So when did fuel lines become..

Ethanol/E85 compatible fully?

Real world or technically? 
The 90s car I grew up with here totally fine with E10 CA fuel. Never a problem. 

Nylon (PA 12) fuel lines have been in use since the mid 1980’s. 

IIRC all new gasoline-powered cars beginning with 1980 model year are supposed to be compatible with up to 10% ethanol. Not to say that everything will be perfect, but the materials in the fuel system are supposed to be compatible.  E85 is another story altogether. As far as I know, only vehicles specified as Flex Fuel Vehicles can tolerate E85.

^^ This. If it isn't FlexFuel compatible, the fuel system and ignition tuning probably aren't set up for it.

Danny Shields (Forum Supporter) said:

IIRC all new gasoline-powered cars beginning with 1980 model year are supposed to be compatible with up to 10% ethanol. Not to say that everything will be perfect, but the materials in the fuel system are supposed to be compatible.  E85 is another story altogether. As far as I know, only vehicles specified as Flex Fuel Vehicles can tolerate E85.

While this is true, it also took the 80's to really figure out the material impact of the fuels.  

Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) said:

^^ This. If it isn't FlexFuel compatible, the fuel system and ignition tuning probably aren't set up for it.

It is when aftermarket. 

I was wondering if my stock '91 lines would tolerate it....

In reply to Ranger50 :

Short term probably until you can upgrade them.

Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) said:

^^ This. If it isn't FlexFuel compatible, the fuel system and ignition tuning probably aren't set up for it.

Not true. If the hose is designed to tolerate alcohol it doesn't matter the percentage. 
but any rubber dated 40 years ago darn well better be replaced.by now. 

Ranger50 said:

Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) said:

^^ This. If it isn't FlexFuel compatible, the fuel system and ignition tuning probably aren't set up for it.

It is when aftermarket. 

I was wondering if my stock '91 lines would tolerate it....

Are you really going to trust 30 year old gas hose? 

alfadriver (Forum Supporter) said:

Danny Shields (Forum Supporter) said:

IIRC all new gasoline-powered cars beginning with 1980 model year are supposed to be compatible with up to 10% ethanol. Not to say that everything will be perfect, but the materials in the fuel system are supposed to be compatible.  E85 is another story altogether. As far as I know, only vehicles specified as Flex Fuel Vehicles can tolerate E85.

While this is true, it also took the 80's to really figure out the material impact of the fuels.  

Back in the 70's and 80'. Even into the 90's car fires were so common they were called Car-B-Ques.

We owned a not quite 2 year old 1990 Chevy Blazer  that burned up so completely it melted the aluminum rims off and nothing was left but sheet metal and steel.  Apparently the fire started in the alternator. 
luckily my wife 2 daughters and dog all got out safely but the one daughters collection of Beenie baby's didn't get out. 
 

The percentage doesn't matter as far as alcohol goes. It's tested and certain compounds meet those requirements while others don't. What isn't tested is durability beyond 5 years 
To be safe everybody should replace all fuel hose every 5 years but nobody does. 
 

alfadriver (Forum Supporter) said:

Danny Shields (Forum Supporter) said:

IIRC all new gasoline-powered cars beginning with 1980 model year are supposed to be compatible with up to 10% ethanol. Not to say that everything will be perfect, but the materials in the fuel system are supposed to be compatible.  E85 is another story altogether. As far as I know, only vehicles specified as Flex Fuel Vehicles can tolerate E85.

While this is true, it also took the 80's to really figure out the material impact of the fuels.  

The trouble is methanol and ethanol are both alcohol.  Methanol is horrible stuff. Ethanol is wonderful stuff. 
If you drink methanol first you go blind and then you die. 
If you drink ethanol first you get happy then you get drunk. Because ethanol is in beer wine and Booze. 

They are both alcohol but effect things wildly different.  

Methanol is quickly corrosive on aluminum a lot of different types of rubber, plastics,  and nylon. 

Ethanol like methanol will attract water.  But with ethanol  it takes a very long time to damage aluminum. And even longer to damage rubber. 
Rubber is not and has not been approved as a fuel line since the 1930's.  But soft flexible black hose is all called rubber. Technically it's supposed to be stamped Fuel line and meet certain standards. 

Almost any car built today has compatible fuel lines  with E85.  The problem is only those cars that state "Flex Fuel" can use E85 as their ECU is programed to adjust for it when it senses E85 and change the FI duty cycle.

In reply to jimbbski :

You are right. It's not the hose that's the limiting factor it's the ECU. Although I understand nearly all newer cars have it in their system it's just not programmed to work if you don't buy the $99 option 

frenchyd said:

Are you really going to trust 30 year old gas hose? 

Yes, challenge budget dictates it. Or I'm having to run vp c/q16 or similar.