Corrosion concerns with ethanol in motor fuel - an update

What is the QinetiQ report?
QinetiQ
was commissioned by the DfT to review the ethanol in motor fuel and their report was released in early February 2011 which was reported on the V8 website. See the QinetiQ report on ethanol in fuel. More

What is the FBHVC?
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs(FBHVC) is a grouping of almost 500 Clubs and Museums together with some 1500 Trade and Individual Supporters. The aim of the FBHVC is to uphold the freedom to use old vehicles on the roads without any undue restriction and to support its member organisations in whatever way it can. FBHVC website


Corrosion inhibitor additive coming for petrol with added biofuel
More

Our recent NEWS item on the biofuels report on 23rd December 2011. More

Biofuel additives may be available soon containing corrosion inhibitor, stability improver and biocide products. More

Damaging effects of bio fuels on classic cars
More





What is NACE?
NACE International is the leader in the corrosion engineering and science community, and is recognized around the world as the premier authority for corrosion control solutions. More











Posted: 071111

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Notes from a recent FBHVC meeting on ethanol in petrol and the concerns for classic car enthusiasts.
Brief background
The FBHVC has been aware of the concerns over the effects of ethanol in petrol for classic and vintage car enthusiasts and it has ensured those concerns have been expressed to the UK Government and to the consultants QinetiQ undertaking the review for the DfT. The FBHVC responded to their letters and communications and was involved in the DfT Stakeholder Meetings where FBHVC members' complaints were presented and the 'nothing much to worry about' stance was questioned so the nature of concerns and threats to FBHVC members were established. The Federation also supplied QinetiQ with information used in their influential ethanol report which contributed to some reconsideration in the QinetiQ report of the proposed introduction 10% ethanol by DfT and identified the risk of corrosion. In earlier NEWS reports we have identified three areas of concern - corrosion, compatibility and combustion. A number of corrosion inhibiting additives have been developed by commercial suppliers so the FBHVC decided to take the practical step of commissioning independent additive tests which would lead to an endorsement scheme of those additives shown to be providing worthwhile protection. A conference held by the FBHVC on the concerns over ethanol in motor fuels was held in October 2011 - a brief report follows.

Brief report on the FBHVC corrosion inhibitor additives test programme
Using bio-ethanol can lead to acidic corrosion. Ethanol in storage tends to degrade and the pH falls. The pH should be ideally about pH7 (low pH is acid, high pH is alkaline). Special additives are needed to protect against acid formation in storage (falling pH). Fuel-grade ethanol is usually treated at source but there is no guarantee that this will happen, so ideally an aftermarket treatment should be used which can be added to the petrol during refuelling a classic or vintage car and will protect the fuel system. Potential additives are available; the technology is from the USA where their use is mandatory. So the FBHVC proposed a test and endorsement policy.

Earlier this year the FBHVC decided to take the practical step of commissioning independent additive tests which would lead to an endorsement scheme of those additives shown to be providing worthwhile protection. The test protocol uses an accelerated aging method where one week storage is equivalent to one month in the real world and therefore 13 weeks storage is equivalent to 12 months in the real world. An industry-recognised corrosion test takes place every two weeks to monitor the additive performance and a high performance level will be required to obtain the FBHVC endorsement of an additive.

The test is done using the NACE protocol with polished steel probes and a visual inspection to rate the probes used for each additive. For comparison the base fuel has no additive. The high standard must be maintained over 13 weeks (equivalent to 12 months). Tests started in early July 2011 with the aim of completing them by mid-October and announcing the results at the AGM. However, part-way through the 13 week test sequence contamination in the test bath was found to have influenced results and the tests were abandoned, the equipment stripped and cleaned and the programme restarted late in September. The results will now be ready at the end of 2011. This does mean enhanced confidence in the data and the additive performance assessment and hence any FBHVC endorsement of an additive submitted for test by a commercial supplier.

It was stressed at the conference that no endorsement has been made by FBHVC of any inhibitor product at this stage. It was noted that marketing and promotional material circulated in the week prior to the conference by a company did place the FBHVC logo close to the promotional material so that there were concerns that proximity might lead some readers to believe the product being marketed was endorsed by the FBHVC. Not so - this was made very clear.
V8 Register - MG Car Club - the leading group for MG V8 enthusiasts at www.v8register.net