Does ethanol clog fuel filters?
In early test trials, ethanol was put into older vehicles with fuel systems that had become varnished during normal use with gasoline. Varnish generally only accumulates in fuel systems or containers which see little or no use. Ethanol removes this varnish from the tanks, fuel lines, and carburetors which is then captured by the fuel filter. Once the fuel system was clean and the filter replaced, this issue was resolved. Today’s gasolines contain detergents which help keep fuel systems cleaner and, in most cases, when ethanol fuel is added to a clean fuel system, there is little (if any) varnish in the fuel system and filters are less likely to become clogged.
In early test trials, ethanol was put into older vehicles with fuel systems that had become varnished during normal use with gasoline. Varnish generally only accumulates in fuel systems or containers which see little or no use. Ethanol removes this varnish from the tanks, fuel lines, and carburetors which is then captured by the fuel filter. Once the fuel system was clean and the filter replaced, this issue was resolved.
