pwillia

I have been running the ethanol free 87 octane for a while now and seems to work fine, however, every time I go to the pump I am wondering in the back of my mind whether in fact it would be better to get the 93 octane premium (w/ethanol). My rationale so far is that the ethanol free seems to work fine and should be better all around on engine and components.

Other thoughts?

Nowhere Man

if your car runs fine with no pinging then save your money.

Rdelvalle

I was using E10 93 and was having difficulties with staring and restarting the engine, it took a while cranking to get it started. I live in Miami which is very hot and my 59 is Fuel Injection. My last fill up I went to Rec90 which is readily available in Miami and there is no turning back. The difference is significant. The car starts and restarts on the first try, also the engine runs much smoother. Do a search there are many postings on this subject all of them in favor of rec 90 if your car does not ping. I have checked mine at all speeds and rpm an no knocking so REc90 it is. By the way the difference in price in Miami is about 30 cents, well worth it.

There are many articles beside the postings that tell you if you have no knocking go with Rec90. I have a 1957 vintage German motorcycle, two stroke engine, that I can only use Rec90. E10 fouls the pistons badly. I also have a 1997 Porsche 911 (993) that I use E10 93, With the success I had with my Corvette I was thinking to go Rec 90 on the Porsche but I was advice in the Porsche forum not to because of its high compression it will knock badly. Well using rec90 in two out of three is not bad.

LouieM

So, what is Rec90; never heard of it here in Calif. Racing fuel?

pwillia

In my area (Atlanta), I have only seen 87 octane ethanol free..... Not sure what REc90 is or if it is available here. I am assuming it is a 90 octane ethanol free and would agree that is better as it is much closer to the 93 octane premium. But the difference from 87 octane to 93 seems more significant. I have a 230HP 1960, so probable not as much of an issue to run the 87.

Rdelvalle

Rec90 is recreational 90 octane ethanol free gas. That is the way it is called in Florida. Recreational because it is used in boats and two stroke vehicles which there are plenty off in Miami.

68hemi

GTOguy

You bet,, other thoughts. You have a 'first world' problem here. Where I am, in CA, you can not get straight gasoline. It all has ethanol in it. 91 octane is the highest you can get. If you can get pure gas, you are blessed. If your car runs fine on 87 octane gas, you are doubly blessed. Switching to 93 octane/ethanol blend will: reduce your power, reduce your MPG, cost more money, and possibly lead to heat soak/percolation issues. The ONLY reason to run higher octane is if you need to to avoid detonation. The higher the octane, the slower the fuel burns, which curtails pinging at the expense of producing less energy per gallon.

68hemi

In my area the choices are 91 ethanol or 87 non ethanol. I have been experimenting with both this past summer in both my 57 and my 65 and have the perc/hot start problems with the 91 but not the 87. The 57 is a 383 with 11 to 1 compression and aluminum heads. I have heard a tiny bit of pinging at low speed 1st gear uphill in a neighboring town with steep roads and 15 mph. I have not heard any under full throttle on the flats. My 65 is a stock 300 h.p. engine and have had no problems with 87 non ethanol at all. Testing will continue this winter as I know they blend the ethanol differently for winter months so we shall see how it effects my cars in the cooler weather.

Rdelvalle

I sympathize with you guys that can not get ethanol free gas. I do not know for carburetor cars but for my Fuel Injection Vette it makes a heck of a difference. As I said before I used the Rec 90 I was afraid to drive the car because of fears of vapor lock. The car starts right way with the no ethanol gas.

Rdelvalle

GTOguy what are you waiting for it is time to move to Florida. No gun control, no state income tax, year round sunshine, water sports year round and 90 octane non-ethanol gas everywhere. That should be enough to get you thinking about moving.

MikeM

I've been thinking about it but I hear they don't know how to count votes down there where you live.

On the other hand, I run 89 E 10 in all my old cars. Three of them with advertised 11.5-1 compression and one with advertised 10.0-! compression. There is no detectable difference between 89 E 10 and 90 non-ethanol in this area in my cars. Or lawn mowers, or boats or anything else.

Gasoline formulas variy by geographical area and refineries. What is good or woks in one area may not work in another.

Rdelvalle

Yeah we do not know how to count I give you that but no state income tax, I take it. And sunshine year round looks like a good deal to me.

GTOguy

My brother lived there. I've been there, and I like Florida a lot. Also, after our most recent election, the motivation to skip out of California is higher than ever. Have been seriously looking at other states for the past couple of years as retirement approaches (2 years out). I cannot STAND the politics and priorities of CA, and it is wearing on me. Where I am, it's a rural/ag area that is mostly pro-work and pro-America much like the midwest, but we are always quashed by the Rainbow Coalition in SF and LA, so bad stuff keeps happening.

Rdelvalle

GTOguy I used to live in the socialist state of California, I know what you mean. If you are considering moving when you retire Florida is a very good candidate. Ethanol free gas, sunshine year round and no State Income s tax. California 10 to 13 % State income tax, Indiana 3.3 to 6 % Ouch.
Any way going back to the gas issue OP if you can get Ethanol free gas and it does not ping I would stay with that. Ethanol gas has the propensity to form water which accumulates in the bottom of your gas tank. That is if the gas stays in the tank for a long time. Daily user you do not have to worry.

smacota1

GTOguy I used to live in the socialist state of California, I know what you mean. If you are considering moving when you retire Florida is a very good candidate. Ethanol free gas, sunshine year round and no State Income s tax.

Unless Gillum manages to wrestle the win away from Desantis!!! He has already stated he wants that to be part of his agenda.

MikeM

I believe you have it backwards. Straight gasoline will allow water to settle out to the bottom of your tank. Ethanol gasoline tends to keep it in suspension and pull it through to the point of no water left. That is, unless you leave your gas cap off the tank but either way, water is bad for your fuel system.

Ethanol also cleans your fuel system and will keep it that way as long was you keep it wet. Non-ethanol, not so much.

Florida residents property tax and sales tax pays for government services in the state. The tourists tramping across your lawn and crowding your highways and most any other place in the state pay the rest. Florida has a 6% sales tax. Indiana has 7% sales tax and income tax rate on adjusted income of 3.7%. Not bad and neither are property taxes.

As much as I like Indiana and I was younger and considering moving to a cheaper place with a peaceful atmosphere, I'd give serious consideration to East Tennessee or the Carolinas toward the East coast.. I settled for a retirement place on a lake in south central Kentucky and it's a great, quiet, slow moving place to live.

My parents had a neat little winter retirement place in Punta Gorda in the '70's/'80's. Not so much so now. Commercialsim has taken over and ruined it's charm.

pwillia

....and then there is Georgia with 87 octane ethanol free and 93 octane with ethanol...

Jeffthunbird

Dan Hampton

Do I need to buy flood insurance if I move there? I understand that some of the streets in Miami are already feeling the effects of global warming.....