Diploma in Ethanol and Compatibility of Seals, Hoses and Tanks
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in ethanol fuels and the compatibility of seals, hoses and tanks, with 8 modules covering ethanol fuel chemistry, elastomers and polymers, hoses and fuel lines, fuel tanks, carburettors and pumps, diagnosis and maintenance and regulations and strategy, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Ethanol and Compatibility of Seals, Hoses and Tanks — studying from South Africa
Classic vehicle restoration is a niche but active interest in South Africa, supported by owners' clubs, specialist workshops and historic motorsport events. Restoration work draws on skills in mechanical engineering, materials and heritage conservation. Specialists source parts, rebuild engines and conserve bodywork for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles. Clubs and heritage organisations help maintain the community and promote conservation practice.
Fees for South Africa: R 20 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Restoration work is not generally a regulated title, though ECSA registration applies to engineering roles and the SABS covers relevant standards. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by clients, employers or the relevant body, so check with them first.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in restoration and classic vehicles?
The classic vehicle sector is largely made up of specialist workshops, collectors and small firms that value demonstrable craftsmanship and reputation over formal credentials. A private qualification may add technical depth to your profile, but its impact depends on individual clients and employers. Speak to people in the field to see how they would regard it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before committing.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the chemical behaviour of ethanol in petrol.
Select elastomers compatible with ethanol-blended fuels.
Replace hoses and fuel lines with suitable materials.
Protect and repair fuel tanks.
Adapt carburettors and pumps to ethanol-blended petrol.
Diagnose failures caused by material incompatibility.
Advise owners on fuels and storage.
Who it's for
- Fuel systems technicians.
- Classic vehicle restorers.
- Materials laboratory technicians.
- Technical advisers to car clubs.
- Carburation technicians.
- Elastomer specialists interested in automotive fuel applications.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- EN 228 (unleaded petrol)
- Directive 2009/30/EC (fuel quality)
- ISO 1817 (rubber: effect of liquids)
- ASTM D471 (rubber property: effect of liquids)
- SAE J30 (fuel and oil hoses)
- SAE J1681 (fuel surrogates for materials testing)
- ASTM D4814 (spark-ignition engine fuel)
- Ansys Granta Selector
- Minitab
- Microsoft Excel
8 modules
1.1E5, E10 and E85 petrol1.2Hygroscopic nature of ethanol1.3Phase separation1.4Solvent power1.5Conductivity and corrosion1.6Effect on octane rating1.7Vapour pressure and volatility1.8Storage stability1.9Ethanol-free petrol1.10Practical exercise: phase separation test
2.1Nitrile rubber2.2Fluoroelastomers2.3HNBR and fluorosilicones2.4Cork and leather in classic vehicles2.5Swelling and loss of properties2.6Fuel permeation2.7Oxidative ageing2.8Material selection2.9Identifying existing materials2.10Laboratory: gasket swelling test
3.1Classification of fuel hoses3.2Ethanol-compatible hoses3.3Braided hoses3.4Clamps and connections3.5Metal fuel lines3.6Vibration and fatigue3.7Routing and heat protection3.8Leaks and their detection3.9Replacement plan3.10Workshop: replacing a fuel circuit
4.1Terne-coated and galvanised steel4.2Internal corrosion4.3Internal coatings4.4Plastic tanks4.5Floats and level senders4.6Breathers and filler caps4.7Tank cleaning4.8Leak repair4.9Long-term storage4.10Practical exercise: internal treatment of a tank
5.1Zinc alloys in carburettors5.2Gaskets and floats5.3Mechanical pump diaphragms5.4Electric pumps5.5Accelerator pumps5.6Needles and seats5.7Mixture adjustment for E105.8Symptoms of degradation5.9Compatible repair kits5.10Case study: tuning a carburettor for E10
6.1Symptoms of incompatibility6.2Visual inspection of components6.3Leak tightness tests6.4Residue analysis6.5Fuel stabilisers6.6Winter storage6.7Fuel for occasionally used vehicles6.8Maintenance plan6.9Recording interventions6.10Laboratory: diagnosis of a degraded fuel system
7.1Petrol quality in Europe7.2National roll-out of E107.3Manufacturers' compatibility lists7.4Incompatible vehicles7.5Protection-grade petrol7.6Synthetic fuels7.7Advising owners7.8Club communications7.9Workshop liability7.10Practical exercise: compatibility guide for a club
8.1Vehicle selection8.2Materials inventory8.3Compatibility diagnosis8.4Replacement plan8.5Tank adaptation8.6Adaptation of hoses and seals8.7Carburettor adjustment8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Granta Selector, Minitab and Microsoft Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: swelling tests of elastomers in E10 petrol, phase separation in fuels containing water and inspection of internal corrosion in tanks. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: EN 228, Directive 2009/30/EC, ISO 1817, ASTM D471, SAE J30, SAE J1681, ASTM D4814.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Ansys Granta Selector, Minitab and Microsoft Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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