Ethanol Free?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 6
From: Salt Lake City Utah
Ethanol Free?
So this is gonna sound off the wall. I am seeing ethanol free gas show up near me more and more. I have started using it in my yard equipment to try and stop the corrosion and the varnish. Question I had is if this would be a good thing to use in my car? Its the same price as the premium so switching over would not be a huge issue financially. Just waned to know if it would be worth trying to use it in the car or just stick with the premium.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
All of the ethanol free stuff around here is 87 octane and I would rather have premium since my vette pings with 87 octane. That said if I was going to park the car for a long time then yes the ethanol free would be a good choice. I use stabile (spelling?) fuel treatment in mine to get around the ethanol issue as much as I can on mine since it sits most of the time.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
We have non-alcohol gas around here, I don't remember if it's 91 or 93 octane but it's like 50 cents a gallon more than the highest octane gasohol gas.
I use it when I put mine into winter storage along with Seafoam. Does an excellent job helping protect the fuel system from gunk.
I use it when I put mine into winter storage along with Seafoam. Does an excellent job helping protect the fuel system from gunk.
Last edited by hcbph; Oct 2, 2017 at 07:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,388
Likes: 6,530
From: Melbourne, FL
Some stations around here only carry ethanol free premium. It's not cheap.
For me, I run whatever premium I find. If you let the car sit a lot for weeks it might not be a bad idea to get ethanol free. Either that or some of that ethanol additive stuff and mix it in with your last tank of fuel before putting it up for the year.
For me, I run whatever premium I find. If you let the car sit a lot for weeks it might not be a bad idea to get ethanol free. Either that or some of that ethanol additive stuff and mix it in with your last tank of fuel before putting it up for the year.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
My problem with ethanol free, assuming that it is not some slimy and/or careless SOB doing it and that it is honestly ethanol free is that if it is not used often, we might be getting more stale gas. Many cars are NOT using 93 and some of the cars that do mandate 93 also have cheap users using 87 because "It is cheaper and I used it with no problems." not to mention people using 89. I kinda wonder how often the fuel tanks are refreshed. If I were that worried about it, I'd dump Marine Stabil in the fuel and be done. Otherwise, I think I would be better off with fresh 93 even if it had ethanol as opposed to stale ethanol free 93.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,388
Likes: 6,530
From: Melbourne, FL
Actually, the % of cars that require premium is at its highest level ever. Supposedly sales of premium gas are very, very strong. Many times all the 89 you get at a station is a mix of 87 and 93 anyways.
I'm glad my daily driver truck takes regular. I had been looking at a few options, but decided on one that definitely takes regular (V8 Colorado). My best friend didn't and bought a Silverado SS, which requires premium and knocks if you put it under load on regular pretty badly.
I'm glad my daily driver truck takes regular. I had been looking at a few options, but decided on one that definitely takes regular (V8 Colorado). My best friend didn't and bought a Silverado SS, which requires premium and knocks if you put it under load on regular pretty badly.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 275
Likes: 34
From: Stoughton Wisconsin
I have always used the ethanol free gas in everything I own, vehicles and small engines. I always use Stabil and have never had a problem with anything. I just changed the fuel injectors on my 85 Corvette because I had the intake apart for new gaskets. The injectors were the originals, I am the original owner of my 85. To my knowledge the injectors were working just fine with 90,000 miles on them. I replaced them because of age and mileage. I will only use the tainted fuel when the ethanol free is absolutely no longer available.
Last edited by Randy M; Oct 3, 2017 at 08:41 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,061
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
When driving/filling on a regular basis, gas with ethanol is fine, it's when parking for a while (like over winter) it can become a problem which is why one should use a stabilizer.
I had posted this article in another thread, good article that explains what happens to ethanol gas and pretty much relates to any gasoline engine.
http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/boati...ilizers#page-8
I had posted this article in another thread, good article that explains what happens to ethanol gas and pretty much relates to any gasoline engine.
http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/boati...ilizers#page-8
Last edited by bac22; Oct 3, 2017 at 08:59 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I have always used the ethanol free gas in everything I own, vehicles and small engines. I always use Stabil and have never had a problem with anything. I just changed the fuel injectors on my 85 Corvette because I had the intake apart for new gaskets. The injectors were the originals, I am the original owner of my 85. To my knowledge the injectors were working just fine with 90,000 miles on them. I replaced them because of age and mileage. I will only use the tainted fuel when the ethanol free is absolutely no longer available.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 332
Likes: 74
From: MUSKOGEE COUNTY OKLAHOMA
"Carry Nation gas" has always been available here in the Ind'n Nations, 87,89, & 91 octane. I run 67 in my pickup and all small engines and 89 in my 'vettes with no ping or problem. A lot of stations only have two grades in the tanks and three grades on the pump, so you get the same gas for 89 & 91, just at a different price.
I think non-alcoholic gas is a must for small engines.
I think non-alcoholic gas is a must for small engines.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I always use E0 whenever possible in older cars and all lawn equipment, the corvette gets 93 octane E0 and I get over 1mpg better just from that, plus I let it sit a week or two at a time depending on season.
For newer cars since E10 was introduced, it doesn't really matter for them as theyre set up to handle the corn liquor in the fuel system but if youre still letting it sit then its not a bad idea.
