Model A knowledge helps with snow

[pgerhardt]

So I went out yesterday to remove the 6" snow we got. My snowblower started right up on the first pull thanks to the 100% real gas I put in last winter, but it was not running well. I could only keep it running with some choke. Not getting enough fuel? Then I remembered that the model A sometimes had the same problem if the vented gas cap wasn't venting. I remove the snowblower's gas cap and it ran as smooth as silk!

I finished the job with the cap loose enough to allow air to enter. Tomorrow I'll bring the cap down into my workshop to find out what is plugged up.

[Ray in La Mesa]

The mind forgets form one season to the next.

[Jim M]

OMG that horrible four letter word! Don't miss old man winter at all.

[Cornishman]

Why do Americans have so much difficulty with E10 fuel. It works fine in Europe. It's cheaper and more efficient as well.

[1937pickup]

Originally Posted by Cornishman

Why do Americans have so much difficulty with E10 fuel. It works fine in Europe. It's cheaper and more efficient as well.

We hate being told what to do or buy, however, I disagree with your statement about being more "efficient." I get better mileage without ethanol, it uses more energy to produce than it provides and finally-I don't believe we should use food to produce fuel.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Originally Posted by 1937pickup

We hate being told what to do or buy, however, I disagree with your statement about being more "efficient." I get better mileage without ethanol, it uses more energy to produce than it provides and finally-I don't believe we should use food to produce fuel.

Exactly right.
Today's gas, even the good stuff without corn crap in it, evaporates much quicker than the good gas of the 60's and 70's. You may not notice it in your Model A with gravity feed, but other old cars using a fuel pump and carburetor need to be primed if they set for a couple days. I finally had to add an electric pump to my Studebaker. It's better than wearing out the battery and starter.

[C26Pinelake]

Even non ethanol gasoline should have a stabilizer added when it will sit for several months. My snowblower also started first pull with ethanol gas in the tank. Wayne

[Synchro909]

When E10 was introduced here (we can still get 100% petroleum from any fuel outlet), it was 4 cents a litre cheaper than "proper" fuel. I did the sums and found that a litre of E10 has so much less energy in it than straight petrol that even the 4 cents wasn't enough to make up the difference on an energy per $ basis. In my book, that is not efficiency.

[Bruce of MN]

Many times cost differences are based on how much tax is chosen to be applied to different types of gas.

[wmws]

I believe straight gas has more BTUs but corn gas has a higher octane rating. If your car is set up for it with high compression ratio you would probably get about the same milage. Our A s with low compression can't take advantage of the high octane. As far as gumming things up I have not had any problems with the E 10. But just to be on the safe side, engines that I won't be using for several months I drain the gas.

[modelAtony]

Originally Posted by Cornishman

Why do Americans have so much difficulty with E10 fuel. It works fine in Europe. It's cheaper and more efficient as well.

I always keep all oil, gas and all things I do to my 29 and 31, in a register book since the crap gas started I loose 3-6 mpg on fuel. Have fun modelAtony tony white Lafayette, LA PS since 2003 I have been running electric fuel pump on 1931. runs better.

[Cornishman]

Originally Posted by modelAtony

I always keep all oil, gas and all things I do to my 29 and 31, in a register book since the crap gas started I loose 3-6 mpg on fuel. Have fun modelAtony tony white Lafayette, LA PS since 2003 I have been running electric fuel pump on 1931. runs better.

It must be an American thing then. Using E10 or conventional petrol makes no difference to the fuel consumption of my VW or Porsche cars nor my Honda motorcycle. As the experts say, the figures say it all. I will continue using the cheaper fuel and save my money. We call the urban myths.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by 1937pickup

We hate being told what to do or buy, however, I disagree with your statement about being more "efficient." I get better mileage without ethanol, it uses more energy to produce than it provides and finally-I don't believe we should use food to produce fuel.

if you want to go eat the corn that is grown to produce ethanol and other things like plastics be my guest.

theres a reason we eat sweet corn vs field corn.

[sphanna]

but the field corn is converted to human food by the beef it is fed to.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

if you want to go eat the corn that is grown to produce ethanol and other things like plastics be my guest.

theres a reason we eat sweet corn vs field corn.

You can add field corn to the Christmas fruit cake............sure couldn't hurt it.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

Ahem, some posters have credibility and some don't

some posters have never picked up any wrenches and are termed 'armchair' mechanics and 'armchair' critics and thus are not able to relate actual personal experiences; just what they have read

Tbird,
It's not TOO hard to pick out & IGNORE those folks
Bill Suspicious

[Cornishman]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

Ahem, some posters have credibility and some don't

some posters have never picked up any wrenches and are termed 'armchair' mechanics and 'armchair' critics and thus are not able to relate actual personal experiences; just what they have read

Please elaborate. I thought everyone's opinion and experience was valuable.

[ursus]

Cornishman is speaking from personal experience with the E10 found in Europe, which may be a different formulation than we are using here. There must be some regional variation in the E10 sold in the US because I never see that many complaints from my part of the country. I notice a difference in the gas when I am driving in California, where it comes from a different refinery than what is sold in the Northwest. I would agree that the fuel efficiency with E10 is less, which also makes sense on a thermodynamic basis.

[Mitch//pa]

Most small engine gas caps have an internal vent / rubber diaphram so as to not let water / dirt in.. you need to know the design your working with before blowing air at anything and many times it may require a new cap...

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

You can add field corn to the Christmas fruit cake............sure couldn't hurt it.

nothing can hurt that stuff... its like kitchen or cabinet concrete...