10% ethanol fuel without warning

The greater Houston area gas is now upto 10% ethanol. This took a little while to figure out why the cars where running so lean. Even the unmarked pumps have this fuel. Not that big of a deal, just jet up 4 sizes maybe six on dominator pump gas cars. This adjustment got back .21 on a 11 second car.

Is this an issue anywhere else?

 

one local kwik shop has it in all grades,one other has it in just 1 grade. I'm staying away from it myself

 

Thanks for the heads up, David. I was afraid of that. Was shocked when I went to Mobil recently and it was ethenol. At least they DID mark it as such. So it really is ALL gas here now? Even Shell? :rant: :blast:

 

Is the 10% ethanol mix gas during all seasons or just high emission seasons like spring and summer when it's hotter outside? o No:

I heard that gas prices went down recently here in DFW because it's not the special formulation for high emission seasons.

I haven't noticed any difference in the GS.

I also didn't realize until after the Buick Bash in East Texas that the high grade there was only 92 octane and not 93 like in DFW.

 

we have it here year round, prices down to 2.05 for 87, 2.25 for 91

 

It's the only stuff I put in my cars. "This gasoline is mixed with a 10% ethanol blend" @ kwik-trip. My 455 olds loves it.

 

10% or less

After some of the problems in the 70's and 80's I'm pretty sure that Ohio passed laws that force the station to clearly post notification on the pump if the gas has alcohol in it (limit is 10%). Fuel with too much alcohol will eat up the old rubber components if they haven't been replaced in the last 20 years. Another problem I'm curious about is with the E85 stuff how do they keep it from "soaking up" too much water???

regards

 

Our winter blend comes on September 15.

In my daily driver (4-cyl Saturn) I have to change from 89 octane to 93 octane, and my gas mileage drops 12 - 15% but supposedly that is all worth it for cleaner emissions???????

-Bob C.

 

In my daily driver (4-cyl Saturn) I have to change from 89 octane to 93 octane, and my gas mileage drops 12 - 15%

say what? i can understand the mileage drop, but adding ethanol should raise the octane. are they mixing a lower octane gasoline with the ethanol and then normalizing that at 89?

 

Yep, have it here in the winter for smog. Mechanics here swear that the stuff eats O2 sensors. A friend that races says he loses 0.1 with it, but not sure if that is with or without rejetting.

 

I'm pretty sure that winter blend is more than just changing the % of ethanol. I'm no chemist, but I've heard (from people who know much more than me) that gasoline has some 175 components to it and I would bet they futz with all of it somehow. I think they stopped using MBTE now but I'm not sure.

Nevertheless, I can hear the engine knocking (esp during heavy throttle downshifting) so I have to switch to 93. Come springtime, I'll be able to switch back to 89. Done it for the past few years that way. Besides, don't forget that octane testing is done in labs at 600 ("research" octane) or 900 ("motor" octane) RPM, which only has a little relevance for shifting under load at 4000 RPM.

I believe that a knock retard gauge should be included on any car with a gauge package. It would open people's eyes.

-Bob C.

 

Ethenol wont hurt any componets in your fuel system as people might think.I run the stuff all the time with no problems , but i change the jets too.When drag racing we run a 20 percent(easy to mix 1gal to 4gal gas)runnig 6 points higher on jetting.The car runs far more consistant this way.Also unlike methenol ethenol dose not draw moisture infact it dose just the opposite and dissplaces moisture,and is not caustic like methenol.Like running any other fule in your car you tune to it.Cars set to run on low octane fuel will not run as well on a high octane fuel untill you tune for it(timing) just ask any body who runs av-gas.In racing if you set your carb for staight ethenol and tune you will find that the car is alot more consistent than gas. :beer