For newer cars since E10 was introduced, it doesn't really matter for them as theyre set up to handle the corn liquor in the fuel system but if youre still letting it sit then its not a bad idea.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
"Carry Nation gas" has always been available here in the Ind'n Nations, 87,89, & 91 octane. I run 67 in my pickup and all small engines and 89 in my 'vettes with no ping or problem. A lot of stations only have two grades in the tanks and three grades on the pump, so you get the same gas for 89 & 91, just at a different price.
I think non-alcoholic gas is a must for small engines.
I think non-alcoholic gas is a must for small engines.
The ECM, as I am told, can retard timing by up to 20 degrees when it perceives knock. That makes me think that if all it takes is UP TO 19 degrees, you won't hear knocking. Once it needs to retard more than 20 degrees and it cannot, you will hear the knock. So when you don't hear it, does it mean it isn't occurring or is the ECM compensating?
Last edited by aklim; Oct 3, 2017 at 12:26 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
So this is gonna sound off the wall. I am seeing ethanol free gas show up near me more and more. I have started using it in my yard equipment to try and stop the corrosion and the varnish. Question I had is if this would be a good thing to use in my car? Its the same price as the premium so switching over would not be a huge issue financially. Just waned to know if it would be worth trying to use it in the car or just stick with the premium.
I wish we could get E0 in my area.
I've run regular in my car a couple times and you can definitely hear the engine ping *before* the computer pulls timing. It's not severe and it lasts only a fraction of a second, but you can definitely hear it. And of course you can feel a power drop at the very instant timing is pulled. I noticed this many times when testing a few tanks of regular and mid-grade... it did not ping all the time, but happened more often when engine temps got into the 215-225F range. It was an easy decision to run premium full-time in this car. It still pings with premium, but it is very rare and only under specific conditions.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 6
From: Salt Lake City Utah
I think I mis-spoke about the grade. Most of the stations in my area have 88 octane ethanol free but there are a couple that have 91 that I would most definitely use. When I said "stick with the premium" in my mind I was separating the premium with ethanol with the ethanol free 91.
My thing is that its driven at most about 20 miles a week as I take the train to work to avoid traffic and gas costs (my work will reimburse me for the train but not gas). Would using the 91 E0 be a good option seeing as I don't drive it too far every day so I can try to avoid the corrosion from the fuel sitting for longer periods than most dailys?
My thing is that its driven at most about 20 miles a week as I take the train to work to avoid traffic and gas costs (my work will reimburse me for the train but not gas). Would using the 91 E0 be a good option seeing as I don't drive it too far every day so I can try to avoid the corrosion from the fuel sitting for longer periods than most dailys?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 6
From: Salt Lake City Utah
My problem with ethanol free, assuming that it is not some slimy and/or careless SOB doing it and that it is honestly ethanol free is that if it is not used often, we might be getting more stale gas. Many cars are NOT using 93 and some of the cars that do mandate 93 also have cheap users using 87 because "It is cheaper and I used it with no problems." not to mention people using 89. I kinda wonder how often the fuel tanks are refreshed. If I were that worried about it, I'd dump Marine Stabil in the fuel and be done. Otherwise, I think I would be better off with fresh 93 even if it had ethanol as opposed to stale ethanol free 93.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Several stations in our area have started carrying 93 octane ethanol free. Same price for it as for E10 premium at other stations. Perhaps it's a win-win.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I think I mis-spoke about the grade. Most of the stations in my area have 88 octane ethanol free but there are a couple that have 91 that I would most definitely use. When I said "stick with the premium" in my mind I was separating the premium with ethanol with the ethanol free 91.
My thing is that its driven at most about 20 miles a week as I take the train to work to avoid traffic and gas costs (my work will reimburse me for the train but not gas). Would using the 91 E0 be a good option seeing as I don't drive it too far every day so I can try to avoid the corrosion from the fuel sitting for longer periods than most dailys?
My thing is that its driven at most about 20 miles a week as I take the train to work to avoid traffic and gas costs (my work will reimburse me for the train but not gas). Would using the 91 E0 be a good option seeing as I don't drive it too far every day so I can try to avoid the corrosion from the fuel sitting for longer periods than most dailys?
My injectors have varnish built up which is why I send them out every 3 years so I do a bunch of stuff like cleaning the TB and other routine stuff during the down time. I have Bosch 3 so ethanol isn't an issue. I do drive it in the winter when I can so I could care less if ethanol gas is available or not.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 609
Likes: 239
From: Franklin NC
I was always getting 93 'no ethanol' but they went down to 90 octane about 6 months ago and I could hear the 'ping' in my LS1 Trans Am. I went back to the 93 octane with ethanol. It was nice while it lasted. I did fill up a Phillips 66 in Townsend , TN last week that had the 93 'no ethanol' and it cost $3.19 a gallon which was similar to other 'premiums'.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 275
Likes: 34
From: Stoughton Wisconsin
You have a point about the gas sitting if its not used too frequently. Think it would be a good idea to find out how often the tanks are emptied and refilled? I know normal stations in my area are refilling about once a week but would the E0 be able to sit for a little longer since the alcohol isn't in it?