Ethanol free fuel

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Joined
Oct 29, 2020
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Location
Albany,Georgia
Anyone using ethanol free 89 octane fuel exclusively in their cruiser. I noticed at my last fill up that it was 10 cent more than the 87. Curious if there was a significant benefit.
 
Since the alcohol is gone, you've got 11% more gas & BTU's. We use lead-free in both the LX and LC; we've got better mpg. No issues in 16 years on the LX and 6 years on the LC.
 
I've seen a difference in MPG when towing with ethanol free and 91+ octane. Typically about 10%. Higher octane when towing seems to reduce the propensity for the ECU to retard the timing, thus hurting power (and thus MPG) - this was true both before and after I've re-geared. I've not noticed any improvement around town but my MPG around the city varies a lot depending on traffic and time of day so it's hard to tell and the variance might just get lost in the noise. YMMV of course
 
~10% better mpg w/o ethanol. I always fill with no ethanol gas is I can. For me its more about range than cost. That 10% is half a jerry can and 30 miles. I've found that I get the same 10% better mileage with regular none ethanol and not much more if any with premium none ethanol. Most of the time though, around here anyway, only the premium comes in none ethanol.

I will spare everyone my rant on why ethanol make no sense environmentally or economically.
 
I will spare everyone my rant on why ethanol make no sense environmentally or economically.

Apparently you aren't a corn farmer or a midwest ag land baron. :cheers:
 
Apparently you aren't a corn farmer or a midwest ag land baron. :cheers:
Midwest born and raised but got kicked off the farm for bad attitude... :hillbilly:
 
I use 87 clear gas in my LX here in Colorado (gas stations here sell 85, 87, 91) There are not any stations selling 91 ethanol free gas near me, though I saw it a lot in WY and SD. I use regular 91 if I can't find the ethanol free stuff. I have been on the 87 for a few weeks now and don't notice a huge MPG difference driving around town.

I also use it my bike which calls for 91. No difference in power. I figure at least the ethanol free pumps only sell ethanol free. If I am pumping 91 in my bike I assume the guy before me was most likely pumping 87 (or 85) and those hoses must hold a couple of gallons so I am getting lower octane anyway while paying for 91.
 
I use ethanol free in my older rigs. Carbs and old fuel injection does not like ethanol. The 200 doesn't care, but I still prefer ethanol free for the extra mileage. Unfortunately in WA, we only have premium gas that is ethanol free, and it tend to be $.40 more per gallon than premium, so I usually stick to ethanol for the 200 as it is a better value here.
 
I’ll use ethanol free when it’s similar in price to premium fuel. As others have noted, I have seen about 10% less fuel consumption with ethanol free fuel while towing.
 
If your state gets highway money from the Government your state mandated to use some form of Ethanol … AKA Agricultural Welfare was implemented for gas shortages has turned into as means to pay for political support … It buys votes .
Only Florida and Hawaii have opted out but still see ethanol in Florida , its a cheap way to boost Octane ratings in fuel , flip side less fuel milage and power .
My state of Pa just introduced a bill to repeal ethanol from the whole state , right now if your county does emissions testing you cant have ethanol free gas but if you don’t test for a emissions which is a load of crap , they plug a computer to check your computer that does OBD 2 every time you start your car , no check engine light or codes your good , instead you have to have a test every year .
Can’t wait to retire and move to Floridia full time they have ethanol free at the pumps everywhere … I remember when they 100 octane at the pumps , now its 92 .
Ethanol is crap in my world .
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One of things I miss about living in Maricopa AZ about 7 months of year the gas at local stations had zero ethanol. The other 5 months it was hit or miss.
 
