Ethanol Fuel

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Nov 20, 2005 | 11:42 AM

dwspas

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From: Casa Grande AZ

Ethanol Fuel

I live in a state (Arizona) that during the winter months requires a 10% -15% mix of ethanol to gas. Anyone had any experience with this fuel, good or bad.

Nov 20, 2005 | 11:47 AM

OrangeVegaGT

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From: Long Island ny

St. Jude Donor '06-'07

In my part of NY it is required all year long and I have not noticed a problem. I just do regular driving. No track racing so I wouldn't know if it effects that sort of activity.

Nov 20, 2005 | 05:13 PM

IronJen

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From: Press "2" for English

here in nevada we have the same blend. in that percentage, i don't think it's too bad. not like having real 100% gasoline though. that E-85 stuff though is the death of cars. by reading your title, that's what i though you were going to say. i told my g/f if she's ever out in the vette and all she can get is E-85, she needs to give me a call and i would bring her real gas.

Nov 20, 2005 | 05:23 PM

Tigershark3

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From: Fort Wayne IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwspas

I live in a state (Arizona) that during the winter months requires a 10% -15% mix of ethanol to gas. Anyone had any experience with this fuel, good or bad.

Pretty common really. Ethanol is not that bad at 10-15% but stay away from any fuel with Methanol

- very hard on rubber components of fuel system. My $.02.

Nov 20, 2005 | 05:35 PM

WEF's 95

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From: Southern Maryland

Maybe I read it wrong but I think all "top Tier" gasoline has 10% etanol. I always used cheap Wawa 93 octane and then after my fuel sensors were replaced, it only got Texaco w/Techron or Shell V Power. There was a very noticeable drop in mpg using the "top tier" gasolines.

Nov 20, 2005 | 05:57 PM

ksmagellan

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From: Kansas

From what I've read and heard, Top Tier gasoline doesn't mean it contains 10% Ehtanol. Top Tier refers to the Techron detergent additive that only a few branded suppliers have committed to using. Any marketer selling Ethanol is required to identify that on the pumps. If it doesn't say it's Ethanol, it's just your basic 100% petroleum based gasoline. The only thing negative I've heard about ethanol is that the glycerine from the ethanol portion can lead to deposit build-up, which is eliminated by using either the Top Tier gas or running the aftermarket Techron thru your system a couple times a year.

Nov 20, 2005 | 07:00 PM

WEF's 95

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From: Southern Maryland

This is from the Top Tier website (http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html) regarding the requirements:
1.3.1.2 Base Fuel. The base fuel shall conform to ASTM D 4814 and shall contain commercial fuel grade ethanol conforming to ASTM D 4806. All gasoline blend stocks used to formulate the base fuel shall be representative of normal U.S. refinery operations and shall be derived from conversion units downstream of distillation. Butanes and pentanes are allowed for vapor pressure adjustment. The use of chemical streams is prohibited. The base fuel shall have the following specific properties after the addition of ethanol:

1.Contain enough denatured ethanol such that the actual ethanol content is no less than 8.0 and no more than 10.0 volume percent.