Dear Sirs,
I stopped at your store on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, on my way from Madison, WI to my home in (omit), KY. I had experienced problems with my 1984 Chevy Sportvan and you were so nice to me that I feel obligated to explain what I found wrong with the van in order that you may help anyone else whose vehicle has the same symptoms.

I've only put 11,000 miles on this van since 2001. During the 35 months I've owned it I have replaced: all vacuum lines, all sensors, all regular tune-up items, carburetor, fuel pump, rebuilt transmission, alternator, starter and any other items it needed including dual batteries and an in-line clear plastic fuel filter.

Looking over my repair and comments log, I have had several occasions when I filled up my 33 gallon fuel tank from near empty and within a few miles, the van began to surge and refuse to go over 45 MPH. It started, idled, and revved up normally while still, but each time I tried to drive over 40 - 45 MPH the trouble began. I have blamed the problem on trash in the gas tank or thought it was fuel pump, fuel filter, carburetor, spark plugs, knock sensor, bad gas, etc. and each time the problem eventually cleared up. Also each time this happened I was away from home in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Louisville, KY, in 2002, 2003 and this trip in 2004 (on a recent 1600 mile trip from KY to the Gulf Coast I had no problems; ambient temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s F).

This Trip: I filled up in (omit), KY then in Brownsburg, IN. The van ran fine. Then I added 10 gallons in Wenona, IL. The van didn't run well, but still OK. Then I filled up from nearly empty in Madison, WI and the van began surging badly and wouldn't let me go over 45 MPH. I added fuel cleaners. No help. I changed my in-line fuel filter. No help. I began to suspect Ethanol was the problem. When we were ready to leave Madison, I found a gas station that had standard gasoline and put in 10 gallons (all it would hold) and headed back toward KY. With the 10 gallons of standard gas it ran much better but I wouldn’t get on the Interstate because of it’s poor performance so we followed the secondary highways. In each town I couldn't find a station that had standard gasoline so I continued adding 10 gallons of Ethanol as needed and the van continued to surge. If I held the gas pedal stationary on 10 inches of vacuum, it would do up to 45 and sometimes 50 MPH. If I tried giving it more gas, vacuum dropped to 5 or less and it would surge so badly that I had to get off the gas pedal and ease it up slowly. I had to creep up the hills at 30 to 40 MPH.

In desperation, I stopped at your store for any advice you might give. I'm thankful that you folks are honest. You didn't try to sell me new spark plugs or filters or additives. You did tell me about a muffler shop in Benton that might help if the problem was the catalytic converter. The muffler man didn't think it was the converter but it would be two days before he could get to it to check it out. He thought it might be the fuel pump or gas filter. Since the fuel pump only had about 2,000 miles on it, I decided to change the in-line fuel filter again. That didn't help. So we continued creeping and surging on our way to KY. The trip normally takes 9 to 11 hours. This trip took 20 hours driving and 10 hours stopping overnight: total 30 hours (ambient temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s F).

When we crossed the river at Shawneetown, IL, I stopped at the first KY gas station and asked if their gas had Ethanol. The man said "NO, I don't allow Ethanol in my tanks." We could hold only 10 gallons. After adding the 10 gallons of standard gas to the 23 gallons of Ethanol that was in my tank, we pulled out of the station and headed uphill at 60 MPH. We drove the remaining 200 miles home with NO more problems and at normal speeds.

Since returning home I've been studying Ethanol on the Internet. My problem seems to happen mostly on vehicles with carburetors and without computer controlled injectors. I don't know yet how to correct the problem on vehicles such as mine but I will try. If I find a way, I'll let you know. Until then, I'll just have to avoid putting too much Ethanol in my tank.

Thank you for your honesty and help.
Howard D. Dickens
9/23/2004