Ethanol content vs. Octane
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No I am saying I would get non ethanol gas, if possible, at the same octane recommended by the manufacturer.
All ethanol does is boost octane so that there is no need to add octane by the suppliers to mix the various grades.
I would use techron if I had no choice but to use ethanol in order to keep the sending unit clean and the fuel delivery system clean and functioning.
Ethanol is great for the green weenies, however they are too stupid to realize it takes more fuel to produce the crap than it delivers, and it's good for the farmers, however it's bad bad bad for the consumer from the fuel to the high prices it creates at the grocery store.
It's bad stuff, stay away from it if at all possible.
All ethanol does is boost octane so that there is no need to add octane by the suppliers to mix the various grades.
I would use techron if I had no choice but to use ethanol in order to keep the sending unit clean and the fuel delivery system clean and functioning.
Ethanol is great for the green weenies, however they are too stupid to realize it takes more fuel to produce the crap than it delivers, and it's good for the farmers, however it's bad bad bad for the consumer from the fuel to the high prices it creates at the grocery store.
It's bad stuff, stay away from it if at all possible.
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No I am saying I would get non ethanol gas, if possible, at the same octane recommended by the manufacturer.
All ethanol does is boost octane so that there is no need to add octane by the suppliers to mix the various grades.
I would use techron if I had no choice but to use ethanol in order to keep the sending unit clean and the fuel delivery system clean and functioning.
Ethanol is great for the green weenies, however they are too stupid to realize it takes more fuel to produce the crap than it delivers, and it's good for the farmers, however it's bad bad bad for the consumer from the fuel to the high prices it creates at the grocery store.
It's bad stuff, stay away from it if at all possible.
All ethanol does is boost octane so that there is no need to add octane by the suppliers to mix the various grades.
I would use techron if I had no choice but to use ethanol in order to keep the sending unit clean and the fuel delivery system clean and functioning.
Ethanol is great for the green weenies, however they are too stupid to realize it takes more fuel to produce the crap than it delivers, and it's good for the farmers, however it's bad bad bad for the consumer from the fuel to the high prices it creates at the grocery store.
It's bad stuff, stay away from it if at all possible.
Ethanol was added to gas to help reduce emmissions. There is less energy in an equivalent amount of ethanol than gas, so some get worried.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
However, IMHO, you are way over analyzing this. You're not going to feel much difference, if any. Ethanol enriched gas won't hurt our engines at all. I wouldn't go putting E85 in the tank anytime soon (85% Ethanol), but otherwise you're good to go.
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The other problem is in some automobile using ethanol can be a very corrosive additive. It will destroy some old rubber and all of the tiny metal parts in your fuel pump and the fuel regulator and finally the fuel injectors. And it's made out of corn, which should be in a bowl in the mornings not in your fuel tank. In South America they almost always use ethanol in their fuels, but they use sugar canes for the element to make or refine gasoline. But they have a zillion acres of Sugar Cain to use not corn. And most cars shipped from Japan to anywhere in South America have stainless steel fuel systems and run E85 without a single problem
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You need to look up what the Octane rating system really means. The HIGHER the number the harder it is to ignite. That's why higher octane fuels stop pinging. The lower the number the easier it is to ignite so things like preignition and hot carbon on pistons/valves can cause it to ignite too soon. Higher octane number don't mean a lot as far as how much energy/power the fuel can make. You almost got it right except for this last sentence, it will allow you to run more timing advance thus making more power.![Thumbs Up](https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
An engine that does not ping/preignite the fuel makes more power and keeps the pistons from melting.
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An engine that does not ping/preignite the fuel makes more power and keeps the pistons from melting.
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#24
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As stated by killain, it eats things if they aren't manufactured to with stand it.
If you have any experience with some of the older vettes, especially the C4, that's the number one reason for all of the fuel delivery system failures. ie, pumps, sending units, rubber lines and finally injectors.
