Ethanol is here, now what?

[alderman]

We're now looking at ethanol in our fuel here in Oregon and soon to be in Washington. I've heard some people talking about the Marine Stabil as being the answer to any and all problems that may arise from using the ethanol fuel.

I've used regular Stabil and also notice the oil I use has a stabilizer in it but have no idea if it helps or not.
I also use Sea Foam which has been discussed quite a bit on this site pro and con.

I've done a search but really need more input on how to handle the ethanol and would be interested in also hearing what affects I might see from using this new fuel.

If possible, keep it in laymen's terms that even this doofus can understand.

 

[Lakeside53]

It's been here for two years... and it's a non-issue.. so long as you don't keep your gas (after mixing) for more than 60-90 days. Check your fuel lines every year for bloating or cracks.

If your saw is more than a year old, you'll likely need to retune very slightly richer.

 

[alderman]

More input??

I generally don't store fuel in my 2-cycle equipment. I run it dry if I don't know for sure I will be running it within a week. Non-issue in this area also if ethanol should be drained after each use?

Thanks

 

[Lakeside53]

Na.. 2-3 months... use a decent synthetic mix oil - mixes MUCH better with the "new gas" - doesn't come out of suspension as easily in the presence of water.

 

[Bill G]

So are you saying all gas in your area will be a min of 10% ethanol ?

 

[rickyrooster]

I live in IL. Its been 10% here for some time now. I run 32:1 mix and so far knock on wood it does not seem to be a problem.

 

[Bill G]

I live in IL. Its been 10% here for some time now. I run 32:1 mix and so far knock on wood it does not seem to be a problem.

Rickyrooster,

Well yes 10% is sold in your area but it is just one blend. Hopefully you also have E-85 They also offer a non ethanol blend in your area. You can chosse what you want to buy. I believe the question is whether the folk on the coast will have an option. The indication I get from there posts is they will not and all gas will be a 10% ethanol blend in there area. They will not have a choice and will be forced to buy ethanol blended fuels.

Bill

 

[Stryker777]

Out here we only have ethanol blends available. I have seen no issues so far but do remember and do as lakeside suggested. It is good advice.

 

[cjk]

You may want a bigger gas can.

We went to Ohio last weekend, filled up here with 100% gas and got 19mpg with the truck. Stopped in Indiana to fuel up and got 14mpg with that tank. I didnt see any signs about the ethanol, or maybe they were there and I was tired.

Looks like about a 25% DECREASE in MPG for fuel priced the same.

So just exactly how is ethanol going to save the world if we have to use 25% more of it to do the same thing as REAL gas?

Looks like a scam to me.

I also wonder why gasahol was a flop years ago........NOT

 

[slabmaster]

Ethanol is cheaper for them to produce.Very expensive for you in lossed gasmilage and engine wear.It can score your engine in a heartbeat if you work it hard,like milling unless you use a richer oil mix.BEWARE

 

[skytow]

Keep in mind too that Seafoam is 10-20 percent IPA which is isopropanol per their MSDS. I've nothing against this product and no complaints I just am wondering out loud about adding even more alcohol to the mix. I would guess that you don't likely add enough to change the overall percentage that much?

I've had the 10 percent ethanol here for years and have run all of my 2 cycle and 4 cycle equipment on it with no problems. This included blowers, saws, lawnmowers, and two outboards (one big, one small).

The only exception is the diesel tractor and there I have to deal with low sulfur reformulated diesel!

JD in SE PA

 

[Mad Professor]

An alternative is 100LL (blue) aviation gas. Be mindful it has lead in it but no alcohol or water (by law they have to pump the bottom of the tanks daily in this state). More octane than you need but runs great in all my saws and 2-stroke dirt bikes. If you have a modded saw to higher compression it might be what you need.

P.S. AV gas will not rot your fuel lines and/or mag cases as fast as "corn fed" fuel either

P.P.S. Buy up beef and chicken now (freeze it), they are dumping stock as "corn fed" crunchy ( as in granola crunching morons...) feel good fuel has driven up feed prices. Hope you do not have a horse, cow, pig, chicken, or child(ren) to feed.

 

[heimannm]

Ethanol and the truth?

