Ethanol?
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 287
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From: Maine, USA
Ethanol?
What can you guys/gals tell me about Ethanol in my Truck.
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 2
From: Pearl Harbor
ethanol cause alot more than 3% loss in MPG. try 2-4 mpg less per tank when you use ethanol blends
across the country, in the Oct/Nov time period the gas stations start running a "winter" blend gas. It typically has more ethanol. sometime in the spring, the "Summer" blend will come back...around March/April.
ethanol is very corrosive and eats plastics/rubber. That is the incompatibility. It's also why only the FFV F-150 should run E85. The FFV has different seals to keep the Ethanol from eating 'em up
across the country, in the Oct/Nov time period the gas stations start running a "winter" blend gas. It typically has more ethanol. sometime in the spring, the "Summer" blend will come back...around March/April.
ethanol is very corrosive and eats plastics/rubber. That is the incompatibility. It's also why only the FFV F-150 should run E85. The FFV has different seals to keep the Ethanol from eating 'em up
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, IA
What can you guys/gals tell me about Ethanol in my Truck.
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
E85 on the other hand can cause a ton of problems, and kills mileage. You might save $0.40/gallon buying it, but you lose money in the long run due to crappy MPGs. E85 will cause horrible corrosion in pre-1980 vehicles.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 2
From: Northern Illinois
What to know about Ethanol
What can you guys/gals tell me about Ethanol in my Truck.
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
Here in Maine, as of this week, most gas stations will be selling gas containing 10% Ethanol. They mention a 3% loss in fuel efficiency, and for pre- 1980 vehicles, engine component incompatibility.(seals, hoses, etc.)
We weren't givin a choice... I'm sure we aren't the only ones.
Steve
Here are the plain and simple facts regarding ethanol :
Ethanol is corrosive to BARE aluminum.
Ethanol is incompatible with rubber seals. Silicon seals are fine with Ethanol.
Here in IL, when gas was $4+/gal , E85 was $2.90-3.15/gal. The delta between the price of gas and E85 increase dramatically when the price of gas goes up. At the present, Gas here is $2.20 and E85 is $1.90. Not as dramatic a difference as when Gas was $4 or more a gallon.
If one has a FFV, they benefit by using E85 when the price of gas is really high, but when the price difference is not as much, then you will get better $$ per mile with gas.
BTW, ALL gas in IL is 10% blend, as it is in most Midwestern states. No big deal. 10% isn't anything to be concerned with.