[vettestr]

In the ultimate wisdom of State government Arizona mandated the use of oxygenated fuels for several months per year. They chose MTBE or an Ethanol or an alky mixture with some terrible results. The MTBE was droped as it created health and contamination of ground waters etc... The alky mixture was up to 15% and had its share of issues but is still being used but with its own set of problems caused. Below is what use of alky at 15 percent proved to be true but more so with older cars and materials used in older car builds or alky compatible materials in your build. I do not know how much is gained by its use in hard fact or numbers but it must have some benefit.

Problems = A> alky is a great solvent/cleaner @ this percentage in a fuel system so when run in older cars it cut loose varnish,rust and crap from fuel lines,tank and carb killing many cars. B> a lot of rubber types used in fuel lines, pumps, gaskets and carbs were not compatible with alky killing a few more cars. C> alky is corrosive to aluminum and eats areas not anodized or with some protective coating so a few more cars had issues. D> Mileage and power went to heck with hard starting or vapor lock when hot got a few more cars. In the end it caused XX amount of cars to be killed/parked or repaired until compatible. The remainder and newer cars run on up to 15% alky but the gas cost is much higher and mileage dropped causing another cost increase but has the smog problem been helped???