Ethanol Free Gas

[John_Mc]

As a old boater which has seen the issues with ethanol in old motors deteriorating hoses and other rubber parts, have seen no issues with modern motors. If there were actual documented issues with E10 then there would be a major uproar over the world about it. Millions of motors running with E10, and if there were actual issues related back to the fuel, there would be no escape.

Its opinions, read a similar post about a specific (no names) synthetic oil. Poster said he changed his oil to the specific oil and instantly noticed it was quiter, and also noticed higher performance and fuel economy.

So when I read another say something to cover all aspects instantly and suggest all others are unable to see the sky is blue, I just ignore and smile

Well, there is a bit of an uproar in the small engine markets. Most modern small engines now have plastics and rubber parts that are more tolerant of ethanol (but not necessarily completely "ethanol-proof"). The real problem comes when you don't use the engine regularly or turn over your stock of E10 fuel quickly enough. The ethanol in the fuel will pull moisture out of the air. After ti has pulled enough, the ethanol & water settle out to the bottom of the tank. The mixture is corrosive. If you are lucky, it stays in your tank,and you just dump it out. If you are not so lucky, it corrodes parts in the carb. If you are really unlucky, since the fuel mix is also the lubricant in a 2 cycle engine, the corrosive mix sits in your bottom end corroding engine parts. It generally won't come to that if you don't store fuel for long periods of time, and especially don't leave it sitting in your engines for extended periods. Unfortunately, if you are not using that chainsaw professionally (or in some other application that forces regular use), it's all too common for someone to leave the fuel in, thinking "I'll get back to this in a few days", and then forget all about it. You might get away with it many times, but I liken it to running a red light or stop sign. The vast majority of the time, you'll get away with it. Then your luck runs out and you get a ticket - or if you are having a really bad day, you get t-boned by someone coming the other way through the intersection.

 

[gstrom99]

When driving back from Iowa just last week, I hit the wrong button at Casey's and filled my '19 Jeep Cherokee with ethanol free gas. Not only is it more expensive (duh - Iowa is a huge corn producing state...), but my on-board computer dash tells me I got 1.5 mpg less, using straight gasoline. I'll buy their ethanol fee gas for my chainsaws and mowers, but my car(s) will get the blended stuff from now on. The John Deere gets whatever diesel blend is in season; no choice for that...

 

[atsah]

When driving back from Iowa just last week, I hit the wrong button at Casey's and filled my '19 Jeep Cherokee with ethanol free gas. Not only is it more expensive (duh - Iowa is a huge corn producing state...), but my on-board computer dash tells me I got 1.5 mpg less, using straight gasoline. I'll buy their ethanol fee gas for my chainsaws and mowers, but my car(s) will get the blended stuff from now on.

Spark plug gap is critical, you're 19 Jeep is gaped to run E10.. Non E isn't going to do anything positive for it.. The benefits of NON E are in 2 stroke and carbureted engines that sit with fuel in them for long periods of time..

 

[goeduck]

Spark plug gap is critical, you're 19 Jeep is gaped to run E10.. Non E isn't going to do anything positive for it.. The benefits of NON E are in 2 stroke and carbureted engines that sit with fuel in them for long periods of time..

I would not have thought of that.

 

[stuckmotor]

There is one station near me that carries ethanol free gas. Several years ago they switched from a regular pump on the row, to an above ground pump and tank that's a minor pain to get to and use. The sun often blocks the gauge display. I hated this until someone on here pointed out that there's a good chance a tank that allows you to select your fuel might have a hose full of ethanol gas still in it from the last customer. When I'm only buying a gallon for the chainsaw this might make a difference.

There's another station I can drive by on the way to the farm, that used to sell ethanol free gas in a standard row pump. Last time I used it, the gas had a lower octane rating and my saw didn't crank as quickly when I used it so, I'm back to the pain in the neck, above ground tank.

 

[stuckmotor]

When driving back from Iowa just last week, I hit the wrong button at Casey's and filled my '19 Jeep Cherokee with ethanol free gas. Not only is it more expensive (duh - Iowa is a huge corn producing state...), but my on-board computer dash tells me I got 1.5 mpg less, using straight gasoline. I'll buy their ethanol fee gas for my chainsaws and mowers, but my car(s) will get the blended stuff from now on. The John Deere gets whatever diesel blend is in season; no choice for that...

Someone in this group said ethanol is used as an octane booster. Maybe that accounts for your mileage difference. (I had thought the reason for using ethanol was to get away from fossil fuel.)

 

[jaydee325]

Spark plug gap is critical, you're 19 Jeep is gaped to run E10.. Non E isn't going to do anything positive for it.. The benefits of NON E are in 2 stroke and carbureted engines that sit with fuel in them for long periods of time..

I've done a lot of reading on ethanol gas, mostly in hot rodding publications, and have not run across this. I've seen where you may have to go to colder heat range plugs using the higher blends of ethanol (E-85 for example) to control pre-ignition.

Do you have a reference or link? I'm always wanting to learn more!

Here is an interesting read from Hot Rod Mag

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I hated this until someone on here pointed out that there's a good chance a tank that allows you to select your fuel might have a hose full of ethanol gas still in it from the last customer. When I'm only buying a gallon for the chainsaw this might make a difference.

