Ethanol in gas

[Top Cat]

Sunoco gas here is 10% ethanol :(

[nomadtom69]

maybe be the different distributor's

[cbutteris]

Wow- sounds like options might be disappearing fast! We drove out to Colorado (via NE) in December and almost every station was $3.09 for ethanol blend and usually A LOT more for the 87 regular.
And yes, our Chevy got crappy mileage on that trip!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Cal

Didn't notice that anyone brought up the question of mileage using the ethanol blends. I've suspected lower mileage but it's hard to verify. A quick google question came back with reports that alcohol definitely returns fewer mpg's.

I try to avoid the ethanol blends when possible (preference is BP or Shell).

Ethanol definitely gives worse mileage. Last year at PDC, I was getting 40-43 on non-ethanol fuel, same when I went to Custer. In Iowa, 35-37.

Another thing is top tier fuel. The folks from Germany made a big deal of this when I got the bike. http://www.toptiergas.com/ . Ethanol is discouraged as well.

[cbutteris]

Good link, Ponch.

I saved it off to my favorites for future reference. -CB

[flavor]

Caught up on some reading today. Read yesterday and todays local paper. Article in yesterday's paper that 15% ethanol was approved. On hold though..........

Didn't catch all of previous postings about this so I don't know everything commented on. But what they did say in the article is that ethanol screws up catalytic converters, especially in older vehicles. They also said the small engine repar guys were talking about how ethanol ruins engines on lawnmowers chainsaws etc. I imagine it's not good for motorcycles as well (especially of the older variety).

Additional comments were it's going to drive the price of grain up and people are going to have to search for specific gas stations as well.

I'm just sayin......

[Top Cat]

The news paper article I read said if the station is going to sell 15% they have to have a pump for 10% and a different pump for 15%.
Just what I read........

[nomadtom69]

You really think they are going to install a new tank just for the 15% gas

[Top Cat]

That's the way I read it. The article said a lot of stations will not sell 15% because of the expense and space problem of adding a seperate pump.

[cbutteris]

I'm not real familiar how this distribution works. Are the regional distributors getting the incentives ($$) to push blended fuels?

And from what you guys are saying it will only be the new stations going in that will install tanks and pumps for E85. Is that about right?

[nomadtom69]

either that or the older stations will have to either drop a grade of fuel aka 93 oct or put in a extra tank for the 15%

[glwilson]

Ethanol gas is always less expensive because the government subsidizes it to be so.

Otherwise ethanol would be much more expensive.

As a footnote; ethanol as an alternative fuel source is not "fuel-efficient". In other words, most research will show you that it takes more energy to produce ethanol than ethanol produces -- thus the subsidies.

Ponch is right about ethanol's mileage... it is not near as good as regular gasoline -- again thus the subsidies.

[dogdoc]

TC My brand new 6 mo old Honda mower wouldnt idle right so I took it in I thought under warranty. he had to replace whole carb to fiz it. he said it was the ethanol eating them up like it does on all small engines. It was NOT covered under warranty. he said none of the major nbrands cover fuel related issues like this. he said to USE a additive to reduce/elimnate the ethanol and stablize the gas. One brand Star-tron another is the new improved Stabil. And he said the gov't has approved the 15% which should kick in soon.

[ndbigfish]

Blue Marine Sta-bil (8 oz) $9.99 @ WM. Ouch!

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Doc (Lonewolf)

TC My brand new 6 mo old Honda mower wouldnt idle right so I took it in I thought under warranty. he had to replace whole carb to fiz it. he said it was the ethanol eating them up like it does on all small engines. It was NOT covered under warranty. he said none of the major nbrands cover fuel related issues like this. he said to USE a additive to reduce/elimnate the ethanol and stablize the gas. One brand Star-tron another is the new improved Stabil. And he said the gov't has approved the 15% which should kick in soon.

Another example of the Government ramming sh*t down our throat. :(" title="" border="0"/>
My brother in law uses Star tron in his snow mobile and the crap gas we get now still gummed up his idle jet. Had to take apart and clean. If the crap gas gums up the other jets it causes a lean condition that grenades the piston, from what I understand.
My Drifter is carbed so I will check into the improved Stabil. Doc,Is the new improved Stabil for everyday use or just storing the bike?