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Do mpg results warrant extra cost of non-ethanol fuel? 900

posted by  someone claiming to be rjk on  Mon Apr 15 06:33 CST 2019 [RELATED]

I have a QT gas station nearby selling non-ethanol regular gas for 50 cents more per gallon over regular, 5 cents per gallon over premium (everyone else seems to sell only a 10% ethanol blend around me, east of Atlanta).

So I wondered if there would be a noticeable change in mileage between ethanol & non-ethanol that would support using one over the other, theoretically there should be a difference since ethanol has less power stored in it than gasoline thereby giving a greater mpg result. Would it be enough to warrant the cost increase?

Caveat: engine is newly rebuilt with an IPD turbo cam and some minor head & turbo porting so I suspect my numbers will indicate less mpg than stock. Memory serves I usually got in the low-to-mid 20's combined before the rebuild mods.

So I started tracking my mileage over a few tankfuls and this is what I found…

Regular ethanol blend gives me 19 mpg combined

Regular non-ethanol gives me 18 mpg combined, hmm

Premium ethanol blend gives me 20+ mpg, hmmmmm

The station does not offer premium non-ethanol

Results do not seem to support my initial thesis
Other factors must be at work, what comes to mind immediately is the knock sensor retarding ignition enough to affect things when on regular
So, according to my results, the non-ethanol product does not warrant the 50 cent price increase with respect to expected mpg increase, I am actually getting less mpg's on it.
Filling up with premium costs me an extra $5 per tankful for an extra mpg, also not warranted for a 1 mpg increase, close to being a wash
Guess it is time to try mid-grade to see those results

Of course, this is all based on non-controlled driving conditions so the differences might be the result of more or less highway driving for a particular tankful

No revelations at this stage…

I obviously have too much time on my hands now that I am retired...







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    Do mpg results warrant extra cost of non-ethanol fuel? 900

    posted by  james_a_sousa on  Mon Apr 15 12:06 CST 2019
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:51 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    From the Renewable Fuel Association -

    - Higher octane is the key to higher quality fuel and provides more torque, power and efficiency. With a 114 octane rating, ethanol is the highest quality fuel in the market and keeps today’s high-compression engines running smoothly. -

    Years ago, during the '70s fuel crisis, one of the auto magazines, Road &Track I think, modified a Pinto to deliver maximum mileage for a few dollars - they added an air dam, headlight covers, slightly narrower tires with more pressure and a narrower grille opening - they called it the Crisis Fighter Pinto.

    They also experimented with mixing fuel - a blend of 50/50 high test with regular - performed much closer to high test than regular.

    With multi fuel pumps today, experimenting with blends is much easier than it once was.

    You might try a blend of 50% Sunoco 260 and 50% regular.

    Personally, I use Sunoco 260 in all my cars (small engines as well) - I have done this since I put a tankful of regular in my 745 when I misread the pumps in Canada on a trip from MA to MN across Canada.

    I always write my mileage on each gas receipt and on a trip I figure the mileage out when I get home.

    That tankful got almost 4 MPG less!

    Consider putting a small dose of fuel injector cleaner in your machines once and a while - my snow blower runs more smoothly and quietly as soon as I squirt a tablespoon or so into its tank







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      Do mpg results warrant extra cost of non-ethanol fuel? 900

      posted by  Volvo From Heck on  Mon Apr 15 16:22 CST 2019
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      last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014
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      I don't know quite how this fits in but one time, with a nearly empty tank I pulled into an unfamiliar station (BP, I think) with my VolvOldsmobile (215 V8) and started pumping - only to realize I was pumping diesel. I always assumed the colors of the pump handle were regulated -- with black for gas--green for diesel. This station had the colors reversed. I'd pumped about 4 or 5 gallons before realizing my mistake and then switched to gas. Start-up was compromised but not TOO difficult and the exhaust stunk to high heaven but it ran ok on the road :-( Dave








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    Do mpg results warrant extra cost of non-ethanol fuel? 900

    posted by  Amarin on  Mon Apr 15 09:00 CST 2019
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 22:42 CST 2014
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    I think the fuel RON number gives better indicator for fuel economy. Fuel or gasoline is the sum of many chemicals, one of which is ethanol. To look at MPG issues from the ethanol point of view is like following what the legislators would like you to think. Whereas higher RON fuel allows more timing advance which translates to more power, and if that power is not frittered away by frequent braking plus wind resistance you could stand to gain more MPG. Driving style is accounted too but this is hard to define so eventually its either highway or city driving.

    The recommended fuel is unleaded RON95 for all B230 engines. RON91 could also be used if unleaded.

    Amarin.








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      Do mpg results warrant extra cost of non-ethanol fuel? 900

      posted by  Michael Yount on  Mon Apr 15 12:01 CST 2019
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      last visit: Thu Oct 23 20:03 CST 2014
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      Moving from 90/10 gas/ethanol to 100% gasoline --- that 10% ethanol (which takes about 30% more volume to return same energy as gasoline) would result in 10% x 30% -- 3.3% better fuel mileage. At 30 mpg on 90/10 you're up to a whopping 31 mpg. Said another way - if the ethanol-free price is more than 3.3% higher than good ol 90/10, it's gonna cost you more money for that extra 1 mpg. Every tank I've ever bought cost WAY more than 3% more....

      I've played with this a lot -- not worried about money, but just to see if there's a difference. I've burned enough tanks to average things out -- you gain a little, but not much.
      --
      82 242-6.2L; '17 Mazda3; '16 Crosstrek







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