In that case, I always put the first gallon in my pu's gas tank and then fill my cans...

SR

 

[lilranch2001]

In that case, I always put the first gallon in my pu's gas tank and then fill my cans...

SR

That is what I do as well, seems to work for me

 

[Gary Fowler]

Most of the gas stations around me carry non-ethanol gas but only in the high test versions. Only a few carry 87 octane in non- ethanol. The local Shell station is $.70 per gallon more for the 93 octane non-ethanol than regular 87 with ethanol. Since everything I own runs on 87, I dont bother with the 93 not even in my lawnmower or other small engines. I just put the blue Stabil in at season end and it is usually good to go next spring.

 

[stuckmotor]

In that case, I always put the first gallon in my pu's gas tank and then fill my cans...

SR

I'd forgotten about the "first gallon in the truck" trick. If I ever locate a station that has high test ethanol free, in a multifuel pump, I'll try it. That above ground tank is no fun.

 

[goeduck]

I cannot recall if the station I go to for ethanol free premuim has a separate hose, Most all stations around here do have separate hoses. I know the station I go to that has regular grade ethanol free has a hose, because diesel is the other grade on that pump position.

 

[John_Mc]

Someone in this group said ethanol is used as an octane booster. Maybe that accounts for your mileage difference. (I had thought the reason for using ethanol was to get away from fossil fuel.)

Not likely. The only way higher octane helps you gas mileage (at least without making physical changes to the engine, such as changing the compression ratio) is if you were starting with an octane rating so low you were getting detonation/pre-ignition, and raised it to the point where that stopped happening. Raising it further than that (other things being equal) does not give you more power or better gas mileage.

 

[John_Mc]

I've done a lot of reading on ethanol gas, mostly in hot rodding publications, and have not run across this. I've seen where you may have to go to colder heat range plugs using the higher blends of ethanol (E-85 for example) to control pre-ignition.

Do you have a reference or link? I'm always wanting to learn more!

Here is an interesting read from Hot Rod Mag

E85 generally has an octane rating of about 108 or so. (I don't have the reference handy, but if you google it, you'll find it easily.)

Despite the higher octane, 100% ethanol has about 2/3 the energy content of non-ethanol gasoline. (Put another way, you'd have to burn 1.5 gallons of E100 to release the same energy as 1 gallon of gas.) E85 would be slightly better than E100 in terms of energy content (assuming the other 15% in E85 is gasoline).

 

[atsah]

I've done a lot of reading on ethanol gas, mostly in hot rodding publications, and have not run across this. I've seen where you may have to go to colder heat range plugs using the higher blends of ethanol (E-85 for example) to control pre-ignition.

Do you have a reference or link? I'm always wanting to learn more!

Here is an interesting read from Hot Rod Mag

I have no links.. The reason I know it to be true is there is a performance center in TX that I have had custom tune my 3.5 twin turbo SHO, they require you to change out the plugs and regap them to run premuim 91 octane and or 91 non E fuels.. The tuner said it makes a difference from a stock plug gap.. Might be something here..

Ethanol Gas affects Spark Plug Selection - Colder and Narrower | Mercedes-Benz Forum

 

[goeduck]

Holy carp. I went to fill up my 2 stroke gas can at my out of town station that sells premium ethanol free..... one hose! I have to thank this thread for getting me to notice. So this time the first 2 gallons went into a separate can.

 

[5030]

Most of the gas stations around me carry non-ethanol gas but only in the high test versions. Only a few carry 87 octane in non- ethanol. The local Shell station is $.70 per gallon more for the 93 octane non-ethanol than regular 87 with ethanol. Since everything I own runs on 87, I dont bother with the 93 not even in my lawnmower or other small engines. I just put the blue Stabil in at season end and it is usually good to go next spring.

Blue (Marine Stabil) is the holy grail of gas preservative. Just remember it will get stale of you don't use it promptly (within a year of opening). Why there is a place on the back of the bottle to record the open date. I use it in everything gas powered.

 

[5030]

Only thing I have against e-gas is, it takes more energy to make a gallon than the gallon returns in energy and we as taxpayers get to pay the difference (called the ethanol subsidity).

 

[5030]

That is some of the best stuff I've found (not that I've done any scientific studies to prove it). The only downside I see is that regular Stabil will stabilize gas for up to 2 years, while I believe the marine stuff says 1 year. Since I don't let anything sit more than 6 months, it has not been an issue for me.

Never had any luck with the red stuff plus, it stinks and it stinks in the exhaust too.

 

[Oaktree]

Blue (Marine Stabil) is the holy grail of gas preservative. Just remember it will get stale of you don't use it promptly (within a year of opening). Why there is a place on the back of the bottle to record the open date. I use it in everything gas powered.

Never had any luck with the red stuff plus, it stinks and it stinks in the exhaust too.

I've never seen (or even heard of before this thread) the blue Stabil, guess it's not available everywhere. I couldn't tell you if the red stuff works or not, I'll use it in my generator, ATV and when I put my antique car away for the winter.
Never noticed a bad smell.