High % Ethanol gasoline eating float needles?

[[email protected]]

So after 12 years of trouble free service from my 40 IDF Webers, I developed a leaky float needle/seat that would allow one of the bowls to overflow. This was from the original all brass Weber Seat that came with the carbs new. For the rebuild, I found a deal on some genuine Weber 40 IDF rebuild kits. I was pleased to find that the new kits came with a float needle that had a Viton rubber tip that I felt would seal better. After two years of, again, trouble free service, I developed a miss on one side of the engine. After disassembling the carb to check for an oddball chunk of dirt, or something, I found that the rubber tip had come off of the needle. Is this just another casualty of the crappy gas with the 5% to 15% Ethanol that's been eating/dissolving almost every other rubber component it comes in contact with? Has anyone else had an issue with this?

[Bajaman65]

This may date me but, way back in the days of 3 Wheelers I ran 100%
Methanol in my bored and stroked engine and found that anything that
was rubber or plastic would melt. I used nothing but Brass everything and that
little puppy would haul ass, oh back to the question. I still use
all Brass Needle and Seats in my Weber’s and Dell's with no problems
but I had a customer with some HPMX 44's with the rubber melted away
on the tips of the Needles, I replaced them with the all Brass set's and the
car has been running fine for several years. I would not take the chance
anymore with 'whatever' they may put in the Gas now days.
Also double check to make sure your float isn't getting heaver by slowly
soaking up fuel.

[DarthWeber]

Viton should not be harmed by gasoline, ethanol or methanol - provided they chose the right type of Viton to make the seal from. There are 4 families of Viton, type F is specific for automotive fuels, it's absolutely impervious. Now if they made the seals from the wrong type of Viton the life of the seal would be compromised. No reason to expect they would choose the wrong type but how would one go about verifying this?
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[OLD VW NUT]

You might be able to find ethanol free gasoline in your area. I started using pure gasoline once I found it in my area and it has increased my mileage by a substantial amount. My small SUV was getting right at 21 with the 10% mix at my local station - I switched to pure gas and I'm getting 23.5 mpg. I went back to a tank of the 10% a couple of weeks ago to see if the mileage would drop - it did - 20.91 - I filled it up today with the pure gas again. Not a bad jump in mileage for the same price. With my Ghia I was getting right at 28mpg with the 10% mix - when I switched it seemed to run better and I was getting almost 30. I'm hoping to get near that with my 2110 - we'll see. The motor is getting closer to completion.

Anyway you might find a station near you that has pure gas here:

http://pure-gas.org/
_________________
71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore

Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI

[RockCrusher]

[ALB]

[RockCrusher]

[lostinbaja]

We have had exclusively 10% Ethanol fuel in the Chicago area for at least 10 years. I have never had a fuel related issue with any of my carburated cars, including Weber carbs.
_________________
Jerry...
If it's being towed, it must be a trailer!
"Vee Grow Too Soon Oldt Und Too Late Schmardt"
RIP Morgan

My photos
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album92

[ALB]

RC wrote:
"Alcohol fuel has the same octane because then they just use a lower octane fuel to mix with the alcohol to come out to the same octane as.."

Thanks RC; that's the tidbit I was missing. In the past I've seen guys blend good gas with alcohol and then be able to run higher c.r's for more power.
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!!

[Almost Alive]

[OLD VW NUT]

[74 Thing]

Thats a 9% gain in fuel mileage for the same price.

Ethanol blends are no good IMO, but unfortunately pure gas is not available everywhere-thanks politicians.

[lostinbaja]

It's a well known fact that you need 2 x's the alcohol to make the same energy a gasoline.
I used to run Methanol in my go cart and I literally needed double the jet sizes.
_________________
Jerry...
If it's being towed, it must be a trailer!
"Vee Grow Too Soon Oldt Und Too Late Schmardt"
RIP Morgan

My photos
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album92

[neil68]

Similar to the Chicago poster, we've had 10% alcohol in our fuel in Canada for years...I'm going to say at least 15 years. I've run stock carbs, Kadrons, IDA's, never a problem with fuel lines, carb parts, etc. There must be other contributing issues...perhaps older fuel lines or low quality products.

Back in the day, we used to add various alcohols in the winter to promote better starts and less icing...usually a pint per tank.
_________________
Neil.

Der Kleiner Rennwagens
‘68 Beetle 2332 cc, 204 WHP
12.5 seconds @ 108 mph
Dynojet Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B_H3eklAo

[Eaallred]

[busman78]

Being stuck with the 10% blend in New Nexico, too many tree huggers here, I have not had any carb problems as to failure of internal parts, although you have to be picky as to what fuel line you use. The cloth wraped "VW" hose does not stand up very well, switched over to Gates fuel hose and have not had any more issues. The jetting did change, using one size larger main, but had to drop two sizes in Air Correction. Oh yea, lost 2mpg, which is 10%.

[lostinbaja]

[earthquake]

Are "Grosse Jet" needle valves still available? I have heard they impervious to any fuel, I seem to remember that Jay-Cee used to sell them.

Casey
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[lostinbaja]

[dan devin]

I should have a couple if you need one.