Posted: 11/23/2010 4:32:26 PM EDT
| Most of the local gas stations fuel is 10% ethanol. However, one station near my work advertises ethanol free pure gasoline. However, when I stopped to fill up a jug, they only offered it in the regular grade and I was planning on getting the high test. So, my question is, given the choice, would you buy the ethanol free regular or the high test that contains 10% ethanol. I treat my gas with stabil for storage either way. I have a Honda EU2000i and 2 of the Harbor freight 800w generators if that matters. Thanks. |
|
I'd be real skeptical of any station that claims to be "ethanol-free". In some cases, it's just a lie designed to increase sales.
In any given area, all gas stations get their gasoline from the same handful of refiners. Most of the major gas brands now require 8-10 percent ethanol in their products, so that's the way it's typically produced at the refinery. As the owner of an individual gas station, you don't get any say in whether or not the gas you buy from your local refiner contains it. |
|
Quoted:
Regular. Add 1/2 a quart of kerosene for every 5 gallons if you want to boost the octane. My HF generator runs better with higher octane. That's not higher octane, that's adding a higher energy (heat producing) fuel than ethanol to the gasoline/ethanol mix fuel. Octane doesn't really measure the power of a fuel. It measures detonation resistance in an engine... when compared to iso-octane and heptane. Ethanol can raise octane levels in gasoline. But it does it at the expense of the total energy produced by the fuel per given volume. Gasoline has about 20,400 BTUs of energy per pound. Kerosene has about 20,000 and Ethanol has about 12,750 . Thus, you are adding a higher energy fuel (than ethanol) to the mixture, but it also has a lower octane rating... diesel and kerosene have octanes of 15-25 ... so congratulations on getting it to burn efficiently in your generator. I wouldn't have found all this out, but we were arguing over why 10% ethanol caused my car to get decreased fuel economy. Turns out that not all 93 octane has the same actual power. 
|
|
I'd get whatever you can get that doesn't have ethanol, the water absorber. Ethanol is for drinking, gasoline is a motor fuel. Our local co-op had ethanol-free mid and premium grade, so we get the mid-grade delivered here. Here's how to tell the difference: Fill up your cal with the stuff to 1/2 tank on a humid day. 2 days later, start your car and let it idle. If it has ethanol in it, you'll see water pouring out of your exhaust pipe.... |
|
Agreed on the ethanol free. Regular grade is usually fresher too...the higher grades don't get purchased as often.
If you can, get an on-site storage tank and get it filled. The local farm co-ops sell tax free ethanol free farm gas, for off road use only. Minimum delivery in WI is 100 gallons. |
|
Quoted:
I buy what's at the pump. ethanol smethanol. I never had a problem with 10% US corn. That means 10% less of my money going to the countries that hate us. that means 10% of your money going to subsidies of a crop that we have way too much of. Ethanol contains less energy than gas. absorbs water. and it is corrosive and can damage engine components. I've had issues with it, and my truck is E-85/flex fuel. Runs like shit on E85, runs better on E10, runs best on E0. Didn't think ethanol was a problem either, until I had to rebuild my ATV's carburator. 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I buy what's at the pump. ethanol smethanol. I never had a problem with 10% US corn. That means 10% less of my money going to the countries that hate us. that means 10% of your money going to subsidies of a crop that we have way too much of. Ethanol contains less energy than gas. absorbs water. and it is corrosive and can damage engine components. I've had issues with it, and my truck is E-85/flex fuel. Runs like shit on E85, runs better on E10, runs best on E0. Didn't think ethanol was a problem either, until I had to rebuild my ATV's carburator.
Quoted:
I buy what's at the pump. ethanol smethanol. I never had a problem with 10% US corn. That means 10% less of my money going to the countries that hate us. I'm still cool with 10% of my money going to US farmers paying for a crop that we produce too much of. I understand that part of that goes to subsidies, and that I'm paying again with my taxes. Nothing has changed on that for many years. To me, it seems that manufacturers could build a vehicle that burns the fuel they designed it for. It sounds like they are taking us for a ride. |
|
I would by the gas recommended for the engines i was storing for.
Both Stihl chainsaws and the HFgenerator recommend 89 octane. A car or lawn mower will run on 89 when it is time to rotate. IMHO, the octane rating makes more difference and would drive the decision. |
|
Quoted:
Regular, if you need a higher octane, you can always get some "octane boost" and add it along with the Stabil. ETA: With the machines you plan to use it in, though, I doubt you'd need the higher octane rating. you need to do your homework before you buy any "octane boost". most are just ethanol. LOL. so adding it would be no different than buying E10 at the pump. several of the stations around here offer ethanol free mid grade. we have water on 3 sides of us so one supplier gets it for the marine people. they supply a couple of the small stations here, the large gas stations are all E10. |
|
Quoted:
I'd be real skeptical of any station that claims to be "ethanol-free". In some cases, it's just a lie designed to increase sales. In any given area, all gas stations get their gasoline from the same handful of refiners. Most of the major gas brands now require 8-10 percent ethanol in their products, so that's the way it's typically produced at the refinery. As the owner of an individual gas station, you don't get any say in whether or not the gas you buy from your local refiner contains it. see above and telling the difference is easy. even with just 10% ethanol the gas smells different. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I buy what's at the pump. ethanol smethanol. I never had a problem with 10% US corn. That means 10% less of my money going to the countries that hate us. that means 10% of your money going to subsidies of a crop that we have way too much of. Ethanol contains less energy than gas. absorbs water. and it is corrosive and can damage engine components. I've had issues with it, and my truck is E-85/flex fuel. Runs like shit on E85, runs better on E10, runs best on E0. Didn't think ethanol was a problem either, until I had to rebuild my ATV's carburator.
Quoted:
I buy what's at the pump. ethanol smethanol. I never had a problem with 10% US corn. That means 10% less of my money going to the countries that hate us. I'm still cool with 10% of my money going to US farmers paying for a crop that we produce too much of. I understand that part of that goes to subsidies, and that I'm paying again with my taxes. Nothing has changed on that for many years. To me, it seems that manufacturers could build a vehicle that burns the fuel they designed it for. It sounds like they are taking us for a ride. if we produced to much of it then the price wouldnt have spiked and drove up food prices. now US farmers get gov handouts to produce corn for fuel instead of as food so the amount of available corn for foodstuffs have dropped driving prices up on everything from bread to beef. only stupid people burn there food for fuel. South America uses leftovers from sugar production so it doesnt effect there food chain. also, there ethanol fuel cost a hell of a lot less that what ours does. adding ethanol to the fuel should have drove fuel prices down when in reality it has increased in price. |