Ethanol in gas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Ethanol can be useful, I know some racers use E85 with good results. It does require upgrading the fuel system to handle the increased volume, and corrosive material. The problem with ethanol in general use, and especially older classic cars, is phase separation and materials of construction in the fuel system. Once enough moisture enters the fuel, (from careless retailers, high humidity, long term storage, ect.) the ethanol will separate and fall out of the gasoline. Older cars have fuel pump diaphragms, carb needle tips, floats, ect that can be degraded. If a older system is in poor condition, the ethanol can exacerbate the problems. All of this is fact.
Can you use it and not have problems? Yes.
Can it cause you major problems? Yes.
Just because you know someone who smoked cigarettes for 40 years and never had a problem from it, doesn't make it a good idea.
Can you use it and not have problems? Yes.
Can it cause you major problems? Yes.
Just because you know someone who smoked cigarettes for 40 years and never had a problem from it, doesn't make it a good idea.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
This is basic fact and science. This means that a car that gets (say) 20 mpg on pure gas will get 19.3 on E10.
Do you believe that if you reduce your speed by 10% that you will get a 10% increase in fuel economy? Think we tried that in the 80's didn't we.
Do you also believe that if you reduce your HP by 30% that you'll get a 30% bump in the fuel economy? Tried that in the 70's. Worked out pretty well didn't it.
Why don't you test it out.
I did. Did it for 8 weeks straight. 4 weeks of ethanol gas and 4 weeks of pure gas. I drive the same distance and route to work every day, 5 days a week. 330 miles each week.
It is an average of 11% ( varied from 10% to 13% loss) loss in fuel economy.
In my current vehicle. 2008 Mazda 3.
In my wife"s car 2008 Mercury Milan it's worse. She gets (according to the onboard computer) 31.2 MPG on average on pure gas. On ethanol gas she gets 27.5 MPG. She commutes same route every day. 440 miles each week.
Both of these are a good sampling of average fuel economy. Long distances, same route each day without other driving involved. No stop and go traffic. No heavy traffic. All highway driving.
You guys likely live in the city have stop lights, and stop and go traffic. I'm willing to bet you can't figure out your loss due to the variables involved.
So when do I start only loosing 3.3%?
Math is great. Real life is often different.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Wow, just wow. No background in engineering or any sort of physics or science I guess. No wonder you're so confused and mislead and choose to believe in scary stories. You and the guy with the fright wig go well together.
