What is the benefit to using Ethanol free gas?

[tonyko1]

There is ethanol free premium near me and it is about 20 cents more per gallon. I don't notice any difference, it is 91 octane. Otherwise I put in Chevron as its "techron" additives is supposed to keep the engine clean. It is 92 octane.

Anyways, our Camaros are designed for 10% ethanol, although older cars and power equipment was not.

However, there is a push by ethanol makers to increase ethanol up to 15%, as they are losing money without the federal subsidies.

[ZED SLED]

Ethanol makes more power but is very corrosive to rubbers and plastics. Things like plastic gas tanks, fuel lines, fuel injector o-rings. These things hold up a lot better than they used to, but straight gasoline is much better for them. This is why the companies that make lawn power equipment and the small engines for them filed an injunction to stop the gov't from mandating E-15, or we would be using that crap now, too. If you can find plain ole gasoline, by all means use it. Unfortunately, here in the Peoples Republic of New York, we can't.

[CamaroWinz]

Originally Posted by BowtieBelle

Oh, man, definitely get it. I ALWAYS put ethanol-free in my car!

You get better mileage, for one. It also doesn't gunk up your injectors and trash your engine as fast as ethanol will. Think of sticky corn syrup residue in your engine... At least that's how I personally look at it. I go out of my way for No-E fuel.

There is no chemical process that will produce "sticky corn syrup residue" from ethanol.

It's true that ethanol is tougher on plastic components but, as was pointed out, those components are now made of solvent-resistant materials.

Even gasoline that doesn't contain ethanol has a myriad of solvents in it to reduce carbon build-up on internal components. Ethanol is really no more or less destructive than non-ethanol solvents.

[hot_rod]

>Ethanol makes more power

Wrong!

Ethanol produces about 1/4 less energy than gasoline

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by hot_rod

>Ethanol makes more power

Wrong!

Ethanol produces about 1/4 less energy than gasoline

That's what I thought.

[EFI]

It also doesn't gunk up your injectors and trash your engine as fast as ethanol will. Think of sticky corn syrup residue in your engine...

Wut? Where did you get this information from?

Wrong!

Ethanol produces about 1/4 less energy than gasoline

Yeah? Tell that to the E85 guys

[ExCrystal]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

You can seach here for stations in your area:

http://pure-gas.org/

New Jersey is the only state that is not on there. Just my luck

But now that you mention this, I noticed that Shell uses nitrogen in their fuels? Is that any better than ethanol? Or is it just a marketing trick and really ethanol? haha

[dwinva]

Originally Posted by ExCrystal

New Jersey is the only state that is not on there. Just my luck

But now that you mention this, I noticed that Shell uses nitrogen in their fuels? Is that any better than ethanol? Or is it just a marketing trick and really ethanol? haha

The nitrogen acts as a detergent in their gas to help clean up carbon deposits. All gasolines have detergents in them and I don't know if nitrogen (or whatever it is they really add....remember the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen) is any better or not at cleaning. According to "howstuff works.com", Shells ad campaign for this coincided with their suspending research into alternative fuels. Feel free to do your own research and see if you agree.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by CamaroWinz

There is no chemical process that will produce "sticky corn syrup residue" from ethanol.

It's true that ethanol is tougher on plastic components but, as was pointed out, those components are now made of solvent-resistant materials.

Even gasoline that doesn't contain ethanol has a myriad of solvents in it to reduce carbon build-up on internal components. Ethanol is really no more or less destructive than non-ethanol solvents.

Originally Posted by EFI

Wut? Where did you get this information from?



Yeah? Tell that to the E85 guys

That's just the analogy I use, guys, chill. I know it doesn't leave corn syrup in my motor But my dad, who is in the oilfield, has told me repeatedly that ethanol will gunk up your engine. As far as the corn syrup analogy, I'm just saying, I wouldn't wanna put corn syrup in my motor. That's all. I just know it eats plastic and rubber pieces and produces less power than regular fuel.

[EFI]

But my dad, who is in the oilfield, has told me repeatedly that ethanol will gunk up your engine.

He can be in any field he wants, that's pure BS.

I just know it eats plastic and rubber pieces and produces less power than regular fuel.

With the right setup, it actually allows the engine to make MORE power than regular fuel.

If it ate plastic and gunked up engines, wouldn't you think all of most of the cars on the road today would experience those problems seeing as how 95% of gas stations now have E10 or more in their tanks? Frankly, ethanol has been in gas for many many years and cars seem to be just fine.

But you can go ahead and believe whatever you want, people that have experience with such fuels can tell you otherwise with no avail apparently.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by EFI

He can be in any field he wants, that's pure BS.



With the right setup, it actually allows the engine to make MORE power than regular fuel.

But you can go ahead and believe whatever you want, people that have experience with such fuels can tell you otherwise with no avail apparently.

If it ate plastic and gunked up engines, wouldn't you think all of most of the cars on the road today would experience those problems seeing as how 95% of gas stations now have E10 or more in their tanks? Frankly, ethanol has been in gas for many many years and cars seem to be just fine.

Whatever you say, boss I'm not gonna argue over the internets with you.

[Wizard1183]

Here's a question: Shell gasoline is considered THE BEST gasoline money can buy with its increaese in performance and mpg. Yet it has 10% ethanol in it. So does using shell hurt more or less than ethanol-frree gasoline?

[Witt]

Originally Posted by BowtieBelle

That's just the analogy I use, guys, chill. I know it doesn't leave corn syrup in my motor But my dad, who is in the oilfield, has told me repeatedly that ethanol will gunk up your engine. As far as the corn syrup analogy, I'm just saying, I wouldn't wanna put corn syrup in my motor. That's all. I just know it eats plastic and rubber pieces and produces less power than regular fuel.

It does the complete opposite. Alcohol fuels act as a detergent. A cheap and effective one at that.

Saying it produces less power is like saying Methanol fueled engines produce less power than gasoline equivalents. Just because a stoich value is lower doesn't mean the engine produces less power, its generally quite the opposite. It simply contains less energy per unit mass.

[nyrfan]

Ok so now I am really confused. Will it ethanol free help add or reduce power?