anyone have any info on how Brazil deals with or suffers from its use of alcohol based fuels?

 

[wendysloper]

There are also some additives that you can put into E10 to counteract the ethanol. So if you can't get 98 octone that might be the answer.

For example Millers EPS for cars that run on unleaded

www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/tds-automotive.asp?prodsegmentID=909&sector=Classics

and Millers VSPe for those that need leaded

www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/tds-automotive.asp?prodsegmentID=912&sector=Car

Millers is endorsed by the FBHVC

www.millersoils.co.uk/pdf/automotive/Ethanol%20in%20Fuel.pdf

There are of course other brands on the market.