tampatopless

Apparently there is a service station near the water that sells non-ethanol fuel, usually for boats, but my friends say they see a lot of owners of sports cars and older models filling up here because it's one of the few places where you can get non-ethanol fuel that's not a marina. Neighbor says they sell the three octanes.

Is it worth it to drive that far to fill up? Is the ethanol-blended fuel that inefficient?

Are we far enough along in the ethanol thing to know what ethanol is doing to our engines long-term?

C7Joy

I can't say from personal experience but I have been reading recent posts claiming 3-2 mpg better mileage with non-eth fuel. Given the opportunity to try it I surely would. I don't know where to go locally to get it though.

KneeDragr

This site is a pretty good resource

http://pure-gas.org/

Nothing around me unfortunately. Most major cities and the surrounding suburbs ban it.

FortMorganAl

I have seen 10% better mileage with real gas. For physical reasons it should be more like 5% but I can't argue my own results. So, is it worth it? Do the math. How far to you drive between fill-ups? If the distance to the station and back is more than 10% of that then it isn't worth it. If it is only a couple of miles then it is certainly worth it.

I find that 93 octane is also usually worth the additional cost. 5% better mileage over 89 means about $0.20/gallon at today's prices. Yes, the car will run on 89 just fine but it will back off on timing which decreases mileage.

The problem is that many stations (even Top Tier) change ethanol content on a daily basis. My rule of thumb is to never get gas near large cities (it's the federal EPA rules, not local that are the issue), stick with Top Tier brands instead of always looking to save $0.01/gallon, don't buy all your gas from one station so you get a mix of additives, and, when you find a set of stations that consistently provide good gas, stick with them.

KneeDragr

I suspect the non Top Tier gasoline stations even more. I had a Texaco less than a mile from my house that went out of business. It got taken over by Liberty, and since switching to them Ive dropped 2mpg. I had been getting 28.5mpg for the first 4 years on my DD, now I get a consistent 26.5.

Red Rochester

Mileage is one thing but the true benefit is less fuel injection /engine problems. Especially in small motors lawn mower, Boat, snowmobile etc.

corrado

A dilema I have here in Toronto Canada is whether to use the Sunoco Ultra 94 (which HAS ethanol) or Shell 91 (which has NO ethanol).

Higher octane but ethanol, over lower Octane but NO ethanol?!?

pettvette

The exact same 10% results I see with NON-ethanol, I have been documenting mpg's for years and always see a noticeable drop in mileage with the corn tainted gas.....

Unless I'm on a trip ONLY non-ethanol goes in all 4 of my cars and gas powered lawn tools......

JohnAE455

These cars, and all new cars, are designed to run on ethanol blend so no problems using it. I use ethanol free if I can find it but otherwise I forget about it. I do use ethanol free in all my small engines, but even these don't really care. The reason I do is that some of these can sit for months between use and I think the ethanol would evaporate.

vintagez

corrado, in Canada Shell 91 and Esso premium contain no ethanol. At this time I do not want ethanol in my car engine/fuel system

Larry/car

It is true that pure gasoline makes more miles per gallon than blended. However higher cost off sets this benefit. I just use the lowest cost available and don't worry about it. Never had any problems, even in the older cars (1961) that I own.

vintagez

Larry/car since ethanol was not available back in 1961 the cars were never tested with this combination of fuel, but this topic has probably been beaten to death before. I know newer cars can operate on certain ethanol blends, but why and definitely not older ones

Raazor

we have two Exxon stations in town that I use. No Ethanol for now.

JoesC5

I buy non ethanol gas every chance I get. Currently I drive a little out of my way to fill up but with the 10% improvement in gas mileage and the cost being the same as local E10, it's a no brainier. Plus I want to support the gas station owner as If we don't he will start selling E10 premium to make more money. I do pay $.10 a gallon more for 94 octane ethanol free vs 91 octane ethanol free gas. My Z06 can tell the difference between the 94 and the 91. I run the 91 ethanol free gas in my other cars and small engines.

RicemanZ06

There's a gas station on 60 heading east just passed the Brandon Hospital. No ethanol

CBRXX

I am sure I saw in manual for my 2012, that the base engine requires 91, but the Z06 & ZR1 require 93.

My local Mobil only has 87/89/93, so I have been using the 93 in my GS.

Regarding the non-ethanol, I do think a lot of marina's carry it. It is a huge problem for boaters, as the ethanol absorbs moisture.
I know for a fact that at the Palm Beach Yacht Center in FL, where a friend has a boat rental biz., the marina charges about $1 more per gallon than local stations, and I think it's 93 octane. There is a "boat tax" like a "corvette tax" :

glenB

Unless you are going to the beach, I am sure that Tampa has gas stations that sell non ethanol. If not, the station attached to the Publix at Park Blvd. and 49th street sells non ethanol.

Tampa - CITGO 90 Citgo 8145 W. Waters N28.02592 W82.57132

Pinellas Park - SUNOCO 90 Racin' Gas 4801 Park Boulevard N27.83924 W82.69898

Mad*Max

I drive an extra kilometre to get ethanol free gas, don't know how far it is for you

Vette_DD

The 2 tanks of no ethanol gas I burned last summer, I got 2 MPG overall gas mileage better.

JoesC5

For the LS3 GM recommends 91(but not required) but 87 & 89 okay. For the Z06 & ZR1 GM requires a minimum of 91 but recommends 93.