Anyone tried this?

Tips, tricks, questions and answers to tech questions
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12171
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9834 times
Been thanked: 10147 times

Anyone tried this?

Post by Skub »

Removing ethanol from petrol.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
katana
Posts: 214
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:46 pm
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by katana »

Thought the water would be absorbed by the ethanol. So still be in suspension with the petrol.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12171
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9834 times
Been thanked: 10147 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Skub »

I dunno. It seems to be a popular move among the classic boys.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Lutin
Posts: 648
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:52 pm
Location: Just across the border in the Republic
Has thanked: 258 times
Been thanked: 332 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Lutin »

I notice that the video didn't mention what is to be done with the water/ethanol mixture. Just pour it down the drain? Leave it to evaporate?

I'm all for removing ethanol from petrol (as it's clearly of dubious benefit and verges on being a scam) but the responsible disposal of the removed ethanol always seems to be quietly ignored.
Blundering about trying not to make too much of a hash of things.
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14218
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7535 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by KungFooBob »

They turn it into Blue WKD.
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13955
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2552 times
Been thanked: 6257 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:03 am They turn it into Blue WKD.
Only the stuff taken out of Shell VPower, the stuff from normal petrol gets turned in Aldi own brand 'Wicked'.

Actually that reminds me. Last time I checked, VPower was ethanol free anyway. Seems a lot easier (and safer) to just buy that?
Supermofo
Posts: 5002
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4362 times
Been thanked: 2852 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Supermofo »

Lutin wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:01 am I notice that the video didn't mention what is to be done with the water/ethanol mixture. Just pour it down the drain? Leave it to evaporate?

I'm all for removing ethanol from petrol (as it's clearly of dubious benefit and verges on being a scam) but the responsible disposal of the removed ethanol always seems to be quietly ignored.
I presume you can dispose of it at a fuel station. I had an old petrol can with a bit of petrol in it and took it to the dump assuming incorrectly I could pour the petrol into a container there. They told me to take it to my local petrol station and they would have a tank I could pour it into. I went to the local BP and asked thinking they tell me to sod off but the manager said to pour it into a grate over by where they do the petrol tank filling, so assume it's for catching any spillages from that. Ok this wouldn't be proper petrol but would probably be the best place for it.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12171
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9834 times
Been thanked: 10147 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Skub »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:53 am
KungFooBob wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:03 am They turn it into Blue WKD.
Only the stuff taken out of Shell VPower, the stuff from normal petrol gets turned in Aldi own brand 'Wicked'.

Actually that reminds me. Last time I checked, VPower was ethanol free anyway. Seems a lot easier (and safer) to just buy that?
No Shell garages here. :(
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14218
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7535 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by KungFooBob »

Aspen fuel is ethanol free, I've no idea how much a barrel delivered to your door is.
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13955
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2552 times
Been thanked: 6257 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

That garage inside Silverstone sells "Gulf Endurance" 102RON ethanol free fuel doesn't it? Could always get some of that, s'probably quite cheap.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12171
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9834 times
Been thanked: 10147 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Skub »

I'm not concerned for my own uses at the moment,I'm happy enough using E5 super with an additive for the Winter months. I just wondered if the vid shows one possible future solution if the ethanol content rises and E5 is discontinued.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13955
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2552 times
Been thanked: 6257 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

The irony is, pure ethanol is great. E100 lets you run mega high compression so you get way more power AND better efficiency, even though ethanol is less calorific than petrol.

E10 is the worst of both worlds. Lower energy density with few of the high 'octane' advantages.

Look how much ethanol boosts the RON as you add more.

Image
Last edited by Mr. Dazzle on Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14218
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7535 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by KungFooBob »

It tastes shit on your cornflakes too!
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12171
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9834 times
Been thanked: 10147 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by Skub »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:10 pm The irony is, pure ethanol is great. E100 lets you run mega high compression so you get way more power AND better efficiency, even though ethanol is less calorific than petrol.

E10 is the worst of both worlds. Lower energy density with few of the high 'octane' advantages.

Look how much ethanol boosts the RON as you add more.

Image
Roll on E99. :thumbup:
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
David
Posts: 2134
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Top 'o the Worle
Has thanked: 218 times
Been thanked: 689 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by David »

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 11:32 am Aspen fuel is ethanol free, I've no idea how much a barrel delivered to your door is.
£20 + for 5 litres when i last looked.
User avatar
dern
Posts: 2141
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:51 am
Has thanked: 1016 times
Been thanked: 1776 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by dern »

Genuine question... why would you bother?
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14218
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7535 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by KungFooBob »

If you've got something proper old, there's a good chance that any hoses or rubber o-rings are not ethanol proof.

You don't want to be putting E10 is a classic vehicle.
User avatar
dern
Posts: 2141
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:51 am
Has thanked: 1016 times
Been thanked: 1776 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by dern »

Ok. No then. I swapped all the hoses on my '88 2cv to suitable lines and will replace the seals as I go and run it on super. This sounds like a massive faff and very limiting. Definitely better to modify the car/bike if possible.
User avatar
mangocrazy
Posts: 6920
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:58 pm
Has thanked: 2407 times
Been thanked: 3635 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by mangocrazy »

Viton seals and o-rings are the only game in town when you start running ethanol at any percentage above low single figures. I replaced all the fuel lines on the 888 and the VFR a few years back and both sets of hoses I took off were as brittle as fuck.

I bought some Gates Barricade fuel hose from the USA as they have far higher levels of ethanol to contend with. I couldn't get the good stuff (fuel hose) over here at that time but I think it may be available here now.
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 5164
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1508 times
Been thanked: 1415 times

Re: Anyone tried this?

Post by ZRX61 »

Lutin wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:01 am I notice that the video didn't mention what is to be done with the water/ethanol mixture. Just pour it down the drain? Leave it to evaporate?

I'm all for removing ethanol from petrol (as it's clearly of dubious benefit and verges on being a scam) but the responsible disposal of the removed ethanol always seems to be quietly ignored.
It's only a benefit to the farmers who grow the soy & corn to make it. There is absolutely no environmental benefit at all.

https://climatechangedispatch.com/u-s-c ... udy-finds/

https://climatechangedispatch.com/epa-f ... al-damage/