I've had small engine components completely fail due to parts literally being eaten away by ethanol. In many places, like Oregon, they exempt small engines and in particular boat engines from having to use ethanol because of this.
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The other problem is in some automobile using ethanol can be a very corrosive additive. It will destroy some old rubber and all of the tiny metal parts in your fuel pump and the fuel regulator and finally the fuel injectors. And it's made out of corn, which should be in a bowl in the mornings not in your fuel tank. In South America they almost always use ethanol in their fuels, but they use sugar canes for the element to make or refine gasoline. But they have a zillion acres of Sugar Cain to use not corn. And most cars shipped from Japan to anywhere in South America have stainless steel fuel systems and run E85 without a single problem
Some here run E85 in their C5 but seem to me your asking for fuel system problems somewhere down the line doing that.
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Interesting stuff. Thank you all for the info. I'm learning!
So... with schools of thought on both sides of using only pure gas or it being ok to use gas with the legal limit of 10% ethanol.... I am struggling to figure out if most guys would choose 89 octane pure gas with no ethanol... or if you'd prefer to use, say, Chevron Techron 93 or Shell V Power 93??
So... with schools of thought on both sides of using only pure gas or it being ok to use gas with the legal limit of 10% ethanol.... I am struggling to figure out if most guys would choose 89 octane pure gas with no ethanol... or if you'd prefer to use, say, Chevron Techron 93 or Shell V Power 93??
Last edited by JaxEagle; 01-17-2012 at 09:33 PM.
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Understood, however all I meant by pure gas is gas without ethanol added. So, I'm curious to know if people would choose 89 octane gas without ethanol or 93 octane from a chevron or shell where it has up to 10% ethanol?
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I may pay a higher price for Ethanol free gas but I wonder if the cost is made up because of better performance and mileage. For the few miles I drive in the summer, I would rather feel better that I'm using a gas that won't potentially hurt my car in the long run.
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
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I may pay a higher price for Ethanol free gas but I wonder if the cost is made up because of better performance and mileage. For the few miles I drive in the summer, I would rather feel better that I'm using a gas that won't potentially hurt my car in the long run.
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
#31
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I may pay a higher price for Ethanol free gas but I wonder if the cost is made up because of better performance and mileage. For the few miles I drive in the summer, I would rather feel better that I'm using a gas that won't potentially hurt my car in the long run.
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
By the way, before I bought my car, the dealer had to drop the gas tank and replace the sending unit because it went bad.....guess why!
#32
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Alcohol/Ethenol produces/contains less energy (about 20% less) than gasoline. So, even though it is/was cheaper at the pump, the overall price/mile was as high or higher than gasoline. Vehicle MADE for E85 can tolerate it as well as make adjustments for all gas, all 85 or combinations of the 2 fuels.
Some here run E85 in their C5 but seem to me your asking for fuel system problems somewhere down the line doing that.
Some here run E85 in their C5 but seem to me your asking for fuel system problems somewhere down the line doing that.
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But I live very close to a major airport, and if you stand on my wife's porch with a glass of ice tea and see & count all the pitch black exhaust coming out the Airliners engines, each one not 30 seconds apart, you'd have a better idea of exhaust flumes. If I wash her white Jeep in the morning and wait till 3PM you can go out and slide your finger on the hood or roof your finger will have a line of black soot on it. Is there any emission specs on the huge General Electric jet engine ?. . . Nope. So the EPA goes back to the heard and rules anything they want to, and enforce it because we all just tiny targets on their radar. Fair, there's no "Fair" in this country. Fair. . .
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So I think I understand the basis of the OP's original question. Let me some it up with this question:
What's worse for the car Premium 93 with 10% ethanol or ethanol free 89 Octane (that's what's available near me)?
What's worse for the car Premium 93 with 10% ethanol or ethanol free 89 Octane (that's what's available near me)?
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That is essentially the question, yes... which is worse... and hence the other would be preferrable...
Last edited by JaxEagle; 01-18-2012 at 09:39 PM.