Non ethanol
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
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No not many areas have Sugar free 91 or 93.
My assumption is that the OP is using 91 or 93 octane, which is premium, he hasn't stated otherwise. That is what is in the manual. Of course at altitude premium octane levels can drop, like in Colorado. That assumption that he's using what is in the manual is correct until he says otherwise, his question did not specify anything about octane.
Non-ethanol based = E0 = Pure Gas = Sugar free.
My assumption is that the OP is using 91 or 93 octane, which is premium, he hasn't stated otherwise. That is what is in the manual. Of course at altitude premium octane levels can drop, like in Colorado. That assumption that he's using what is in the manual is correct until he says otherwise, his question did not specify anything about octane.
Non-ethanol based = E0 = Pure Gas = Sugar free.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: North Texas
In my town we have 92 octane non-top tier pure-gas fuel available. However, the premium for no ethanol is pretty steep. It was almost a dollar per gallon more than 93 E10 at the same station. Looking around the state, most of the pure-gas available is in the 87-90 octane range. I use 93 E10 top tier so I get the octane point and the detergents. If I was storing the car and had the opportunity, I'd probably run a tank of pure-gas through it and store it with pure-gas just because it stores better, even if it did cost more.
Last edited by TxLefty; Nov 10, 2020 at 04:54 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Southeast, WI
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
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Since pure gas will give you about 10% better gas mileage the cost then only amounts to 70 cents more per gallon based on the fuel economy gain. That's not bad if you want to put your vehicle away for the winter. I would never leave ethanol sitting in my vehicle tank for more than 1 month. Seems to me that's a small price to pay for not cluttering up your fuel system with junk over the winter.
Last edited by MMD; Nov 10, 2020 at 04:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 837
Likes: 388
From: Olathe KS
Unless you actually test it, you don't really know what percentage of ethanol is in the gas you are buying. 93 octane, or any pump gas for that matter, is up to 10% ethanol, doesn't mean it is actually 10% ethanol. The BP station I use has 93 octane, it tests out at E3-5 over the last year since I've had a flex-fuel sensor on the car. Ethanol doesn't hurt the car at all. You don't want to store the car for the winter with a tank full of E85 but E10/pump gas is no issue at all.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: North Texas
Unless you actually test it, you don't really know what percentage of ethanol is in the gas you are buying. 93 octane, or any pump gas for that matter, is up to 10% ethanol, doesn't mean it is actually 10% ethanol. The BP station I use has 93 octane, it tests out at E3-5 over the last year since I've had a flex-fuel sensor on the car. Ethanol doesn't hurt the car at all. You don't want to store the car for the winter with a tank full of E85 but E10/pump gas is no issue at all.
On a different note, if the 93 you've been buying at the BP station tests out at E3-5, one wonders if it is really 93 octane. My understanding is that the ethanol blending is one of the last steps in the creation of the fuel. If the base gasoline used in the fuel is structured to give 93 octane when blended with sufficient ethanol to create an E10 fuel, one wonders what the resulting octane rating is at E3. Am I missing something?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 1,952
From: Colo Spgs, CO
In either case, if you are storing your car, gas stabilizer is a good idea. Based on what I've read, the ethanol attracting/mixing with water is the real problem with that fuel. The fuel stabilizer may help alleviate that problem.
On a different note, if the 93 you've been buying at the BP station tests out at E3-5, one wonders if it is really 93 octane. My understanding is that the ethanol blending is one of the last steps in the creation of the fuel. If the base gasoline used in the fuel is structured to give 93 octane when blended with sufficient ethanol to create an E10 fuel, one wonders what the resulting octane rating is at E3. Am I missing something?
On a different note, if the 93 you've been buying at the BP station tests out at E3-5, one wonders if it is really 93 octane. My understanding is that the ethanol blending is one of the last steps in the creation of the fuel. If the base gasoline used in the fuel is structured to give 93 octane when blended with sufficient ethanol to create an E10 fuel, one wonders what the resulting octane rating is at E3. Am I missing something?
Ethanol is hygroscopic, making the blended fuel more prone to phase separation and providing an environment conducive to the growth of acetobacter, which can cause corrosion. Certain stabilizers mitigate these problems.
That's a great point - lower than expected ethanol levels likely mean lower than expected octane as well.
Last edited by NortonCO; Nov 12, 2020 at 12:18 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 837
Likes: 388
From: Olathe KS
In either case, if you are storing your car, gas stabilizer is a good idea. Based on what I've read, the ethanol attracting/mixing with water is the real problem with that fuel. The fuel stabilizer may help alleviate that problem.
On a different note, if the 93 you've been buying at the BP station tests out at E3-5, one wonders if it is really 93 octane. My understanding is that the ethanol blending is one of the last steps in the creation of the fuel. If the base gasoline used in the fuel is structured to give 93 octane when blended with sufficient ethanol to create an E10 fuel, one wonders what the resulting octane rating is at E3. Am I missing something?
On a different note, if the 93 you've been buying at the BP station tests out at E3-5, one wonders if it is really 93 octane. My understanding is that the ethanol blending is one of the last steps in the creation of the fuel. If the base gasoline used in the fuel is structured to give 93 octane when blended with sufficient ethanol to create an E10 fuel, one wonders what the resulting octane rating is at E3. Am I missing something?
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 310
Likes: 117
Raleigh NC gas
We have non-ethanol 93 in Raleigh. I used to use the Sunoco non-ethanol, but they dropped their Top Tier designation several months ago. Mobil has non-ethanol 93 TT and is close to $3. I used the Shell ethanol 93 in the past but car runs better on the Mobil.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: SE WI
How does it run better? I have a Mobil and a Shell station just blocks apart and I'm always wondering if one is better than the other. I've been getting Shell 93 most of the fill ups. Probably only one on Mobil 93.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
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Looked at WOT data log and engine timing pull back meaning knock sensor was all over the place with Shell 93. Hardly any pull back with Mobil 93 non ethanol. Which means more potential HP.
Last edited by rwc815; Nov 12, 2020 at 02:25 PM. Reason: Add
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
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From: Colo Spgs, CO
Ethanol contains less potential energy than gas so, all other things being equal, more of it is required to do the same amount of work, meaning lower MPG and/or lower performance. One of the reasons fuel system upgrades are required to run E85 is that it's almost 30% less powerful than "pure" gasoline. As long as you don't go below the recommended octane level for your application and you're not trying to cure heat problems, ethanol-free gas is better than ethanol blends.
Race Director
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From: SE WI