Ethanol content vs. Octane
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
Ethanol content vs. Octane
Here goes yet another of my beginner questions... thanks for your patience... I'm learning quickly (and enjoying it to no end)...
I was reading the list of ethanol free gas stations found at pure-gas.org. I understand that ethanol can be damaging in some cases, but is it a big deal with C5's? Is there any maintenance or durability concern? Is there any performance concern? I assume that the normal ethanol content must not be a concern in our cars, otherwise many of you would prefer gas without ethanol to that of say Shell 93 octane which typically has the legal limit of ethanol.
Thanks gang - I appreciate the help (and free education
)
I was reading the list of ethanol free gas stations found at pure-gas.org. I understand that ethanol can be damaging in some cases, but is it a big deal with C5's? Is there any maintenance or durability concern? Is there any performance concern? I assume that the normal ethanol content must not be a concern in our cars, otherwise many of you would prefer gas without ethanol to that of say Shell 93 octane which typically has the legal limit of ethanol.
Thanks gang - I appreciate the help (and free education
)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Ethanol was added to gas to help reduce emmissions. There is less energy in an equivalent amount of ethanol than gas, so some get worried.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
Ethanol was added to gas to help reduce emmissions. There is less energy in an equivalent amount of ethanol than gas, so some get worried.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Stay awy from that **** if at all possible. It attracts moisture and has ruined more things on a car than any good that ever came from it. I guarantee it hurts our sending units.
It totally destroys small engines. We have a state mandate that requires it because our gov at the time had family interests in ethanol. Will a vette run on it? yes it will if that's your question but keep a bottle of techron handy.
It totally destroys small engines. We have a state mandate that requires it because our gov at the time had family interests in ethanol. Will a vette run on it? yes it will if that's your question but keep a bottle of techron handy.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Jan 16, 2012 at 08:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
Stay awy from that **** if at all possible. It attracts moisture and has ruined more things on a car than any good that ever came from it. I guarantee it hurts our sending units.
It totally destroys small engines. We have a state mandate that requires it because our gov at the time had family interests in ethanol. Will a vette run on it? yes it will if that's your question but keep a bottle of techron handy.
It totally destroys small engines. We have a state mandate that requires it because our gov at the time had family interests in ethanol. Will a vette run on it? yes it will if that's your question but keep a bottle of techron handy.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
The emissions difference between 100% gas and 10% ethanol gas id negated by the loss of efficiency. Ethanol was added to gas though EPA regulation forced on us by politicians who collect greased palms from ethanol producers.
If you take a 100 mile trip in a 100% car and get 30 mpg and the same trip in a 10% car and get 28 mpg,,,,,where is the reduction in emmisions?
You burned more overall fuel, period.
Simple example, the truth is much worse. Taxpayers subsidize ethanol production so the net effect is a total loss and a lie!
The worst part is we are burning food to feel good in a hungry world!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
The emissions difference between 100% gas and 10% ethanol gas id negated by the loss of efficiency. Ethanol was added to gas though EPA regulation forced on us by politicians who collect greased palms from ethanol producers.
If you take a 100 mile trip in a 100% car and get 30 mpg and the same trip in a 10% car and get 28 mpg,,,,,where is the reduction in emmisions?
You burned more overall fuel, period.
Simple example, the truth is much worse. Taxpayers subsidize ethanol production so the net effect is a total loss and a lie!
The worst part is we are burning food to feel good in a hungry world!
If you take a 100 mile trip in a 100% car and get 30 mpg and the same trip in a 10% car and get 28 mpg,,,,,where is the reduction in emmisions?
You burned more overall fuel, period.
Simple example, the truth is much worse. Taxpayers subsidize ethanol production so the net effect is a total loss and a lie!
The worst part is we are burning food to feel good in a hungry world!
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Kaukauna WI
http://www.corvettefever.com/techart...s/viewall.html
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 393
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
i can not find a ethanol free station in atlanta. ethanol destroys rubber. carb engines with needles and seats, rubber fuel lines on small engines, outboard marine engines all suffer the effects of ethanol. other than the rubber deteriation i woudnt have aproblem with it for street driving, low rpm and low load on engine. now if i were going to the track for a day of fun i would want my horses to have the best hay around.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,572
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From: Jackson Tn
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Why don't you test the fuel you're buying and see how much ethanol is in there? I tested the fuel at a Shell station I buy my fuel and it is only 5% ethanol. With as little as even 10% ethanol I don't see the big deal running it. I'm not having any problem with KA or timing being pulled and I'm running over 11:1 compression. I have HPTuners and have tuned my engine to the correct stoich value for the fuel I'm using so my fuel trims are very low.
You guys running modded engines on this fuel without a tune are probably leaving lots of hp under the table because your engine is running very rich.
You guys running modded engines on this fuel without a tune are probably leaving lots of hp under the table because your engine is running very rich.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
You need to look up what the Octane rating system really means. The HIGHER the number the harder it is to ignite. That's why higher octane fuels stop pinging. The lower the number the easier it is to ignite so things like preignition and hot carbon on pistons/valves can cause it to ignite too soon. Higher octane number don't mean a lot as far as how much energy/power the fuel can make. An engine that does not ping/preignite the fuel makes more power and keeps the pistons from melting.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
All ethanol does is boost octane so that there is no need to add octane by the suppliers to mix the various grades.
I would use techron if I had no choice but to use ethanol in order to keep the sending unit clean and the fuel delivery system clean and functioning.
Ethanol is great for the green weenies, however they are too stupid to realize it takes more fuel to produce the crap than it delivers, and it's good for the farmers, however it's bad bad bad for the consumer from the fuel to the high prices it creates at the grocery store.
It's bad stuff, stay away from it if at all possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25