No way a 10% ethanol blend will drop the mileage from 19 to 14 MPG. Ethanol has roughly 80% of the energy of gasoline, at 10% addition rate the gasoline will get you 90% of your original mileage (17.1 MPG) and the ethanol will achieve 80% of 10% of 19 MPG or 1.52 MPG +17.1 MPG = 18.62. Actually studies done by the DOE suggest higher % blends of ethanol will outperform straight gasoline in terms of fuel economy, ratios were around 30-40% to achieve the best levels in non flex fuel vehicles. My guess is where ever you were driving from must $uck and was holding you back.

Mark

P.S. I always use the 10% blend in my '97 Explorer and I have averaged around 18-19 MPG over 100,000 miles (it had the first 100,000 when I bought it so I know it is broken in). I never use the 10% ethanol blend in small engines due to a bad experience over 25 years ago with my old beloved McCulloch 300; the gas tank had so many pin holes after a couple seasons of 10% blend I had to trade it in (in pieces, in a box) for my first ever new saw, Jonsered 621. Guess it wasn't such a bad experience after all...

 

[lesorubcheek]

Yea, 10% started here at many stations within the past few months. We drive a 98 Grand Prix and an 03 Vibe and so far no noticeable changes in fuel economy on either vehicle. GP gets ~ 28 mpg highway and Vibe gets ~ 35 mpg highway.

Dan

 

[cjk]

I cant think of any other reason that would have caused the mpg to drop other than the fuel. We drove about 70-72 mph the whole way with cruise on most of the time.

 

[heimannm]

Speed Limit in Illinois

The maximum speed limit in Illinois is 65 MPH, to go from Wisconsin to Indiana you must pass through Illinois unless you ferry boat part way. Are you suggesting....

 

[Mad Professor]

No way a 10% ethanol blend will drop the mileage from 19 to 14 MPG. Ethanol has roughly 80% of the energy of gasoline, at 10% addition rate the gasoline will get you 90% of your original mileage (17.1 MPG) and the ethanol will achieve 80% of 10% of 19 MPG or 1.52 MPG +17.1 MPG = 18.62. Actually studies done by the DOE suggest higher % blends of ethanol will outperform straight gasoline in terms of fuel economy, ratios were around 30-40% to achieve the best levels in non flex fuel vehicles. My guess is where ever you were driving from must $uck and was holding you back.

Mark

P.S. I always use the 10% blend in my '97 Explorer and I have averaged around 18-19 MPG over 100,000 miles (it had the first 100,000 when I bought it so I know it is broken in). I never use the 10% ethanol blend in small engines due to a bad experience over 25 years ago with my old beloved McCulloch 300; the gas tank had so many pin holes after a couple seasons of 10% blend I had to trade it in (in pieces, in a box) for my first ever new saw, Jonsered 621. Guess it wasn't such a bad experience after all...

Look at the THERMODYNANICS. Ethanol has LESS energy content, you CANNOT get the same milage (unless maybe all that water/ethanol in your tank has started to go through....). Also because of the above it requires a RICHER (e.g. MORE fuel) air/fuel mixture in ALL 2- 4- cycles........

 

[heimannm]

Just the (reported) facts

Hey Professor, don't shoot me, I am only passing along the information published by the US DOE in a study they completed. They did not offer any explanations why, they just reported what they found and projected that the maximum performance (economy) level would be obtained at a blend of 30-40% ethanol. I can certainly appreciate that the energy content it lower with the ethanol, but there are obviously things going on the the combustion process affecting the overall efficiency of the engine.

Mark

 

[SawS]

Ethanol F.Y.I.

The Ethanol added to gasoline at the rack when loading the tank trucks raises the octane rating of the gas. 87 octane, regular, starts with 83 octane gasoline, and the 10% Ethanol blend raises the octane to 87. The Premium 93 octane, uses 91 octane gasoline and the 10% Ethanol brings it up to 93 octane. Some folks think the Ethanol drags down the octane rating....

 

[Goat]

Facts

Here are the facts about energy density.

Regular Gas = 34.8 Megajoules per Liter
10% Ethanol = 33.7 Megajoules per Liter

10% Ethanol contains about 3% less energy than straight gas.

So just exactly how is ethanol going to save the world if we have to use 25% more of it to do the same thing as REAL gas?

It will save the world by not contaminating your ground water! The ethanol is a replacement for MTBE. It purpose is to serve as an anti-knocking agent and oxygenate, not a diluent for reduced consumption.