Gas Woes
Note: Originally published in the February 2013 issue of MVM.
The Chevy 235 has a reputation of vapor locking, and anyone with a G506 truck has probably experienced it on at least one occasion. Just like any classic “vapor lock” scenario, when you shut the truck down, or it stalls on a hot day (typically during or after a parade), it refuse to start again. Let it sit for about 15 minutes with the hood up, and the truck will fire to life.
After a friend and I both experienced the same problem during a Memorial Day parade, we tried a number of ways to prevent it. The problem was perplexing. Figuring I must be missing something obvious, I began to wonder about all the woes that now accompany ethanol gas, so I decided to do some research.
What I found validated some of the steps I had taken to prevent the problem. On the other end of the spectrum, I learned some of the things I was doing only compounded the problem! To be sure, today’s gas issues have certainly given historic military vehicle (HMV) owners some significant challenges, especially given the prevalence of ethanol in fuel.
A BIT ABOUT ETHANOL
Ethanol gas is typically known as “E10” or 10% ethanol and 90% petroleum gasoline. It is more formally known as “ethyl alcohol” and is derived from a variety of crops including sugar cane, sugar beets, potatoes and most commonly in the U.S., corn. Ethanol contains 34% less energy per
