Ethanol = BAD MPG!

[desentrix]

This is old news. That's why at some stations, you can find a few 'ethanol' pumps (which pumper higher amts of ethanol). These pumps charge you less than the 87 octanes.

[IronNam]

so we should use ethanol on high compression vehicles to extract the most of that octane?

[gideon1331]

Ethanol will provide a sizeable power increase in high compression engines, but you will burn through a TON of it to get that power. So if you don't mind ethanol eating through the fuel system of your expensive performance car, you'll see better performance and even less MPG.

The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel (modified 2ZZ-GE) is designed to utilize high concentrations of ethanol and/or methanol. I believe it was Fifth Gear that tested the car and remarked about its performance, and extreme appetite for fuel, when running on ethanol.

[84Cressida]

Originally Posted by kevintomb

What really sucks......europe has VERY fuel efficient vehicles.....DIESEL.....all we need to do is start buying or producing more of them!!

Diesel fuel is considerably more expensive than regular unleaded...

[Exitium]

All I know is that when I fill up with E10 blended gasoline my mpg drops to around 25 in the city and when I use straight gasoline my avg mpg is 29 in the city thats all the proof I need.
ps the price here for E10 vs Straight gasoline is the same

[79Corona]

Originally Posted by mandiees

I had no idea that ethanol was actually worse mpg-wise than gasoline, just another reason to not jump on the bandwagon for this alternative fuel. Hydrogen anyone?!

The chemical energy content of ethanol gasoline is less than regular gasoline. Unfortunately you'll be hard pressed to find non-ethanol gas.

[Exitium]

Right from Toyota USA Newsroom why I will never as long as straight gasoline is available use ehtanol (E10)

Lexus Announces Safety Recall on Select Vehicles

January 16, 2009 – Torrance Ca. – Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. will launch a Safety Recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving approximately 214,500 Lexus vehicles sold in the United States.

On certain 2006 through 2008 model year GS300/350, IS250/350, and LS460/460L vehicles, Lexus has determined that some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) in the combination meter may illuminate. Over time, the corrosion may create a pinhole in the fuel delivery pipes resulting in fuel leakage.

Lexus dealers will replace the fuel delivery pipes with newly designed components. No other Lexus or Toyota vehicles are involved.

Lexus will inform owners of the involved vehicles with a Safety Recall notification via first-class mail beginning in late January. Owners are requested to contact their local Lexus dealer for diagnosis and repair at no charge.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.

[Rada]

I buy gas at Costco, which is "up to 10% ethanol", and I don't really see any difference in MPG from gas bought occasionally at other gas stations. The funny thing is I logged an MPG record on Costco gas cruising to Las Vegas - 30 MPG on '05 Sienna, 3.3L V6. On my return trip, gas from a gas station was used, and the MPG was 27. The reason was probably not differences in the fuels used, but wind, overall grade, and other driving conditions.

[knj27]

Originally Posted by Rada

I buy gas at Costco, which is "up to 10% ethanol", and I don't really see any difference in MPG from gas bought occasionally at other gas stations.

that's because all the other gas stations are most likely selling "up to 10% ethanol" as well...

[Camry LE 94]

ok then where do you get gas that doesn't contain ethanol?

[knj27]

you'll have to look around and see what it says at the pumps around your area...most mainstream stations (chevron, QT, mobil, shell, etc.) are gonna have the E10 for that certain part of the year. you may be able to find a smaller name gas station that has straight gas all year 'round.

[worthywads]

A station I use regularly has a huge sign stating 100% real gas in the summer. Using it my scangauge is accurate with a fuel adjustment offset of 2%. Using the winter time ethanol blend my offset goes to 8%+ until the 100% sign comes back up.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Camry LE 94

ok then where do you get gas that doesn't contain ethanol?

I have to go to Nevada to get it. Ethanol is the effing law in California...like everything else....