From http://www.iowacorn.org/ethanol/ethanol_3b.html :

Q: Does ethanol plug fuel filters?

A: When ethanol first came into use, it was put into older vehicles that had fuel systems that had become varnished over a period of use. Ethanol began to clean the varnish from tanks, fuel lines, and carburetors. This did cause fuel filters to plug. Once the fuel system was clean, this problem was over. Today detergent gasolines help keep fuel systems clean and, in most cases, ethanol fuel is put into clean fuel systems; therefore, the problem no longer exists. All gasolines sold today have detergents added to their composition.

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Q: Does ethanol cause injectors to plug in port fuel injector vehicles?

A: This theory was never proven. Earlier fuel injectors of the pintle design could form deposits that changed the pattern of the injected fuel. This problem developed from injectors seeping fuel when the vehicle was not running. This formed carbon deposits on the pintle and caused even more leakage. This could happen with any gasoline. Because of this problem, injectors in most vehicles have been re-designed around the popet style and all gasoline is required to carry a detergent component to alleviate the deposit problem.


Hope this helps. What kind of car do you have? If it's a very OLD car, then you could initially have a little problem if the fuel filter is old and the gas tank is varnished.



Duck