Mazda MX5 - E10 Ethanol Fuel For Old Cars

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Tue 25 Feb 2014 16:55
Mazda MX5 - E10 Ethanol Fuel For Old Cars - Bikerbill

I have a 20 year old Mazda MX5 that doesn't miss a beat. I am concerned that the government is introducing E10 fuel. How will this effect the components in my car? I know I will lose out on MPG. Bikerbill.

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Wed 26 Feb 2014 09:05
Mazda MX5 - E10 Ethanol Fuel For Old Cars - craig-pd130

A report I read recently said there was no firm deadline as yet for the introduction of E10 in the UK.

There have been quite a few hysterical articles about the current E5 petrol in the classic bikes magazines, and how it will cause havoc and destruction etc. Yes, it can cause problems with specialised glass-fibre petrol tanks, and with certain (older) makes of plastic fuel tank liners.

All I can tell you is my 1976 Suzuki GT380 runs perfectly well on E5, without any problems. It's caused zero issues with plastic / rubber components in the carbs and fuel lines.

Some people also complain that modern fuel goes 'off' quickly, or sludges up if left for more than a couple of weeks. Not for me -- over winter, the Suzi is often unused for up to 3 months with old fuel in the tank and carb floatbowls, yet it fires right up again on the same old fuel.

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Wed 26 Feb 2014 09:50
Mazda MX5 - E10 Ethanol Fuel For Old Cars - skidpan

E5 will eat traditional rubber fuel lines in about 3 years, had it happen on my classic (twice). The traditional fuel pipe sold has various BS and other specs on it, the most commonly available one is J30R6, its useless with E5. The next spec is J30R7, also usless with E5. The correct spec hose for E5 is J30R9 but try buying it in the UK. Some sellers show it on E-Bay but there is loads of evidence on classic sites its R6 at best with R9 painted on it. Gates and Goodyear (amongst others) show J30R9 hose in their catalogues but its not available in the UK, only in the US and to buy a full reel and pay postage and duty it is not economic unless you club together with several other owners.

After much searching I fitted a very high quality braided stainless fuel hose with a PTFE liner called Moquip TFE (it was developed for fighters in Vietnam) from a company called Think Automotive. Its compatible with all fuels (including Ethanol) but the hose is not cheap, the fittings are extortionate, you need to get some fittings on the car modified and its painful to work with.

With regards to the issues E5 has caused with carburettors on older cars my car has been updated with a modern engine and fuel injection thus should be safe from any of those issues (unless it eats the alloy tank and swirl pot).

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Thu 27 Feb 2014 17:33
Mazda MX5 - E10 Ethanol Fuel For Old Cars - Collos25

E10 has been sold in seperate pumps in Germany for about two years now it is not used very much to such an extend there has been some talk off taking of sale the pressure coming from the retail trade.

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