fuels containing MTBE.

When this evil additive first came out there were many vehicles that 
suffered fuel leaks due to it's solvent nature. Pumps, hoses, 
injectors etc were all prone to fail. (I) Am amazed that the press didn't 
play it up for the typical fear factor--there's a saying in the news 
biz "If it bleeds, it leads" which is indicative of their mindset.

Perhaps the long arm of the oil industry squashed these reports? 
Regardless, I know from first hand experience in the industry of the 
countless cars that have been damaged or even destroyed directly due 
to MTBE. Be careful!
-ANT
P.S. Ethanol and Methanol are corrosive too, but they tend to gunk 
things up as they absorb moisture and create crusty bits to form 
throughout the fuel system. Stainless steel and Viton rubber is the 
way to go in either case.
==========================================================

These warnings about the type of rubber line you use should be taken very 
seriously.  I had a 65 Monaco a few years back and I watched the new rubber 
lines deteriorate in a matter of months.  Since then I run the FI hose on 
all of my "oldies but goodies" and have put thousands of miles on them with 
no signs of deterioration at all.  I also use the FI style clamps.  They 
are not original but they don't cut into the line and look nicer that the 
standard screw type.

Generally, I run as little rubber line as possible.  My local dragstrip 
won't allow you pass tech if you have more than 12 inches total of rubber 
line.   On the Avanti the only hose I run is about 6 inches to the fuel 
pump, another 6 from the tank and about 3 inches on the return line.  I 
contemplated solid line to the fuel pump but I think flexibility is 
necessary here because the main line is anchored to the frame and the 
movement of the engine might cause it to loosen or crack at the pump.

Before the trip to Charlotte I'm going to install a shut off valve where 
the drain is under the car, just in case.

Ernie R2 R5388

================================================

MTBE poisoned a
number of wells ,  about a 19 block area. the spill was
a about 3 gallons/shell station. .I was going to open
a restruant at the time, passed it by.
Roland G.
=====================================================

The insidious thing about MTBE (which the politicians either didn't 
want to hear or were to addled to understand) is that it actually 
seeks water. Ethanol/Methanol is miscibe with water, it absorbs it.  


Once again the politicians used political means to answer a technical 
problem. They apparently think the public as incapable of 
understanding this stuff so they chose the easy way out. Actually 
they may be right, if the public was stupid enough to have elected 
these nimrods in the first place then they MUST be wacky!
-ANT