Ok this is bizzarre

My neighbor has a 1972 Chevy pick up street rod. this Friday he filled up with 93 octane super unleaded at a major chain gas dealer, with the truck running fine. I should state that the truck is mechanically new. I built the engine for him and he rebuilt the entire fuel system; pump, lines, gas tank, sender, and a brand new Edelbrock 650cfm carb.

The following Saturday the truck would not start. Underneath the truck there were pools of liquid that had bleached the concrete driveway bright white. All of the brand new rubber fuel lines have been eaten alive within a 24 hour period, and most of the seals in the Carburetor have been eaten alive as well.

The gas that's in the tank smells very strange. It smells like old school bug killer and it evaporates extremely fast, faster than any kind of gasoline that i've ever seen. It doesn't smell like E-85 or some blend of Alcohol. I did a quick test with the mystery liquid with baking soda and it didn't react, so that rules out some sort of acid.

In all my years of gear heading I've never seen anything like this. I've never seen anything go after rubber that fast. Does anyone out there have any idea what made it into his gas tank?

most cars can sustain about 12% before it begins to eat away at the hoses and rubber components (UNLESS it's E85 ready). The smell is probably the after effect from the reaction (and if the pump is in tank, it's done). It is probably 25% or more in this particular load.

Take a sample and CALL the owners of the chain, record the date and time you got the fuel, and ask for an explanation. There is also a chance that the rubber seals in the valve train are destroyed, along with any other seals made of synthetic rubber.

You have a huge problem and you are going to have to flush the fuel system before using the car again.