Ethanol Free Gas

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles)
10/04/2013 at 12:01 • Filed to: ethanol

In case you're interested, here's a map of fuel stations that provide ethanol free gasoline. This site seems to be crowd source, so feel free to add, remove or update any station that is out of date. Ethanol can cause engine to perform poorly, deteriorate quicker, and leave residue valves and other parts that can hinder performance. If this concerns you, then this map might help you plan your fuel stops accordingly.

pure-gas.org map

DISCUSSION (29)

For Sweden > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:05

[looks at Southern California]

I'm surprised the upper midwest and the Confederacy hate corn so much.

ddavidn > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:07

Oh goody, there's one near my work!

I'm not sure how convinced I am that this is very important for my car. Somebody convince me.

Chris Clarke > For Sweden
10/04/2013 at 12:07

There are several states, including California, that aren't required to label pumps when ethanol is added. So I assume it harder for contributors to tell what percentage of ethanol a station has unless they specifically ask.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/state_guide_et…

PRBot II > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:09

Of course Connecticut.

And they only do it to be "quaint".

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > For Sweden
10/04/2013 at 12:09

Kinja'd!!!

Corn: no place for a mighty warrior. Well, it isn't.

PRBot II > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:10

Skyhawk G1000?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:11

Depends on age. 70s- mid '80s cars will suffer probably the most emfuckening from ethanol gas, with anything older just possibly turning funky if not run, and anything newer probably a little less susceptible. Not sure you're really in the clear until an early 2000s car, though.

Chris Clarke > PRBot II
10/04/2013 at 12:11

You are correct sir.

Chris Clarke > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:17

Do you drive a car manufactured prior to the late '90s or a Ferrari, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, Volkswagen or Audi? All these manufactures have official warnings concerning the use of ethanol blended fuels.

Chris Clarke > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:20

Also, read this for possible engine damage and performance issues associated with ethanol blends.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/list_e10_engin…

chato > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:20

damn it, only 90 octane here in santa fe. really need 91 for my tune. I guess my chainsaw will be happy though.

ddavidn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/04/2013 at 12:21

So my '95 is probably right there in the grey area?

ddavidn > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:21

'95 M3.

Chris Clarke > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:23

I'd switch. Especially if you can find 0% near by.

ddavidn > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:25

I bet it's real expensive. I might run it for a month, see if it makes a difference. I got bigger problems than that, though.

Chris Clarke > chato
10/04/2013 at 12:25

Ethanol blends can actually decrease octane rating, so even if you fill up on 91 E10, you might be getting the same octane from strait 90.

Chris Clarke > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:26

Probably not a huge advantage unless the price is close.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:28

Has anyone ever done a side by side comparo of ethanol free vs. e5-10-15-whatever over several tanks (to allow the trims to adjust) in the same car? There's a place near me whose hand painted sign proudly proclaims that the "ETHENOL FREE GAS pumps 7&8 only" is almost the same price.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:29

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/…

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:31

100% gasoline should net you better mpg as well, which may offset the additional cost.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ddavidn
10/04/2013 at 12:33

Yeah, I'd say. All comes down to how ridiculous your EFI system is with how many dead ends and pointless voodoo chambers, and what mix of aluminum/steel/rubber/whatever is involved, as one of the great emfuckenings of eth gas is promotion of electrolytic corrosion if it sits, and another is dissolving some synthetics.

Dinger loves his ranger. > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:34

The shop where I work is there! I was looking to see if I needed to add it.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 12:54

fawk. None near me.

Bird > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 13:09

Actually you've got that backwards. Ethanol is often added to increase octane rating. The octane of ethanol can vary by how it was produced, but when made as motor fuel is generally 116.

Bird > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 13:11

Sunoco has a good writeup about it.

http://www.racegas.com/article/11

Chris Clarke > Bird
10/04/2013 at 13:17

I should clarify. E10 that has phase separation from water absorption can drop 2 to 4 points of octane rating. Water absorption might occur as cheaper, slow gas stations, that infrequently replace their fuel supply.

Chris Clarke > Bird
10/04/2013 at 13:20

Very cool, thanks.

Bird > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 13:38

Yeah, but if you go to the same type of 'slow-gas stations' you could still have moisture in the pure gasoline...add moisture to pretty much any fuel and it will be a problem. It's the same as getting 'bad-gas' from the back country gas station...

I just wouldn't say it that way. The problem is higher moisture sensitivity...

chato > Chris Clarke
10/04/2013 at 13:39

yeah, gas out west is really a challenge for turbo cars, always battling knock. what I really need is bigger injectors and high flow fuel pump so I can go straight e-85.