Lots of stations around East,TN sell unadulterated gas.I do get better milage.I notice it in my high performance cars,one of which is supercharged.However ,I wonder if you get the same additive package. I use it exclusively in power equipment and my 4-wheeler. It does cost about $.35 a gal more.
Does anyone know for sure about the additives?

 

Here's a link with state-by-state labeling laws. Can't attest to its accuracy, but here it is:

http://www.fuel-testers.com/state_gu...anol_laws.html

This explains your experience in Michigan.

 

I avoid Ethanol like the Plague when Possible. Most stations here in IND still don't have it.. TG
MY Mileage drops 3-4 MPG every time I use it and Its now been proven it will EAT the gas lines inside Ur tank,, IE.. (pin hole in the gas lines) UNLESS the MoCo has changed the gas line Material in the last several YRs..????


.

 

The higher the percentage of ethanol (denatured Hooch) the less btu of energy per gallon. It is a proven fact that you experience a reduction in MPG with E15 Vs. Pure gasoline in a Flex Fuel vehicle. I would expect the same for E10

 

Indiana isn't required to label E-10, so who knows how many stations have it?
Actually, pure-gas.org only lists 56 stations in the entire state which don't have it.

Pinholes in the lines inside the HD tank are caused by wear from rubbing against the walls of the tank, not by E-10.

Yes, slightly more fuel is consumed per horsepower with E-10. Stoich mixture is 14.3, versus 14.7 for straight gasoline, so you use a little under 3% more fuel.

No, the sky is not falling.

Here's a photo of friction wear which caused pinholing:

 

The new bikes with O2 sensors should have no problems with ethanol fuel. The computer will sense how efficient the fuel is burning and adjust accordingly (it will correct itself to run optimally with or without ethanol). The comments about moisture absorption are true. The issue I have is not so much with a tank sitting for a while and water separating out, as it is with the minor dilution of the fuel with the absorbed water. Now it isn't much, but it can, over time, affect the way certain components function (metal exposed to fuel in the fuel system or non-combustion parts of the engine). Dissolved sulfur and nitrogen compounds (found in all fossil fuels) will be dissolved in the water and form acids that will corrode the metals.

Additionally, ethanol does produce slightly less power per molecular unit. That is not a problem since the fuel ratios can be fixed, and you will lose some fuel economy, but not too much. The REAL issue I have is that, although it makes less usable energy, it releases MORE unused heat energy. This means that engines burning ethanol fuels will run HOTTER. Again, not by a whole lot. But, over the life of the engine, it could cause problems with gaskets and surface coatings.

Moral of the story: Some ethanol gas now and then will not serious problems. Over time, and under heavy running conditions, the ethanol will take its toll on the motor.

Just 2 cents from your friendly neighborhood chemist.

 

Actually, ethanol results in the engine running cooler, with lower combustion temperatures than gasoline. Ethanol has a much higher latent heat of vaporization than gasoline (it cools the intake charge more when it's vaporized), and a greater volume of it is vaporized.

 

I run the 93 octane E-10 and add the Sta-Bil for ethanol treatment and don't worry about it. I'm not going to spend a lot of time planning all my gas stops trying to use pure gas all the time. Not that many of them around here.

 

Ya, not many real gas gas stations around. AND take it from me, you can't be 100% sure you are getting what your paying for. I used to deliver gasoline. I can't count how many times the owner ordered too much of a grade of gas but didn't want to lose what he paid for so they would have me drop it any tank that had the room. Except the diesel tank. You just don't know.