Ethanol mixed fuels blamed for some problems in Minis

[danjmcs]

Regardless of the political debate on this issue, see page 2 (quoted below) about damage and repairs specifically to Minis (and other cars) related to fuels we buy daily that have Ethanol mixed in with them (mandated by law for lower emissions) as well as a mention of issues running the E85 blend.

It sounds like the mix/blend of fuel being distributed in some areas of the country is potentially higher than the mandated 10% max blend, which can lead to problems.

I can't think of anyone in the club off-hand who has had a fuel related failure or repair, but something to be aware of it looks like.

Though the media is ignoring it, one can easily find many stories on BMW (BMWG.DE) blogs relating similar problems with fuel systems damaged by the use of ethanol. Certainly that was the case with Christi Jordan and her 2007 Mini. For weeks it was difficult to start; Moritz BMW in Arlington, Tex., inspected it and found severe carbon buildup inside the engine. On her second trip to the mechanics they decided to test the ethanol content of Christi's fuel and found it was much higher than the federally mandated limit of 10%. This time the fuel pump had been destroyed by the ethanol. The repair bill came to $1,200: As in all cases where vehicles are damaged by ethanol, legally the factory warranty no longer applied.

Jim Keppler, Moritz's fixed operations director, said he's had at least 10 other cases of ethanol poisoning in Minis over the past six months. Christi was one of the lucky ones; Moritz covered her repairs. But there's no telling how many motorists across the nation have had to pay for fuel pumps, or fuel systems, that ethanol damaged. Most were probably unaware of the real culprit behind the breakdown, because virtually no repair shop tests the level of ethanol in the gasoline when these fuel system problems occur.

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/c ... 058678.htm

[Chili Mini]

It would be helpful to know from which fuel retailers these problems are coming. Specifically if they include Top Tier retailers such as Shell, QT, Phillips, Chevron, and a few others. Mobil, Circle K, COSTCO, WalMart, Valera, etc are not Top Tier; they don't contain the additive package high performance engines require. Could be they also don't control the ethanol mix.

[OPC]

Anyone have any prior experience with Fuel Test Kits?

[AZblackOUT]

Wow... i am especially surprised to read this because i was running E85 for awhile... didnt have any issues though

[Chili Mini]

Raised the issue of the ethanol fuel mix with one of the service advisors (Justin was out) and with Dave Smith, Motoring Advisor at MINI North Scottsdale yesterday. The SA said they've had some real performance and damage problems resulting from MINIs running fuel with too high an ethanol content. Contributing to the problem is that ethanol damage does not result in a Check Engine light and there are no stored trouble codes. They've now begun doing fuel testing on cars with performance issues but no trouble codes. In one troublesome MCS, they found fuel with almost double the percentage of ethanol allowed. Fuel source was a valley Circle K. The SA says they now advise MINI owners to use only Top Tier fuels which have higher detergent additive content and which control the ethanol content of their fuels. Dave Smith, MA says that they now provide new MINI owners with the Top Tier list and advise them to use only Top Tier fuels. These include Texaco, Conoco, QT, Shell, Phillips, Chevron. NOT included are Exxon/Mobile, Valero, Circle K, 7-11, and all big box store fuels.

[MNIBMR]

I had this problem with my MINI when it only had 11,000 miles on it. It cost me over $1,000 to repair - MNS wouldn't cover the repair because they said the problem resulted from "bad gas". I purchased my MINI used with 9,000 miles already on it and who knows what kind of gas the previous owner used MNS suggeted Chevron Supreme - I now have 53,000 miles and all is well!