Grades of Gas and Ethanol Question

[Domino]

Until recently we were able to purchase regular gasoline (87 Octane) without ethanol added to it. This is no longer the case. A couple of guys at work insisted that the 91 octane and the 93 octane gosolines do not have the ethanol additive and there in order to prevent problems purchase it. Basically, they insist that the higher octanes can not be obtained with an ethanol additive.

Does anyone know if their position of getting non-ethanol gasoline simply means one must purchase the higher octane gas is valid?

[Big D]

Don't know if Texas is same as Alabama but having to run non-ethanol in my boat, I do know that it is possible to get Ethanol in higher Octane levels....
A few other known facts:
-- Octane will go down in gas at the rate of about 2-3 a month so use fresh gas. Racing fuel is usually 106-109 Octane and considered "old" after a month.
-- The higher Octane fuels also have more cleaning agents, thus burn better.
-- Fuel Injector cleaner in your tank once a month, will keep any gum build up from happening in your jets.

I would say shop around for different name brand gas. I only know of two places in north Alabama that are Ethanol free. They make a blue Sta-fuel for Ethanol that the boat mech lives by.

Also found another link that may help ya out...

Originally Posted by HoarseWhisperer

Those that prefer to run ethanol-free motion lotion might want to bookmark this website:

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

Good luck, D

[Ron Kansas]

Not exactly on target for an answer to your question, but thought you all might be interested in an experience I had a couple of weeks ago relative to ethanol. I was driving my 2009 Chevy Impala with a 3.5 engine. I have the instant and average gas mileage readout on the car. Was driving down the Oklahoma turnpike running an average of 30.3 MPG, using regular grade of gasoline. Stopped on the turnpike as I was so low on fuel didn't want to risk driving on to destination. Regular grade gasoline was $2.64 per gallon, but they had E85 for $2.14. So, I figured even though I would get less MPG, I would be saving 50 cents per gallon, so filled my "FLEX-FUEL" Impala with E85. Within three miles of driving, my average MPG had dropped from the 30.3 to only 22.6, or a loss of 7.7 MPG, a drop of 25.41%. Bottom line, I saved 18.9% on fuel cost, with the mileage dropping by 25%, it was a losing proposition.

Before you ask, I ran that fuel out to near empty and refilled with regular non ethanol and the mileage returned to previous levels.

Ron, Kansas

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Domino

Until recently we were able to purchase regular gasoline (87 Octane) without ethanol added to it. This is no longer the case. A couple of guys at work insisted that the 91 octane and the 93 octane gosolines do not have the ethanol additive and there in order to prevent problems purchase it. Basically, they insist that the higher octanes can not be obtained with an ethanol additive.

Does anyone know if their position of getting non-ethanol gasoline simply means one must purchase the higher octane gas is valid?

Don't beleive it. If the pump states that the fuel has at least 10% ethanol then all the grades have it.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/gasoline...hanol_E10.html

This site states that some purchase higher octane to compensate for the drop in octane if the fuel absorbs water. Nothing about going higher to avoide the ethanol.

[RonC]

On newer cars you should use the octane specified in the owners manual. The car computer will react to pinging caused by using a lower octane fuel than required by your engine by retarding the ignition spark. This will explain why your fuel mileage dropped. Any higher octane than specifed is a waste of money.

[ken ct]

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There are no listed non ethonal in ct.sorry to say. ken ct.

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by Domino

A couple of guys at work insisted that the 91 octane and the 93 octane gasolines do not have the ethanol additive and there in order to prevent problems purchase it. Basically, they insist that the higher octanes can not be obtained with an ethanol additive.

Interesting that the blend value of ethanol in gasoline is 112.5.

http://ag.utah.gov/divisions/regulat...t%20051910.pdf

[HoarseWhisperer]

Also interesting from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Ethanol use as fuel dates back to Henry Ford, who in 1896 designed his first car, the "Quadricycle" to run on pure ethanol.[45] Then in 1908, he produced the famous Ford Model T capable of running on gasoline, ethanol or a combination of both.[45][75] Ford continued to advocate for ethanol as fuel even during Prohibition.[45]

The Model T: The world's first flex-fuel vehicle?

[tmiller6]

Please don't quote that horrible wiki which contains many mis-statements. The Model T forum have flogged it to death. Ford designed the early cars to run on gasoline, period. The Fordson tractor did have two tanks; one for gasoline to warm the engine - the second for kerosene if the farmer wished to run it. Otherwise both tanks were used for gasoline. The farmers were also cautioned to turn the valve and run on gasoline on their way back to the barn.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1287578255

That said, last week, October 13, the EPA ruled on 15% ethanol and only approved it for vehicles 2007 and newer. They also stated pre-2000 vehicles can use up to ten percent ethanol.

Since there could be multi-ethanol grades at the pumps, the EPA is recommending a quarterly review of the labels on gas pumps so that ethanol content will be displayed. This is a recommendation, not a mandate.

At this time the EPA has not addressed the use of E15 in vehicles manufactured from 2001-2006 and plans to do so later.

Those wishing to see more are welcome to read the 255 page report on the EPA website.

Tom Miller