MTBE in gas, fuel line deterioration

[Greg Hermann]

>Hi everyone,
>
>A wise-sounding fellow on another list was saying that MTBE in certain
>pump gasolines can cause over-rapid deterioration of rubber fuel lines
>in some older cars. (And that the MTBE was used to meet some relatively
>new emissions-related legal requirements, say within the past few years.
>Also I think this applied to California, and perhaps some other states,
>but not necessarily to all states.)  He further claimed a ~30% increase
>in engine bay fires in the time period covered.
>
>So what I'm wondering is, should I worry that today's pump gas might
>eat up rubber fuel lines extra quick? Would this only apply to "older"
>cars, and if so, how old would "older" be? 10 years, 20 years?
>
>Anyway it seemed like if this was a genuine issue, it'd be a pretty
>serious thing, and worth some preemptive part replacement.
>
>   Thanks,
>   Chris C.

My IMPRESSION has been that MBTE was an additive-used instead of
ethanal--in areas where "oxygenated" fuels have been mandated as an
emissions band-aid--such as the Denver area in the winter time. Supposedly,
the extra oxygen in the fuel would make vehicles typically run leaner under
conditions (combination of high altitude and cold weather in Denver) which
would make them run rich. Since Denver's problem was high CO, this approach
was the collective "wisdom" of the EPA parasites.

The mandate first began when carburetted cars were the norm. The parasitic
numbskulls have never figured out that vehicles with inlet air tract temp
compensation and HEGO sensors have obsoleted their supposed "wisdom". Liddy
Pineapple for Pres--Yeah, sure.

Regards, Greg