Is non-ethanol gasoline really better for fuel efficiency? What about carbon buildup? In this video I use a generator with electronic fuel injection to measure fuel efficiency, an engine with a see-through cylinder head to observe the combustion process, and an additional small engine to measure carbon buildup.
VIDEO HERE (9 minutes)
I get a cleaner burn, better fuel and performance on my bike with non ethanol gas. Plus I have fewer problems with the fuel line and the spark plugs are cleaner.
ReplyDeleteJD
I hauled a 25' tag along camper from New England to Glacier National Park and back in 2016 with my 2007 Tundra. I bought the more expensive non-ethanol gas as much as I could. It made a huge difference towing through the mountains, where my truck did not have to downshift and struggle. More expensive per gallon, but much better mileage for sure. Driving without towing, like in the Badlands or Yellowstone, I was getting an incredible 18.5 MPG, where on ethanol skunk piss back home I never did better than 13.6 MPG. If the environazis in New England allowed it to be sold here, I would buy it on every fillup.
ReplyDeleteVote with your feet!
DeleteGTFO of New England!
Your neighborhood isn't that nice.
Your job isn't that good.
The kids will make new friends.
Get out
Get out
Get out
Believe me I would leave this afternoon, but my wife will not go. I told her if she dies, in between making her funeral arrangements, I will have a realtor already showing the house.
DeleteGas with ethanol does not have the BTU's of gasoline that doesn't have the ethanol. The result is less fuel mileage, with the problems associated with ethanol.
ReplyDeletePure ethanol has about 54K BTU per gallon, whereas pure gasoline has about 120K BTU per gallon. You are purchasing energy at the pump, so if your gas is 10% ethanol, a gallon has .9 x 120K + 0.1 X 54K = 113.4K BTU.
Delete113.4 / 120 = 0.945 = 94.5% of the energy of pure gasoline.
120 / 113.4 = 1.0582
So, if gas with 10% ethanol costs $3.00 a gallon, then pure gas should cost about $3.175 per gallon to buy the same energy. But, I’d be willing to pay about $3.25 for pure gasoline to get 5.8% better gas mileage, so I don’t have to fill up so often.
Also, the hydrophilic nature of gasoline-ethanol blends causes problems with fuel system components.So to avoid crapping out fuel system components, pure gas is MUCH better, especially if your gasoline engines sit for some time and the fuel is allowed to get stale. It is for this last reason that I would not use ethanol fuel blends and would pay a lot more than the energy content to buy pure gasoline.
Especially in your small engine equipment. It will roast carburetors pretty fast.
DeleteNon-ethanol doesn't rot carburetors like ethanol does. It's all I use in my lawn mowers and generators that might sit up for a while. Ethanol is okay if you use it in a daily driver. If you want your fuel to last a long time, go down to the local airport and buy some 100 octane low lead av gas. Cut it 50-50 with non-ethanol and it will last for a long time in a can. But, never put low-lead in an auto with a catalytic converter.
ReplyDeleteMy Cessna 172 was down for nearly two years getting a paint job and an engine overhaul. As we were getting it ready for engine break-in flights, I asked my mechanic if I should drain the fuel tanks and replace with fresh. He said, no, Avgas (100LL) will be good for years, just top up the tanks with fresh.
DeleteIt is insanely expensive stuff though, as it is what the oil industry calls a "boutique fuel", only a tiny fraction of what is produced in regular gas.
Used to work for a guy who would mix Avgas in the tanks of his older cars and motorcycles. Sure made them run like when leaded gas had the high octane stuff.
DeleteWe would go to the local airport and get a couple of jerry cans filled.
Pulled a plane out of storage to restore it. Out of general principal didn't want to put that now 10 year old 100LL into another airplane. Put it in an old car that was made for leaded gas. Ran great. No degradation of that fuel at all after 10 years.
DeleteYou should always use 100% gasoline in small engine or use an ethanol shield. They are not designed to be used with it only road vehicles are.
ReplyDeleteyep, first time I (accidentally) put what I call water-gas in my Isuzu Rodeo, gas mileage dropped ~10%(down from 20mpg to 18 mpg. Took me a while to figure out what happened as this was when eth-gas was first being sold (at a Shell in Virginia)
ReplyDelete...on the other hand with ethanol blends, frozen gas lines no longer are a problem...
ReplyDeleteIf it's cold enough to freeze gasoline, you won't be driving anywhere anyway.
DeleteI only fill up with pure gas. My work van averages about 20 MPG fully loaded with tools.
ReplyDeletePure gas is the only thing I use in my wheelers and Lawn mower.
ReplyDeleteMy 2001 Ford F150 used to get 20-21 mpg anytime I got on the highway. After they put moonshine in the gas, it dropped to 15-16. With an empty trailer, 14 tops. With a moderate load, 12 mpg is about all you can hope for. I hate the stuff. Ethanol is one of the dumbest ideas ever to come out of the climate change racket, right down there with wind farms.
ReplyDeleteEthanol is hygroscopic - water-retaining.
ReplyDeleteThat's what fucks up your engines insides.
Consider how damaging that can be in a high humidity environment..
3 times now for ethanol. It has and always will be grift subsidized by the goober mint, i.e. you and me. Cuts your MPG and raises your cost on SPW (Steaks per Week) and other foods. Grift is the only thing its good for based on the BTU's.
ReplyDeleteThe ElectraGlide was dyno tuned with 90 octane real gas. On the the road it gets 52 mpg running 70 mph. If I put 93 octane w/ 10% ethanol I get just over 49 mpg on the same trip. With 92 octane real gas I am at 51 mpg. 88 w/ 10% ethanol I get 46 mpg and the performance sucks.
ReplyDeleteFor the bike it is all about the tune and the lack of ethanol. On the car it is about it not pinging but anything that does not cause detonation will get 32-33 mpg on the road. It is a turbo 2L putting out 240 HP with premium fuel.
Ethanol kills small engine carburetors in chainsaws, tillers, pressure washers, and lawn mowers.