Consider viewing the ethanol information presented on the web site sponsored by The Carburetor Shop LLC of Eldon, Missouri. It gets at numerous issues related to the use of ethanol laced fuels, specifically E-10 and E-15, in carbureted engines such as our y-blocks.
The article identified below gives specific recommendations for recalibrating before-ethanol-use carburetors to avoid the ethanol fuels causing engines to run leaner with the result that they run hotter. An engine running hotter than originally designed can have issues with cooling system effectiveness, engine 'hot-soak', and fuel system vapor lock to name a few that are cited.
Explanation is given of why changes are needed to the ignition advance and to older carburetors on engines now running E-10 or E-15 fuel. Specific recommendations are made for things like how much to increase carburetor jet sizes, changing float levels, changing out accelerator pumps and foam floats, the purpose in staking the seats of neoprene-tipped fuel valves, and the modifying of vacuum controlled metering devices such as economizer / power valves.
Web site navigation:
- address... www.thecarburetorshop.com
- categories at the top of the home page... toggle 'Articles'
- page that opens... scroll part way down the page... under the heading 'General Information'... toggle 'Use of ethanol in older vehicles'