What is reformulated gas?
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From: Stephenville, Texas
What is reformulated gas?
I thought I saw a post a while back about this but I couldnt find it.
Doesnt it have to do with being better for the environment, and lower energy content?
Doesnt it have to do with being better for the environment, and lower energy content?
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From: Omaha, NE, USA
Reformulated gas contains for the most part ethanol and a few other oxygen rich organic compounds.
The theory is that this gas will burn cleaner since there is already a small amount of oxygen in the gasoline.
Problem is, if there is more oxygen present, it must be present in the place of something else, namely carbon & hydrogen containing hydrocarbons.
The overall result is that the gas burns cleaner (less pollutants), but the energy content per gallon of gas is less, thereby reducing your fuel economy.
That's why I normally don't by gas with ethanol in it. It has to be priced about 5% below regular gasoline (it has about 95% of the energy value that regular gas has), otherwise you're throwing your money away.
The theory is that this gas will burn cleaner since there is already a small amount of oxygen in the gasoline.
Problem is, if there is more oxygen present, it must be present in the place of something else, namely carbon & hydrogen containing hydrocarbons.
The overall result is that the gas burns cleaner (less pollutants), but the energy content per gallon of gas is less, thereby reducing your fuel economy.
That's why I normally don't by gas with ethanol in it. It has to be priced about 5% below regular gasoline (it has about 95% of the energy value that regular gas has), otherwise you're throwing your money away.
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
The reformulation is to introduce more oxygenates to the fuel. This is accomplished with the use of ethanol (primarily in the Midwest - corn belt states), MTBE, etc... The primary concern is for cleaner air, mostly on cold startups.
The arguement about being better for the environment is a tossup, especially when MTBE is used. MTBE is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) that also happens to be extremely soluble in water. When gasoline with MTBE finds its way into groundwater, the MTBE portion can migrate very quickly due to its high solubility. It also leaves a strong taste to the water rendering it undrinkable (not to mention the health effects). In a sense, improvements in air quality were made in some cases by increasing threats to groundwater quality.
Some report drastic mileage decreases using oxy fuels. The lower energy content is always put out as the reason. Personally, if there is a difference, it all comes out in the wash between tanks with differing driving habits for me. I haven't noted any huge differences. Cost wise, oxy fuel is more expensive to produce. Due to ethanols lower energy content, high production costs, and pressure from agribusiness interests and farmers groups, states often lower gasoline taxes to encourage the use of ethanol where it isn't mandatory. I remember from trip experience that the cheaper gas in portions of Iowa and Nebraska was the midgrade by octane rating (Say 90 or 91). Regular (87) was often 2-4 cents higher at a lower octane rating. The difference was that the midgrade had ethanol in it and the inherent tax breaks.
The arguement about being better for the environment is a tossup, especially when MTBE is used. MTBE is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) that also happens to be extremely soluble in water. When gasoline with MTBE finds its way into groundwater, the MTBE portion can migrate very quickly due to its high solubility. It also leaves a strong taste to the water rendering it undrinkable (not to mention the health effects). In a sense, improvements in air quality were made in some cases by increasing threats to groundwater quality.
Some report drastic mileage decreases using oxy fuels. The lower energy content is always put out as the reason. Personally, if there is a difference, it all comes out in the wash between tanks with differing driving habits for me. I haven't noted any huge differences. Cost wise, oxy fuel is more expensive to produce. Due to ethanols lower energy content, high production costs, and pressure from agribusiness interests and farmers groups, states often lower gasoline taxes to encourage the use of ethanol where it isn't mandatory. I remember from trip experience that the cheaper gas in portions of Iowa and Nebraska was the midgrade by octane rating (Say 90 or 91). Regular (87) was often 2-4 cents higher at a lower octane rating. The difference was that the midgrade had ethanol in it and the inherent tax breaks.
It's what ya get from consuming to much
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Plymouth, MI
Does anyone know what company's dont reformulate their gas during the winter? Amoco, I heard has some of the best gas!?? About 2 tanks ago, (about Nov 8th) I noticed a STEEP drop in gas milage, they must have got a batch of the winter gas.
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
If you are in a geographic area that requires reformulated gas as a result of clean air regulations, than that is what you will find at every gasoline retailer, regardless of brand. Only way to avoid it is to get gas from outside the area that requires it Some stores here (Mills Fleet Farm comes to mind) are able to sell non oxy premium gas, but I haven't checked the whys etc...
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From: Stephenville, Texas
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Everything You Wanted to Know About Gas...
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
Beautiful! Thanks for the link! Definitely most of what you would ever want to know and then some!
For more reading on Reformulated Gasolines and the use of Oxygenates (only required in RFG because of the way the law was written - oxy fuels are not required everywhere - only in areas that the the EPA or other angency mandates, the same as RFG fuels aren't required everywhere), check out the following link to the EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg.htm
There is some interesting reading there. Generally, compared to non-oxy fuels, oxy fuels including RFG will typically result in a mileage decrease of 1-3%, if all things are held equal. In their studies, they found that energy contents between different companies fuel differed between 2 and 5%, depending on the time of year. Interesting.
Oxy fuels are intended to reduce Carbon Monoxide emissions. RFG fuels are intended to reduce those emissions, as well as lower ozone producing emissions.
For more reading on Reformulated Gasolines and the use of Oxygenates (only required in RFG because of the way the law was written - oxy fuels are not required everywhere - only in areas that the the EPA or other angency mandates, the same as RFG fuels aren't required everywhere), check out the following link to the EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg.htm
There is some interesting reading there. Generally, compared to non-oxy fuels, oxy fuels including RFG will typically result in a mileage decrease of 1-3%, if all things are held equal. In their studies, they found that energy contents between different companies fuel differed between 2 and 5%, depending on the time of year. Interesting.
Oxy fuels are intended to reduce Carbon Monoxide emissions. RFG fuels are intended to reduce those emissions, as well as lower ozone producing emissions.
Last edited by gopher; Dec 5, 2001 at 06:33 PM.