Fuel pump failures

[Larry Smeins <lsmeins@ball.com>]

>Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 16:31:46 -0600
>From: audidudi@delphi.com (Jeffrey J. Goggin)
>Subject: Fuel pump failures...

>This past weekend, I had the FOURTH fuel pump failure of the year in my
>family's fleet of cars, the fuel pump in my 200q being the most recent
>victim.  Until this morning, I just assumed we were unlucky but while
at the
>gas station this morning, it hit me: Thanks to being on the EPA's "hit
>list," the Phoenix metropolitan area's gas stations are now required to
sell
>oxygenated fuel year 'round instead of just in the winter months ... if
what
>I've heard about this stuff is true, it appears there could be a
>cause-and-effect relationship here.  On the counter inside the station
>(Chevron) was a pamphlet explaining that the fuel systems in some
"older"
>cars -- which it defined as pre-1990! -- may not be compatible with the
>latest oxygenated fuels and increased wear and/or premature failure of
>rubber parts may result ... has anyone else in Arizona or California
had
>problems using this stuff in their Audis or is the high failure rate
I'm
>experiencing just a statistical fluke?

Colorado has been mandating oxygenated fuels for the winter months (Oct.
1 thru March 31) for several years.  I have had no problems with it,
other than reduced mileage, in my Audis.  There are two oxygenators used
here, alcohol and MTBE.  Alcohol has caused problems with rubber fuel
lines and gaskets in some older cars, none of mine.  I've also heard of
corrosion in carburetor bodies attributed to alcohol.  MTBE seems to be
OK from these standpoints.  If you think the fuel may be your problem
you may want to find a brand that uses MTBE, if your area uses the same
oxygenators as CO. 

Larry
If you don't care where you are, you ain't lost