What is the benefit to using Ethanol free gas?

[camaro-dreamer]

Originally Posted by strych9

A lot of misinformation here. Here are the facts:

1. Ethanol burns colder and thus produces less energy per volume than its non-ethanol counterpart. This results in reduced MPG when ethanol is used
2. There is no by-product in ethanol gas that adds any more contaminants from combustion than non-ethanol gas. No "gunk" at all
3. Ethanol does not have detrimental issues with plastics and rubber seals, etc. Methanol, however, is corrosive to these materials
4. Modern vehicles from mid-90's and up are designed to work best using 10% ethanol-blended fuel. They are calibrated to get the best balance of power and economy using ethanol fuel
5. In many areas, the only way you can get 93 octane fuel is to use ethanol. The "regular" version of the same brand of fuel is typically 91 octane, or 89 octane

Hope this helps you.

*asterisk* Ethanol is not particularly corrosive to automotive grade polymers.

[tonyko1]

Why is "BowtieBelle" suspended from the site, all this over an ethanol fight?

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by tonyko1

Why is "BowtieBelle" suspended from the site, all this over an ethanol fight?

Probably for name calling/cursing, she should not have stooped to his level. But rules are rules, and she'll be back.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Comrando

EFI is also suspended. I have a feeling there were a few posts deleted from this thread.

Quite a few!! Both posted things that were totally unnecessary. He totally baited her and she fell for it!

[cmb74656]

Ethanol won't leave deposits in your engine the way pure gasoline used to do. But what it can do if you put it in an older vehicle is liquify any deposits that were already there. Think of it as 10% injector cleaner.

[strych9]

Originally Posted by Witt

Great info!

Edit: I would like to add to your list, and this applies to e10, e85, and e100 mixes that just because ethanol contains less energy per unit it simply means you have to burn more fuel per unit of air, not that the engine makes less power on ethanol blended fuel. There are benefits and consequences to this, mainly cooler intake air charge resulting in more power due to detonation resistance and less mpg because of the additional fuel used, which you covered.

Originally Posted by camaro-dreamer

*asterisk* Ethanol is not particularly corrosive to automotive grade polymers.

Thanks for the supplemental info! Spot on!

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Comrando

It sure is going to be quiet around here :(

lol

[Frid]

Looks like there is a gas station near me with Ethanol free .

So this all boils down to getting that for now on instead of Shell 93?

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Frid

Looks like there is a gas station near me with Ethanol free .

So this all boils down to getting that for now on instead of Shell 93?

I'm gonna stay Shell 93.

[RallySS]

Originally Posted by EFI

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.

There is a reason why fuel pumps have a much shorter lifespan now than when the first electric fuel pumps came out, as well as leaking fuel injector o rings and brittle fuel tank ring gaskets. I have seen several fuel pumps where the motors ran just fine, but could not hold the pressure due to destroyed internal seals. I personally ran E85 in my 2007 Flex Fuel Avalanche, which was supposed to have the upgraded rubber, etc, and the fuel pump died at 40k miles. Alcohol pulls chemicals out of the rubber that keeps them pliable, and regular gasoline is less solvent, resulting in greater rubber life in nearly every case.

I say you grab a couple injector rings, put one in 10% ethanol gas and the other in pure regular unleaded, then try to bend each of them after one year, repeating until the first breaks. That is the only way I can think to convince everyone.

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

I found a station not to far out of my way on my way to work, so I was just wondering if it would be worth my time to start pumping this into my car.

Using less ethanol means less corn is consumed by your car and so more starving people will be able to eat it and it will cost them less to get it!

[Run4two]

I hate California gas!! I would not doubt that our 91 octane gas with ethanol can and has dropped the 6.2L V8 into the lower octane fuel table and significantly reduced its power. I don't have proof, but I would be surprised if not.

[MrBowTi3]

Idk about all the technical stuff but I have used both and being a college student that lives just over 120 miles from home i can say this about it I get better mileage using 100% gas

[CWI]

Originally Posted by Ringo64

OOOOHHHH where did you find this in Orlando?!?!?!?!

Definitely get it! Like said Ethanol is basically corn/vegetable oil extract that is a filler in gas now-a-days.

Not extract, it's a distilate.

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.

Being a distilate, just like gasoline, it has none of the solids from it's source. Not even all ethanol is made from corn, it is distilled from many sources that contain sugars or cellulose.

Originally Posted by dwinva

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.

Nitrogen is an inert gas. Not even a nobel gas. I think it is more of a play on words in advertising for the uninformed general puplic to buy into. I'm sure all gasoline has a trace of nitrogen from being processed. Shell decided it sounded like a good story. If i'm wrong, show me.http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-e...d-gasoline.htm

Originally Posted by 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?

The best? According to Shell maybe. All gasoline is made to strict federal standards and then regional standards which explains the higher cost in California, it needs to burn cleaner by their states EPA standards therefore requiring additional refining steps.
Go to a refinery sometime, follow a few of the trucks that come out with a hazmat placard on it that has #"1203" on it. That's the DOT hazmat code for gasoline. See where that truck dumps his gas. It might not be at a station that is painted on the truck, or better yet follow a truck that doesn't have a name brand on the tank or door. It may just go to your favorite Shell station. When stations buy gas to put in their tank and pump to you, they don't need to be brand loyal. Especially if it is a long distance to the nearest refinery with their name on it. Over the years, I've seen Chevron trucks loading at Texaco refineries before they ever thought to merge. Shell trucks filling at BP refineries. Any combination you can think of, it happens. They add the name brand additives when they fill their truck at the refinery or terminal.
I am sitting in one of the largest refineries in the US as I type this. I spent most of last year in the largest refinery in the US.

Originally Posted by Run4two

I hate California gas!! I would not doubt that our 91 octane gas with ethanol can and has dropped the 6.2L V8 into the lower octane fuel table and significantly reduced its power. I don't have proof, but I would be surprised if not.

Ethanol actually burns slower than gasoline therefore boosting the octane from it's starting point resulting in whatever octane is advertised at the pump. Higher octane burns slower allowing more advanced engine timing, reducing knock and increasing power by virtue of advanced timing. It's not just Calli gas, many states have 91 for premium rather than 93. I think it has to do with the regional climates and how the EPA standards are set up in theat region.
BTW, Chevrolet recommends minimum 91 octane, not 93 in the SS. It won't affect your ECM negatively.