fuel cell foam

JAC · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2006, 07:00 PM

I read somewhere that ethanol eats the foam in fuel cells. Is this true?

Lowell W · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 06:11 AM

As far as I know, all the gas around here is 10% ethanol. I've had a Fuel Safe fuel cell in my car for 4 years and it seems to be still OK, although I'm not sure how to tell when the foam's going bad. I figured I'd probably replace the foam this winter, unless the folks at Fuel Safe say to leave it.

Lowell

BlueRooster · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 06:35 AM

I have a fuel cell and I have no idea how they work, or how they get updated, or how often. It would be great to hear from an expert on this!!!

scottj · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 07:44 AM

When used with gasoline, bladder type cells and the foam are rated for 5 years. A gasoline bladder will tolerate 15% alky but the life span of the foam will be reduced to 2 years. Alcohol bladders don't use foam since alcohol ar alcohol in high percentages will destroy the foam. Plastic fuel cells aren't really fuel cells at all.

Scott

JAC · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 09:31 AM

Thanks guys, you've been helpful. Think I'll run a cell without foam.

BlueRooster · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 10:32 AM

If you have foam, what is involved to swap it out? Im guessing the whole tank would need to be removed?

mrmustang · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 10:41 AM

Dane,

The tank will have to be removed and the oval access plate removed from the top of it. After that it's just a matter of swapping out the old foam blocks for new ones. Bruce has them in stock as I had to swap mine out in the 95 "R" Model Mustang when I first bought it as the foam was showing up in the fuel filter which is the first clue that it was beyond it's shelf life (so to speak). Keep in mind there are two different versions of the foam blocks, one for alcohol and nitro methane type fuels and one for gasoline.

Bill S.

badrich · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2006, 03:06 PM

I am looking into a fuel cell for my machine. ATL makes them for many Cobra replicas. They have a new "Flex-Fuel" racing bladder that has fuel-tolerant safety foam baffling (works with gasoline to straight alky) and "all internal fuel pickups, fittings, filters, surge tanks, O-rings and seals are custom compounded to resist the full spectrum of new and upcoming racing fuels." [To help when you have to race these accursed new ZR-1s.] I will be contacting David H. Dack at ddack@atlinc.com for more details. Perhaps we can get a deal on multiple sales?

Rich