"Orval Fairbairn" wrote

Boat operators, for instance, are having problems with alcohol attacking
fibreglass fuel tanks. It decomposes the resin (probably polyester) and
deposits goo in fuel filters, carburetors, etc.

In fact, there is a problem if you run petroleum-based fuel and switch
to parrafin-based fuel, or vice-versa. The neoprene hoses acclimate to
the fuel in use and harden when another type is introduced.

I had a problem with 10% alcohol fuel, back around 1988, when I filled up
twice in a row, with the alcohol fuel, in a 34' Pace Arrow motor home.

Halfway through the second tank, it started to run at about half power.
(not enough power to pull a good sized hill)

Long to short, after much hair pulling, I discovered that all of the varnish
accumulated in the fuel system for thousands of gallons, and 10 or so years,
was suddenly dissolved, and then deposited in the big canister type fuel
filter.

I would think that even if the fuel hoses and O-rings and such were alcohol
safe, that this type of problem could be very likely to happen in an
airplane.
--
Jim in NC