Ethanol vs non
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 362
Likes: 31
From: WNY
Ethanol vs non
Most stations around here have the standard 93 ethanol blend. One station carries Mobil 91 but it is non ethanol. Is the non ethanol worth giving up the octane points or is it a non issue?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
You will get better fuel mileage with the ethanol free gasoline and I doubt that you will be able to feel any difference in performance between 91 and 93 in a stock C7, as it was designed to run on 91 octane.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
most (all?) modern performance cars are tuned for 91.. but most are also tuned to perform a bit better on 93.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 309
Ethanol was introduced into gasoline purportedly to relieve a perceived petroleum shortage. Most people would agree that there is no current shortage of oil and there is not likely to be in the foreseeable future, yet the Government is trying to require an even higher percentage of ethanol in future gasoline stocks which has to be subsidized by the Government. In other words, if you pay taxes, you are paying for it whether you use it or not.
Ethanol reduces mileage perceptibly in most cars, and with some older cars actually causes damage. It does not reduce emissions, especially if you factor in the energy farmers use to produce the crop used to produce the ethanol.
If you like the idea of a Government mandated program that has no real value except to transfer wealth to farmers, then you can use the blended fuel with the only consequence that your mileage will suffer. Personally, I would use the non-blended fuel if for no other reason than to protest a multi-billion dollar Government program that I don't agree with.
Ethanol reduces mileage perceptibly in most cars, and with some older cars actually causes damage. It does not reduce emissions, especially if you factor in the energy farmers use to produce the crop used to produce the ethanol.
If you like the idea of a Government mandated program that has no real value except to transfer wealth to farmers, then you can use the blended fuel with the only consequence that your mileage will suffer. Personally, I would use the non-blended fuel if for no other reason than to protest a multi-billion dollar Government program that I don't agree with.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 567
Likes: 31
i'd get the 93.
but here's a odd slant..
4 gallons of e85 + 11 gallons of 93 (10 percent ethanol) yields 15 gallons of e30 with an octane rating of 96+. and there are some claims that e30 delivers slightly better mileage than e10...
i suspect the c7 fuel trims would adjust for e30 and there's a pretty good chance that you will get a bit more torque if the ecu advances the timing a bit...
but here's a odd slant..
4 gallons of e85 + 11 gallons of 93 (10 percent ethanol) yields 15 gallons of e30 with an octane rating of 96+. and there are some claims that e30 delivers slightly better mileage than e10...
i suspect the c7 fuel trims would adjust for e30 and there's a pretty good chance that you will get a bit more torque if the ecu advances the timing a bit...
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 693
Likes: 158
From: Milwaukee WI
i'd get the 93.
but here's a odd slant..
4 gallons of e85 + 11 gallons of 93 (10 percent ethanol) yields 15 gallons of e30 with an octane rating of 96+. and there are some claims that e30 delivers slightly better mileage than e10...
i suspect the c7 fuel trims would adjust for e30 and there's a pretty good chance that you will get a bit more torque if the ecu advances the timing a bit...
but here's a odd slant..
4 gallons of e85 + 11 gallons of 93 (10 percent ethanol) yields 15 gallons of e30 with an octane rating of 96+. and there are some claims that e30 delivers slightly better mileage than e10...
i suspect the c7 fuel trims would adjust for e30 and there's a pretty good chance that you will get a bit more torque if the ecu advances the timing a bit...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 33
From: Billings Montana
Ethanol was introduced into gasoline purportedly to relieve a perceived petroleum shortage. Most people would agree that there is no current shortage of oil and there is not likely to be in the foreseeable future, yet the Government is trying to require an even higher percentage of ethanol in future gasoline stocks which has to be subsidized by the Government. In other words, if you pay taxes, you are paying for it whether you use it or not.
Ethanol reduces mileage perceptibly in most cars, and with some older cars actually causes damage. It does not reduce emissions, especially if you factor in the energy farmers use to produce the crop used to produce the ethanol.
If you like the idea of a Government mandated program that has no real value except to transfer wealth to farmers, then you can use the blended fuel with the only consequence that your mileage will suffer. Personally, I would use the non-blended fuel if for no other reason than to protest a multi-billion dollar Government program that I don't agree with.
Ethanol reduces mileage perceptibly in most cars, and with some older cars actually causes damage. It does not reduce emissions, especially if you factor in the energy farmers use to produce the crop used to produce the ethanol.
If you like the idea of a Government mandated program that has no real value except to transfer wealth to farmers, then you can use the blended fuel with the only consequence that your mileage will suffer. Personally, I would use the non-blended fuel if for no other reason than to protest a multi-billion dollar Government program that I don't agree with.
I like the way you think.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 271
Likes: 23
From: omaha ne
The issue isn't whether or not it would run on E30, but whether or not the various mets, rubbers gaskets and hoses will stand up to a higher blend of ethanol.
Ethanol can cause corrosion to metals, gaskets, hoses and other rubber parts will swell and fail if not formulated to meet the higher blend of ethanol.
Ask any manufacturer of gasoline tankers, valves, sight glasses and gaskets and they will confirm this.
From one who knows on daily basis.
Ethanol can cause corrosion to metals, gaskets, hoses and other rubber parts will swell and fail if not formulated to meet the higher blend of ethanol.
Ask any manufacturer of gasoline tankers, valves, sight glasses and gaskets and they will confirm this.
From one who knows on daily basis.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Suggest you recheck that 91 number. We have Mobile none ethanol here in FL. It's all 89, NOT. 91. SAME AS FOR BOATS.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
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From: Fulshear, TX
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
many manufacturers have taken the position that using over ~15-20% (can't remember the number exactly) ethonol fuel will void the warranty through at least 2011 MY cars. not sure about 2012+
Last edited by Al Blue4.6l; Aug 12, 2014 at 09:18 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Mouth of the Rat Florida
Split the difference, pompano beach 14th street causeway and some other stations have 91. I think marina 1 is 89, I'll see today. But another marina up north a bit is 90, not sure if they drank all the old ethanol..
I use it once in a while if I'm around a pump. My Jeep gets 15.xmpg normally but can early swing 17.xmpg on non ethanol, no matter how/where I drive it's 10-15% better, it'll never offset the cost and there's no appreciable difference in power but I feel better. Gov't subsidies to corn producers and refining make ethanol affordable, so we pay for it twice. I'm not opposed to alcohol fuels, just drunk politicians.
Last edited by Nonstop; Aug 12, 2014 at 09:51 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Ethanol, particularly higher blends, is especially bad news for vehicles like Corvettes where they often sit for long periods of time without being operated and/or are driven in a manner where the fuel isn't frequently used and replenished. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
My experience has been about a 10% loss in mileage with ethanol. When refineries make their winter blend another 10% is lost. In Pennsylvania, winter blend starts showing up late September.