Is it worth going out of your way for 100% gas?
05-09-2011, 06:12 PM
#1
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Location: Louisiana
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Is it worth going out of your way for 100% gas?
I know some stations around here still say they sell only gasoline that is not an E10 mix. My vehicle is not setup for flex fuel so I was wondering is their any benefit to running the pure gasoline vs just using the E10 most stations around here sell?
05-11-2011, 02:38 PM
#3
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Scikotics
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Location: Patuxent River, MD
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ethanol has less energy density than gasoline, so you get slightly less mileage with it. The offset is that alcohol acts as an octane booster, so if the car is equiped like the E85 compatible ones, it can advance the timing to get that power back.
Also, ethanol can absorb water, so if you're not driving it for a while, use the 100% gas or get a stabilizer when you store it. I have to do this when putting up the motorcycle for the winter or the steel tank can start to rust.
Also, ethanol can absorb water, so if you're not driving it for a while, use the 100% gas or get a stabilizer when you store it. I have to do this when putting up the motorcycle for the winter or the steel tank can start to rust.
05-25-2011, 01:29 AM
#4
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I'm sure someone with a background in chemistry could do a better job with this, but just from tracking my mileage (I live on the Iowa border, so I go back and forth between 10% ethanol and straight gas and I always track my fuel economy):
10% ethanol blend seems to get me about 1 - 1.5mpg less than straight gas in my xD. I usually get right around 40 - 42mpg, so this is a 2.5% - 3.5% drop in fuel economy.
Maybe it's less of a hit than that, as there are a lot of factors that affect gas mileage, but it's been a fairly consistent difference for me.
This means the straight gas is worth buying for a minimal price difference. In my area, it's usually a tossup. If straight gas is $4/gallon and 10% ethanol blend is $3.88, the ethanol is 3% cheaper.
vettereddie is correct about the water issues -- ethanol doesn't store as well as straight fas. He's also correct that ethanol stores less potential energy than gasoline, and about the octane rating. However, octane is basically a measure of how easily the fuel ignites and even automatically advancing the timing accordingly will not regain all of the lost power.
10% ethanol blend seems to get me about 1 - 1.5mpg less than straight gas in my xD. I usually get right around 40 - 42mpg, so this is a 2.5% - 3.5% drop in fuel economy.
Maybe it's less of a hit than that, as there are a lot of factors that affect gas mileage, but it's been a fairly consistent difference for me.
This means the straight gas is worth buying for a minimal price difference. In my area, it's usually a tossup. If straight gas is $4/gallon and 10% ethanol blend is $3.88, the ethanol is 3% cheaper.
vettereddie is correct about the water issues -- ethanol doesn't store as well as straight fas. He's also correct that ethanol stores less potential energy than gasoline, and about the octane rating. However, octane is basically a measure of how easily the fuel ignites and even automatically advancing the timing accordingly will not regain all of the lost power.
05-25-2011, 05:26 PM
#5
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Annapolis, MD
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I'm sure someone with a background in chemistry could do a better job with this, but just from tracking my mileage (I live on the Iowa border, so I go back and forth between 10% ethanol and straight gas and I always track my fuel economy):
10% ethanol blend seems to get me about 1 - 1.5mpg less than straight gas in my xD. I usually get right around 40 - 42mpg, so this is a 2.5% - 3.5% drop in fuel economy.
Maybe it's less of a hit than that, as there are a lot of factors that affect gas mileage, but it's been a fairly consistent difference for me.
This means the straight gas is worth buying for a minimal price difference. In my area, it's usually a tossup. If straight gas is $4/gallon and 10% ethanol blend is $3.88, the ethanol is 3% cheaper.
vettereddie is correct about the water issues -- ethanol doesn't store as well as straight fas. He's also correct that ethanol stores less potential energy than gasoline, and about the octane rating. However, octane is basically a measure of how easily the fuel ignites and even automatically advancing the timing accordingly will not regain all of the lost power.
10% ethanol blend seems to get me about 1 - 1.5mpg less than straight gas in my xD. I usually get right around 40 - 42mpg, so this is a 2.5% - 3.5% drop in fuel economy.
Maybe it's less of a hit than that, as there are a lot of factors that affect gas mileage, but it's been a fairly consistent difference for me.
This means the straight gas is worth buying for a minimal price difference. In my area, it's usually a tossup. If straight gas is $4/gallon and 10% ethanol blend is $3.88, the ethanol is 3% cheaper.
vettereddie is correct about the water issues -- ethanol doesn't store as well as straight fas. He's also correct that ethanol stores less potential energy than gasoline, and about the octane rating. However, octane is basically a measure of how easily the fuel ignites and even automatically advancing the timing accordingly will not regain all of the lost power.
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