If your state gets highway money from the Government your state mandated to use some form of Ethanol … AKA Agricultural Welfare was implemented for gas shortages has turned into as means to pay for political support … It buys votes .
Only Florida and Hawaii have opted out but still see ethanol in Florida , its a cheap way to boost Octane ratings in fuel , flip side less fuel milage and power .
My state of Pa just introduced a bill to repeal ethanol from the whole state , right now if your county does emissions testing you cant have ethanol free gas but if you don’t test for a emissions which is a load of crap , they plug a computer to check your computer that does OBD 2 every time you start your car , no check engine light or codes your good , instead you have to have a test every year .
Can’t wait to retire and move to Floridia full time they have ethanol free at the pumps everywhere … I remember when they 100 octane at the pumps , now its 92 .
Ethanol is crap in my world .View attachment 2837208
There's no statewide mandate in Illinois according to that chart but I've not found a gas station within 100 miles of Chicago that has ethanol-free. Even 93 octane has 10% ethanol around here. That could be CrookCook County and the surrounding counties doing though.
 
~10% better mpg w/o ethanol. I always fill with no ethanol gas is I can. For me its more about range than cost. That 10% is half a jerry can and 30 miles. I've found that I get the same 10% better mileage with regular none ethanol and not much more if any with premium none ethanol. Most of the time though, around here anyway, only the premium comes in none ethanol.

I will spare everyone my rant on why ethanol make no sense environmentally or economically.
Economically the only area it helps is American agriculture. Really helps get rid of low quality surplus grain for a large profit. They have wonderful lobbyists who spin the environmental side. So even better for certain other lobbyists when you have to buy more gas because you get worse mileage per gallon - and it appears "green". I hear your rant.

The only ethanol I like is in a short wide glass with a few ice cubes. As luck would have it about the time I moved to ME the state recalled the law that all gas must have ethanol. Why? Because it was destroying engines too early and they took a good hard look at the claimed environmental benefits and in a nut shell saw right thru the BS. The Ag lobbyists of course showed up... But now we can get any octane ethanol free. No additional charge.


"Maine has long been the home of many lawn mowers, chain saws, outboard motors, jet skis, snow mobiles, automobiles and other gas powered devices.
In the southern part of Maine it has been illegal to sell ethanol free gas except for airplanes and race cars. This law was perhaps well-intentioned by environmentalists who thought it might be a way to burn less oil. But it turned out that it took more oil to grow the corn (from which ethanol is made) and produce the ethanol than it saved. And of course the corn growers loved the huge market for their product and they had a large self-serving corn-lobbying group to keep the ethanol requirement.
But ethanol was destroying the engines we in Maine depended on by converting the gas in the engine, over long storage time such as winter, into a varnish like substance. Ethanol destroyed carburetors. And ethanol ate up rubber hoses and gaskets.
The Maine legislature has considered these issues and as of November 1, 2020 ethanol gas is no longer required to be sold by gas stations and boat yards in any part of Maine!
The conversion is optional for each seller of gasoline, but we now have a chance to put pure gasoline into our engines.
For sellers of gasoline who continue to sell ethanol-infected gasoline, we can vote with our feet and wallets and buy from those who switch over to ethanol-free!"
-Maine Coast.tv-
 
If I am pumping 91 in my bike I assume the guy before me was most likely pumping 87 (or 85) and those hoses must hold a couple of gallons so I am getting lower octane anyway while paying for 91.

I've seen a few studies that say less than a 1/4 gallon of the previous fill up octane selection makes it into your fill.
 
Ih8ethanol

Kills any 2 stroke engine, has way lower btu content per gallon than gasoline (worse mileage), goes bad in 3 months, melts plastic fuel lines, gunks up fuel systems, and is a politically motivated additive.

If I had a twin turbo supra that I exclusively drag raced I would hate it slightly less for its octane rating.
 
To my knowledge, no farmers here in Idaho take federal ethanol money. We're in the middle of a bunch of corn farms. Harvest goes to eating as sweet corn or dairy feed from silage (fermented corn). Non-ethanol available at Chevron, Sinclair, and Shell stations, all within 6-7 miles from the house.

We also have a few chain saws, weed eaters and suckers, and an ATV. Storing ethanol in power equipment gives you fuel lines that turn into rubber Jello with ethanol...major pita.:bang: With non-ethanol and fuel stabilizer, I can fill everything in the fall and know I can use the tool in the winter.
 
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Switchgrass is the better crop for ethanol, :rolleyes: but no, I'd rather have the pure gasoline.
The End.
 

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