Ethanol and its affect on MPG

[Mike Murrell]

My wife drives an '06 Avalon XL. About 70K on the odometer.

Until recently I had used lesser expensive brands of fuel that satisified the octane requirement. The vehicle always ran well.

I also monitor mpg.

Recently I noticed a drop in mpg; then also noticed a sticker on the pumps indicating fuel may contain as much as 10% ethanol.

MPG using this fuel was on avg about 26 to 27 mpg.

I then switched to name brand fuels like Shell and Chevron.

MPG went up to 29.5 on avg.

[TrailDust]

I see the same effect on my Avalon and Highlander. Whenever I'm in Nevada and fill up there with non-ethanol gasoline my mileage improves by about 10%. Ethanol all around is a loser in my book.

[aznstylez]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

My wife drives an '06 Avalon XL. About 70K on the odometer.

Until recently I had used lesser expensive brands of fuel that satisified the octane requirement. The vehicle always ran well.

I also monitor mpg.

Recently I noticed a drop in mpg; then also noticed a sticker on the pumps indicating fuel may contain as much as 10% ethanol.

MPG using this fuel was on avg about 26 to 27 mpg.

I then switched to name brand fuels like Shell and Chevron.

MPG went up to 29.5 on avg.

Every gas station has have the 10% ethanol for decades. Now if it was E85, that will decrease your gas mileage so watch out for the E85 gas.

[PhatRoyale]

I've noticed the same thing on my car too.

Ethanol in gasoline is to thank as well for the soaring price of corn oil.

We should compile a list of the gas stations in North America and types and grades that do not use ethanol.

[GeneW1]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

My wife drives an '06 Avalon XL. About 70K on the odometer.

Until recently I had used lesser expensive brands of fuel that satisified the octane requirement. The vehicle always ran well.

I also monitor mpg.

Recently I noticed a drop in mpg; then also noticed a sticker on the pumps indicating fuel may contain as much as 10% ethanol.

MPG using this fuel was on avg about 26 to 27 mpg.

I then switched to name brand fuels like Shell and Chevron.

MPG went up to 29.5 on avg.

You'll need to do more testing, just to be sure. I'd give at least a month or two if you haven't yet done so.

In my own experience fuels with ethanol made the car run with a bit less mpg, about one or two mpg. Also made it smell foul, like booze.

Gene

[TrailDust]

With my Highlander the difference close to 10%. When loaded up and hitting the freeways in California I average about 26.5 MPG at 65 MPH, but in Nevada using non-ethanol I average 28.5. I'm dubious about the ecological benefits of ethanol to being with because of its production methods (no benefit at all, and with some production methods even worse), and due to its lower energy you end up consuming more gas to drive the same number of miles. IMO, ethanol only serves to grease the political machine.

[nhcycle]

up here in the N.E. we get hammered with the E10 winter blend plus the affects cold temps have on fuel economy. My 06 Avalon could lose up to 20% mpg's...... waiting to see how the new venza I4 reacts this winter to the formulation. On a trip fom NH to FL last summer, I got 31 mpg's @ 75 mph ave (which translated to getting there in 2.5 tanks of fuel - a substntial difeence from winter mpgs.

Beyond lost mpg's, E10 has major affects on carbureted engines.... especially motorcycles when they're put into stasis over the winter months or as little as 2-3 weeks during a vacation period.... had to have my carbs rebuilt because of the E10 depisits to the tue of $600. A lot of people are going to the dealerships expecting warranty coverage and are told - "sorry nota warranty problem...it's a fuel problem..." Injection systems ar not immune.....it's expected to show up with long use of E10! And the Fed wants to go to E20????

Acetone has been bantied about as an additive to improve the mpg's with E10 formulation with mixed results reported..... the bigger question is the unknown affect on fuel system components.

Has anyone tried acetone? Results?

[Mike Murrell]

[QUOTE=aznstylez;2884212]Every gas station has have the 10% ethanol for decades. /QUOTE]


If so, Shell must be using better Ethanol. I continue to see at least 2 mpg better with Shell and Chevron vs. mom-n-pop.

[SiennaCruza]

Get Iridium Spark Plugs. Problem solved. It lasts longer and burns more of the fuel per a spark regardless of the mixture. E10 is in 99 / 100 stations are you going to avoid all these stations and risk running on empty in the middle of nowhere? Get Iridium Spark Plugs and I guarantee you that it will pay for itself in less than half a year due to gas savings period depending on how much you drive.

[Yaris Hilton]

Iridium spark plugs will last far longer. They'll have no effect on the combustion of the fuel, compared with any other appropriate plugs that aren't misfiring. A spark is a spark.

[nhcycle]

[quote=Mike Murrell;2892193]

Originally Posted by aznstylez

Every gas station has have the 10% ethanol for decades. /QUOTE]


If so, Shell must be using better Ethanol. I continue to see at least 2 mpg better with Shell and Chevron vs. mom-n-pop.

I dunno where you got your info on using 10% ethanol in all gas stations for decades..... it's only been madadated as a substitute for mbte for the past three years..... and when ya go outside of N.E. as in last summer - mpg's went back to normal...... Since ethanol has been nmore costly to produce and only in greater supply for the sevderal year, why would a gas company add more cost into their product?

[TrailDust]

[quote=nhcycle;2894100]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

I dunno where you got your info on using 10% ethanol in all gas stations for decades..... it's only been madadated as a substitute for mbte for the past three years..... and when ya go outside of N.E. as in last summer - mpg's went back to normal...... Since ethanol has been nmore costly to produce and only in greater supply for the sevderal year, why would a gas company add more cost into their product?

+1

[Yaris Hilton]

I think it was in 2006 that all the pumps around my area started sporting ethanol stickers. A friend says he shops around and only uses gas without ethanol, but darned if I know where he finds it. Probably just a station that didn't put up the required stickers.

[xsvtoyz]

now the real trick is to find premuim fuel w/o ethanol

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted by aznstylez

Every gas station has have the 10% ethanol for decades. Now if it was E85, that will decrease your gas mileage so watch out for the E85 gas.

+3.

Our governor here in FL only recently decreed that all gasoline sold in FL would be E10. The transition seems to be pretty much complete now. All my favorite former pure gas refuges are now sporting the E10 stickers -- and my mileage has dropped accordingly.