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10% Ethanol Blend

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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 06:02 PM
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Default 10% Ethanol Blend

I live in the midwest and we have a 10% Ethanol blend fuel (Not E85) has anyone ran that fuel or does everyone run the Premium fuels. Regular gas is 87 octane rating and the ethanol blend is 89 octane. Is there any problems with running a ethanol blend or should I stick with premium?
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 06:09 PM
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You'll be a bit leaner, but otherwise it should be fine
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 06:14 PM
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Default 10% ethanol

Here in Minnesota thats about all you can buy is Ethanol and I have not had any trouble with it in my 1976, however if you have not run it in your car before you might want to change your fuel filter after a few tank fulls.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 06:41 PM
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Yep, in Minnesota Ethanol blend is mandated. You should have no trouble unless you are driving something extraordinary. Chevy V8s can take ethanol.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 07:05 PM
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Here in Southeastern Wisconsin we have the 10% ethanol blend. I've run it with no problems. I run the premium. I think it is 92 or 93 octane.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 7Deuce
Here in Southeastern Wisconsin we have the 10% ethanol blend. I've run it with no problems. I run the premium. I think it is 92 or 93 octane.
Same here SE WI & I can get both ethanol & standard gas (3 miles away), both run pretty much the same. The ethanols seems to lower my gas milage a bit?? Dont know if it's just me or what.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 10:33 PM
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Just do not use it with fuel injection. It eats the seals.
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 10:48 PM
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My understanding is all pump gas nationwide will be 10% ethanol soon as the energy bill of 06 mandated phasing out MTBE, which is the incumbent alternative. I run 89 octane E10 in my 73 with no issues. Runs great! 04 Avalanche runs great on it as well. MTBE is some real nasty shiat so i'm glad they are making the change.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 12:28 AM
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If you have a choice then stay with the real stuff (ethanol is not as efficent) but if no choice you can get by on E10. Just stay away from the E85 stuff
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom73
If you have a choice then stay with the real stuff (ethanol is not as efficent) but if no choice you can get by on E10. Just stay away from the E85 stuff


If I had a choice I would use straight gasoline. If you have to use E10, you'll probably notice a drop in mileage.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by cherrybombc3
Same here SE WI & I can get both ethanol & standard gas (3 miles away), both run pretty much the same. The ethanols seems to lower my gas milage a bit?? Dont know if it's just me or what.
I think you're right. The 10% blend does lower my gas mileage by a mile or 2 per gallon. Nothing major but it is noticeable over a full tank. When I'm driving my vette I don't even pay attention to gas mileage anymore.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 09:14 AM
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Ethanol in the gas does lower the mpg - the amount of decrease depends upon the amount of ethanol.

The only thing you need to be careful of when running ethanol containing fuels is anything plastic or rubber - the ethanol desolves the oil (for lack of a better phrase) and esentially hardens those components causing them to crack and become brittle and hard. Therefore when it goes through rubber fuel lines or is around the plastic / rubber parts on the injectors - they will fail earlier unless they were made to be used with ethanol.

And I try to run straight gas - no ethanol
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 10:40 AM
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All rubber fuel lines, o-rings etc have been E85 compatible since the mid 80's. Unless you're still running the factory original hoses you won't have a problem. Actually, if you're running 25+ year old hoses you need to replace them regardless of what you put in the tank!

All gas is E10 here in Dallas for a year now. So far I've had no issues.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by dosoctaves
MTBE is some real nasty shiat so i'm glad they are making the change.
I agree. BRING BACK TETRA-LEAD!
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Big2Bird
Just do not use it with fuel injection. It eats the seals.

EVERY tank of gas sold in Minnesota for years has had ethanol in it. I have never heard of this happening.
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Old Mar 28, 2007 | 06:41 PM
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We've had E10 in Missouri for years, I've never seen problems from it. If anything, it does a decent job of keeping engine valves cleaner.
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Old Mar 29, 2007 | 03:44 PM
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E10 in New York as well. Vette runs great, and I use premium.
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Old Mar 29, 2007 | 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by zwede
All gas is E10 here in Dallas for a year now. So far I've had no issues.
Wow, must be a Dallas thing as I have not seen E10 in the Austin area. But there are a couple of grocery stores that have E85.
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Old Mar 29, 2007 | 09:59 PM
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i heard on discovery the it will cost about a $100 to completely convert any engine to burn E85 just fine, "a few filters and extra hoses", i try not to doubt discovery

Miles
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Old Mar 29, 2007 | 10:19 PM
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I avoid it like the plague. In my DD, a 318 2000 Dodge pickup I get about 10 to 15% lower gas mileage, and it seems less responsive.
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