Ethanol fad?

[Greyg]

I used to get my gas at a Citgo station, but I quit going there because of 10% ethanol once I found a Cenex that had ethanol free gas. Now that Citgo has switched back to ethanol free gas, making it 2 stations I know of in a town of 10,000 selling the corn free stuff. Is anyone else seeing this? Are there more stations going back to ethanol free gas because of waning business? Was the ethanol thing a craze for a short while or am I not seeing the bigger picture? Can we agree on an abbreviation of EFG for ethanol free gas or is there a standard one already? Why does Captain Crunch chew up the roof of my mouth?

[BEEF]

I think that in some places, ethanol is required. I know that I can't get EFG in virginia at all. they usually run about a dime cheaper a gallon because of the tax difference from NC to VA. also, I think walmart only carries the "corny gas" as I call it.

and cap'n crunch does the same to me. let it soak in the milk longer, problem solved

[Jay2TheRescue]

Things may be different now. but there have been some back woods stations I buy fuel at from time to time that I suspect don't have Ethanol, because of the unexplainable mileage gains I get on their fuel. I think in winter all fuel is ethanol, but in summer some stations may have normal stuff.

-Jay

[theholycow]

I'm pretty sure that in my state it became legally required to use ethanol in place of MTBE after MTBE contaminated a town's water supply. Shortly after that, ethanol became pretty common everywhere. Then when gas was $4/gallon, it probably became a financial advantage to cut the expensive gas with cheaper ethanol.

[VetteOwner]

lol fad? must be the longest fad ive known...weve always had ethonal gas for as long as i can remember.

even my 1980 chevettes owners manual says its safe to use so obviously it was widespread back then for them to put that in the book...

[Jay2TheRescue]

back in the 70's and 80's 7-11 and RaceTrac used to sell ethanol fuel in this area. Most other stations sold plain old unleaded.

-Jay

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by VetteOwner

even my 1980 chevettes owners manual says its safe to use so obviously it was widespread back then for them to put that in the book...

My 1980 Buick's manual:

[Project84]

You have an overbite. Capt'n Crunch is a PIT...M.

[hojosan]

FYI, in Missouri, all gas (every drop) is contaminated with ethanol, by law, since early 2008.

Well, except for premium, but who's crazy enough to buy that stuff for the extra 20 cents per gallon?

[Project84]

If your car has high compression, you'd be silly to NOT run premium. My Camaro actually has some knock if I run less than 91 octane... so I just put 93 or 94 in every time.

[Ford Man]

The first I remember them putting ethanol in gas was during the oil embargo in the early 70's and it's been on the increase ever since then. Citgo here in NC must have a higher ethanol percentage that some of the other stations, because every time I've tried using it in my '88 Escort mileage will drop about 10-15%. Guess what they no longer get any of my business even if they are $.02-$.05 a gallon cheaper than most stations. 10%-15% better mileage is like getting it $.20-$30 a gallon cheaper. I don't think ethanol is a fad that we'll see disappear anytime in the near future, only if they can find something else cheaper to put in the gas that cut our mileage.

[ecofarmer]

Is there any one out there that test the % of ethanol in there gas? I think the VA law is 10% ethanol most be mixed in with the gas. But all the stations have a max ethanol of 10% posted on there pumps. I?m not sure if premium has ethanol or not but, the computer on my Yaris is mapped to run 85 octane with a 10% max ethanol. Running higher octane dose not do anything for it.

I feel I?m getting shafted by getting more then 10% as posted or the stations are busting the law. I?m sure with them bump mixing the gas they can keep there tanks at 9 to 11%.

[bowtieguy]

a fad? nope. in fact it's % in gas may go UP!...

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=10346

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've been threatening to test my ethanol content, but I haven't done it yet. I picked up some 10ml graduated cylinders though.

-Jay

[ecofarmer]

I’m still thinking of a decent way to test at the pump. I was planning to buy the tube you add water and gas to that has the marks on it. But would need to carry funnels and stuff.

I still have not made any phone calls to find out 100% of what the state laws are on this but am planning on getting it all together in the next few weeks.

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by theholycow

My 1980 Buick's manual:

haha yup same exact paragraph in my book too

[maximilian]

Annoying warranty condition. What gasohol wrote that provision?