15% Ethanol changes
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Joined: Jul 2020
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15% Ethanol changes
"Paw Paw" is going to sign an order allowing the manufacture of 15% Ethanol to reduce the price of gasoline in spite of the fact that Ethanol can produce "low altitude" smog and ozone. Anyone out there have an idea as to how this will affect the Corvettes and other high performance engines?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
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From: Fulshear, TX
Zero impact to Corvettes.
I've posted some details already this morning here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-near-you.html
I've posted some details already this morning here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-near-you.html
E15 has no impact on MPG, and in many cases these small modern turbocharged engines actually gain efficiency due to the octane and knock quench. This is also irrelevant for Corvettes as it is an 88-octane product and not a premium (91+) fuel; it's an alternative for "regular" so I already run it in my one vehicle that only needs regular and have for years. Not much changes, it'll still be available at the stations its already at (sometimes labeled as Unleaded88) and typically sold at a 5-10c/gal discount. It will not be replacing the standard E10 87 commonly found at pumps and just gives consumers the additional choice in what they pump during summertime months. Trump already did this, the Biden administration rescinded it, and now is allowing it again. Politicians politicking...
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,859
Likes: 12,290
From: NE South Carolina
"Paw Paw" is going to sign an order allowing the manufacture of 15% Ethanol to reduce the price of gasoline in spite of the fact that Ethanol can produce "low altitude" smog and ozone. Anyone out there have an idea as to how this will affect the Corvettes and other high performance engines?
Guess I'll have to use it as my 2-pump low cost source, as Sam's Club will use it if cheaper. Last week Pilot (supposedly cheap) was $.50/gallon more for high test and Shell $.75!
Owner's Manual says the car can eat 15%! Now I do use E85 when I rent a car to fill up when I return! I assume that is what someone left in the full tank when I picked it up!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,079
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From: Florida
Ethanol is a clean burning octane booster. Its fine. The car can handle e15 no problem. Youll see less potential carbon buildup but lose around 5 percent fuel economy (e85 loses about 30 percent) compared to non ethanol fuel and about 1-2 percent more than e10 which most of us are used to.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,859
Likes: 12,290
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Unless you're a farmer from Iowa E85 30% energy loss is not a good thing! 
Now if running an Indy engine with very high compression or boost where you can use the octane!
Owner's Manual says LT2 can handle max 15% Ethanol. So assume they have the air/fuel/timing tables to deal with that amount.
SIDEBAR
It's why the old four-cylinder 15:1 compression ratio NA Offy engine (have a model in my collection) even back in the day with a 251 cubic inch DOHC could use the octane to produce a 420 hp on Ethanol! It started in 1930 with head machining for the 4 valves/cylinder done from the bottom of the block so no head gasket to blow out! As competition developed they just used a turbocharger with high boost!
Extra octane does no good unless needed by engine designed to use it.
Unless you're a farmer from Iowa E85 30% energy loss is not a good thing! Now if running an Indy engine with very high compression or boost where you can use the octane!
Owner's Manual says LT2 can handle max 15% Ethanol. So assume they have the air/fuel/timing tables to deal with that amount.
SIDEBAR
It's why the old four-cylinder 15:1 compression ratio NA Offy engine (have a model in my collection) even back in the day with a 251 cubic inch DOHC could use the octane to produce a 420 hp on Ethanol! It started in 1930 with head machining for the 4 valves/cylinder done from the bottom of the block so no head gasket to blow out! As competition developed they just used a turbocharger with high boost!
Extra octane does no good unless needed by engine designed to use it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,079
Likes: 2,413
From: Florida
^^^
Unless you're a farmer from Iowa E85 30% energy loss is not a good thing!
Now if running an Indy engine with very high compression or boost where you can use the octane!
Owner's Manual says LT2 can handle max 15% Ethanol. So assume they have the air/fuel/timing tables to deal with that amount.
SIDEBAR
It's why the old four-cylinder 15:1 compression ratio NA Offy engine (have a model in my collection) even back in the day with a 251 cubic inch DOHC could use the octane to produce a 420 hp on Ethanol! It started in 1930 with head machining for the 4 valves/cylinder done from the bottom of the block so no head gasket to blow out! As competition developed they just used a turbocharger with high boost!
Extra octane does no good unless needed by engine designed to use it.
Unless you're a farmer from Iowa E85 30% energy loss is not a good thing! Now if running an Indy engine with very high compression or boost where you can use the octane!
Owner's Manual says LT2 can handle max 15% Ethanol. So assume they have the air/fuel/timing tables to deal with that amount.
SIDEBAR
It's why the old four-cylinder 15:1 compression ratio NA Offy engine (have a model in my collection) even back in the day with a 251 cubic inch DOHC could use the octane to produce a 420 hp on Ethanol! It started in 1930 with head machining for the 4 valves/cylinder done from the bottom of the block so no head gasket to blow out! As competition developed they just used a turbocharger with high boost!
Extra octane does no good unless needed by engine designed to use it.
Last edited by bhvrdr; Apr 13, 2022 at 10:37 AM.
