Hi All MY first post: experience with ethanol, on a Series 2 Avalon. After about 1,000k's on ethanol, starting probs exaserbated. The motor has always been a little "iffy" on hot starts, often firing, then stopping. Yes, I know about holding key rings and the remote as extensions of the key, and not at right angles. The problem extended to cold starts (previously good), hot starts requiring long cranking time, before a "fluffy" start. Starting greatly improved, after progressively diluting with unleaded. Now, it's close to normal. I broached the subject with my local dealer's service wallahs, who, of course, toed the company line, saying that the Nagoya Ranch ok'd the use of ethanol, but they certainly did not say that Toyota recommended ethanol. When ethanol was mentioned, the customer standing next to me let out a snort - and seemed to mutter "bloody ethanol". Others I've asked have had varying experience of the blend; it seems to vary, car-to-car. These recent incidents may be simply co-incidental and would have happened anyway, but it's been my experience that car problems don't usually go away - they just get worse! But, as starting is virtually back to normal, ya gotta wonder! CHEERS NOEL GORDON