outboard stat

All fuels break down with exposure to air and time, even without ethanol formulated into it. I've rebuilt plenty of carbs, that have never seen ethanol fuels. Slightly different smell, but the same issues.

 

sure but whatever you put in fuel in the USA we never had in OZ as we never saw the problems you have over there even before ethanol
The US situation is unique in the word AFAIK?
( saying that Thailand now has it)

 

All fuels sold world wide have several things in it besides gas. Anti oxidizers, stabilizers, winterizers, a host of additives for cleaning and other assorted things. Long before ethanol, even in the old lead fuel days, they had stuff in fuel. Admittedly it has increased considerably since the no-lead revolution in the early 70's.