10% Ethanol Fuel
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
I understand the slight reduction in MPG, but I don't think there will be any full off in performance. If anything, there could be a bit more as the ethanol should help cool the inlet charge allowing more air to get in leading to more power.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 39
From: Northern VA
The problem with ethanol isnt the slight decrease in performance,............it is the damage/rust it can cause to your fuel system because of its water absorbing and water seeking properties. This is one of the reasons you cant have higher percentage fuel than 10 percent,.......drivability issues,..... due to the increase of moisture/water in your gas tank and fuel system.
The only solution is to run Isopropyl Alcohol through the system to absorb any leftover moisture or water droplets.
(Gas Dry) twice a year takes care of any protential problems.
The only solution is to run Isopropyl Alcohol through the system to absorb any leftover moisture or water droplets.
(Gas Dry) twice a year takes care of any protential problems.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
10% is all that is available here. I personally don't think it has any adverse impacts on performance. It may have a very small impact on mpg because the alcohol has less specific energy than pure gasoline, but keep in mind it constitutes only 10% of the mixture.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13,007
Likes: 0
From: Happiness is Busch in Victory Lane!
St. Jude Donor '09 & '12, '14
The problem with ethanol isnt the slight decrease in performance,............it is the damage/rust it can cause to your fuel system because of its water absorbing and water seeking properties. This is one of the reasons you cant have higher percentage fuel than 10 percent,.......drivability issues,..... due to the increase of moisture/water in your gas tank and fuel system.
The only solution is to run Isopropyl Alcohol through the system to absorb any leftover moisture or water droplets.
(Gas Dry) twice a year takes care of any protential problems.
The only solution is to run Isopropyl Alcohol through the system to absorb any leftover moisture or water droplets.
(Gas Dry) twice a year takes care of any protential problems.
Read into it some more. It works just like dry gas and it even cleans your engine carbon deposits. The only downside is reduced fuel economy. No effect on performance.
If someone puts more then 10% ethanol in the gas your fuel economy will drop drastically.
Also if there is too much water mixed with ethanol it will phase seperate and become unsuitable as a motor fuel.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 39
From: Northern VA
100 percent correct,...........good catch,..........it was mileage and not performance. Either way, the main point is that is can absorb water which is bad news in the fuel of any car.
BTW,......My source was Pat Goss..........he is a multiple Corvette guy and is not a big fan of ethanol. Wouldnt you love to talk to him in person and pick his brain ? The guy is a genius.
BTW,......My source was Pat Goss..........he is a multiple Corvette guy and is not a big fan of ethanol. Wouldnt you love to talk to him in person and pick his brain ? The guy is a genius.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
100 percent correct,...........good catch,..........it was mileage and not performance. Either way, the main point is that is can absorb water which is bad news in the fuel of any car.
BTW,......My source was Pat Goss..........he is a multiple Corvette guy and is not a big fan of ethanol. Wouldnt you love to talk to him in person and pick his brain ? The guy is a genius.
BTW,......My source was Pat Goss..........he is a multiple Corvette guy and is not a big fan of ethanol. Wouldnt you love to talk to him in person and pick his brain ? The guy is a genius.
10% ethanol has been in use here in Minnesota for years. If there were going to be problems, we would have them big time with our winter conditions. Heet and isopropyl alcohol used to be big sellers here in the day's of straight gas to avoid gas line freeze up from the condensed water in gas tanks when temps dropped. With the 10% ethanol blends, hardy anyone still uses Heet or isopropyl alcohol.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 39
From: Northern VA
Temperature is not the culprit,.....I believe the humidity level is the key,........I would imagine that part of the country is not too humid................
Pat Goss had a segment on it on his show.
Pat Goss had a segment on it on his show.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
Likes: 1
From: Bainbridge Island Wa
You will need to change your fuel filter more often. If your car loses power, I mean alot, change your fuel filter before you do anything else. That stuff creates water in your tank and it will plug your filter.
Aside from that, I lost 5 mpg in my Lexus this summer in the Ethanol States in the Midwest. I went from 29 mpg to 24 with the first tank of ethanol. I religiously monitored my gas mileage and it when to hell in a handbag using ethanol. Because you get reduced gas mileage, not a tiny amount, more like 10 to 20 percent reduction you lose the price benefit.
Aside from that, I lost 5 mpg in my Lexus this summer in the Ethanol States in the Midwest. I went from 29 mpg to 24 with the first tank of ethanol. I religiously monitored my gas mileage and it when to hell in a handbag using ethanol. Because you get reduced gas mileage, not a tiny amount, more like 10 to 20 percent reduction you lose the price benefit.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
From somebody with 30 years experience in the industry:
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 11
From: Carson City MI
From somebody with 30 years experience in the industry:
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
Ethanol is not the answer...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
From somebody with 30 years experience in the industry:
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
BURNING OUR FOOD FOR FUEL IS STUPID AT BEST AND DAMAGING TO ENGINES, FILTERS AND RUBBER HOSES AT THE LEAST!
If You argue You are uninformed at best!
pm me if you doubt me. I will bury you with a vicious pack af FACTS that you can verify yourself!
There is a host of mis-information about ethanol being distributed by people who confuse the price of livestock feed with the price of rice in China. And also by the oil companies who would love to see ethanol go away.
I spend time on a forum dealing with motor homes. There's a lot of whining about diesel fuel now costing significantly more than gas. One of the reasons for that is there is a significant amount of ethanol being used in the gas (reducing demand for gas). There is no significant amount of bio-diesel available, however, and its price is now well above gas. If you want to pay another $0.50 a gallon (or more) for gas, just take the ethanol away (and then buy more stock in Exxon-Mobil).