JohnRoberts Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 Hi Guys Does anybody know if Ethanol in Petrol as any detrimental effect on Copper Tube. Regards JohnR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 Only in so far as ethanol promotes galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. The tests I referred to earlier are reported to have shown the effect on brass and copper components is minor. Apparently aluminium was worse in conjunction with steel. Some petrol is reputed to contain additives to reduce the effect, as do the various magic anti-ethanol potions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRoberts Posted August 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 Hi RobH Thanks for that. It's just as well because I used 8mm Copper as a return fuel line for the EFI system fitted last year. Regards JohnR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 Do they not distil Gin & whiskey in copper stills? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
duncan Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 please, whisky Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeF Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 16 hours ago, RobH said: Only in so far as ethanol promotes galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. The tests I referred to earlier are reported to have shown the effect on brass and copper components is minor. Apparently aluminium was worse in conjunction with steel. Some petrol is reputed to contain additives to reduce the effect, as do the various magic anti-ethanol potions. Ethanol absorbs water and then hydrolyses to acid. Two dissimilar metals [in contact] in an acid/aqueous solution will result in the more reactive one [such as aluminium with steel] will galvanically corrode. The "anti-ethanol" additives are supposed to neutralise the acid. All metals tarnish, even shiny ones like stainless steel and the tarnish, effectively a ceramic, can act as a protective layer. WE are used to the brown appearance of copper, that is tarnish , really clean copper is an attractive pink. Acids can remove the tarnish - eg flux in soldering -- but I would think any acid in petrol will only be a weak organic and very dilute at that and so not effect copper components. The two main exceptions to this are gold which doesn't do anything - ever - and iron which rusts. Because iron/steel is so common we tend to think it is representative of all metals but actually it is completely untypical. Rust is a complex substance more like a sponge which holds water and air against the iron which reacts continuously. This why iron component s corrode through whereas other metals mostly do not. Having said all that I only use Esso /Tesco higher octane petrol in my car and only put small amounts of fuel in tank to ensure petrol is always relatively fresh through rapid turnover. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 4 hours ago, duncan said: please, whisky As well as whiskey! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.