Non ethanol mpg and performance

[Daviddnv]

This has probably been talked about already, but I didn't see a thread specifically about non ethanol gas. I have a 22 1500 4x4 3.92 with a quad cab, 54K miles. I'm in Florida and gas has been a little tough to come by for a little bit. I've pretty much been running 93 octane most of the time. My mpg has been around 16.5 mixed driving (dash display). That has gone down a little with my new tires (another story). I think these Toyo tires have a little more rolling resistance then the OEM tires.

Anyway, while trying to fill up, Wawa only had non ethanal at the time, 89 octane. The price was about what premium 93 would have been, so I figured I'd get that. I noticed quite the boost! More/quicker response from the start and my mpg is over 18, in mixed driving. I'm halfway through my second tank full, and the mileage and pep are holding up.

My question is, have others switched to non ethanol as your go-to gas and have you seen similar results? I didn't think 10% ethanol would make that much a difference, but it seems to. I think I'll be doing non ethanol when I can for now one.

David

 

[DanAR]

I run non-ethanol in my old cars. No problem in newer ones. I can see it providing a little more in the mpg department since pure dino fuel has more energy per unit than ethanol. I’m kind of surprised you feel you are getting a performance boost out of it but if the computer isn’t detecting any issues with it and isn’t pulling any timing out of the motor maybe so. I think it basically watches for detonation.

 

[Curmudgeon]

There is a station near me that offers 90 octane non-ethanol gas, typically around $4.09 - $4.29 per gallon. My only concern with running it all the time is that I can't find any information on whether or not there are any additives at all.

I will usually switch between non-ethanol and Top Tier gas available. I will also add Red Line SL-1 to a tankful once every month of 2. My engine runs so smooth I can't feel it running at warm idle. I can hear it but not run it.

I can't speak to you MPG experience as I get a little heavy on the skinny pedal too frequently.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I run non ethanol as much as possible, my fleet sees an increase of ~1.5 mpg on average more on non ethanol than with ethanol.

I run 89 on everything except my supercharged RT

 

[huntergreen]

No such thing as non ethanol gas in nj and surrounding states. Wish I could get it.

 

[Daviddnv]

I run non ethanol as much as possible, my fleet sees an increase of ~1.5 mpg on average more on non ethanol than with ethanol.

I run 89 on everything except my supercharged RT

ok, that seems to match be my experience, about 1.5 mpg more. thanks.

As for the other post about the additives (or lack thereof), maybe it does not need as many additives without the ethanol. Without the moisture that ethanol brings in, there is probably less buildup of stuff, like varnish and such. I'm sure there are some chemical analysis around it, but I don't know.

 

[rule18]

No such thing as non ethanol gas in nj and surrounding states. Wish I could get it.

There is, although it's a hike for you. I've got two Stewarts stations within 1/2 hour of me that sell corn-free gas at 91. I use it for all my small machines and my Gator. Not sure if you've seen this site https://www.pure-gas.org/ You can search by state.

 

[Curmudgeon]

No such thing as non ethanol gas in nj and surrounding states. Wish I could get it.

Pennsylvania has it, but I can't say whether or not it's worth the drive, but we do have it here. I actually have my choice of places to get it within 5 miles of home.

Same with Top Tier. If you have to buy gas with up to 10% ethanol you may as well get the better additives you can find. Shell is reportedly the #1 with Exxon close behind.

Unfortunately for me the closest Shell is 23 miles 1-way. Even though the drive is all highway I'll lose about 3 gallons for it. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Exxon is about 5.5 miles, so...

 

[1979 300]

I have been running 89 octane non-ethanol in my Cub Cadet (Kohler 26hp engine) and my snowblower since it became available where I live in PA, and I will top off my truck as well while I'm there. I haven't really noticed any difference in power or performance, but it seems a tank lasts longer in the Cub Cadet.

 

[5150Eddie]

I use non-ethanol in my Model A as well as all the chainsaws and mowers and other small engines. I put some in my classic muscle car (far from stock) but it made absolutely no difference in performance. I don't run it in my modern cars and trucks...but thinking about trying it.

 

[BillLee]

Ethanol is a losing situation for everyone but the farmers and ethanol producers. Mileage goes down more than the 10 or 15 percent of ethanol in the gas so you burn more gas and pollute more for the same distance traveled. Most fuel injected engines can handle ethanol but never put it in a carbed engine large or small unless you don't mind problems down the road.

 

[CairoRAM]

2500 4x4 6.4L get 21/MPG if I do not go over 65MPH

 

[pscarbor]

I run 91 octane non ethanol in my bass boat (250 hp Merc 2 stroke) as well as my mowers, side-by-side, and chain saws. Costs about a buck a gallon more than 87 octane ethanol but I've never had carburetor or water issues with any of them. In my opinion anything that sits for weeks or months without being used should ONLY run non ethanol.

Boat gets about 4 mpg.

I live in Louisiana, several stations within ten miles of me sell it.

 

[Tominator223]

It takes 40% more eth fuel to get the same Hp as straight fuel . So you’ll more than likely get better mileage

 

[Shawn Burns]

I go back and forth between 90 corn-free and 93 e10. I experienced the same feeling of torque increase with the e free gas.

I also use it in all of my yard equipment and toys.

Prior to using e-free gas in my carb'd KTM, I would experience regular carb clogging that required cleaning.

For those that use this fuel in powersports requiring higher octane than 89 or 90, I've use a product called Torco to bring the octane # up to about 95. I've used this mixture in a race only r6 for three seasons with great results. That bike lives above 12k rpms!

 

[Neomoritate]

There's no advantage to running "pure" Gasoline vs E10 in an engine designed for E10. The Ram 5.7 is designed for 89 Octane, running anything higher is of no benefit.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Where I live it's 87w/10% eth, 87 No Eth ( +$.50/gal) or 91 No Eth ( +$1/gal)
I used to run 87w 10% when I was using it as a daily driver but switched to 91 when I started using my wife's GC ( or my bike) and my truck started sitting for long stretches.
It averages 2 mpgs better with 91.
Not sure it's worth the extra $1/gal but I like not having to worry about separation issues with it sitting in the tank for long periods.
Seems to have a bit more performance but hard to notice running empty most of the time.
At least it doesn't seem to drop out of OD as often...

 

[Jimmitch]

Ethanol is nothing but filler.

 

[Cruze418]

There's no question, give me straight gas , ethanol sucks. Poor fuel mileage, my carb engines start hard with it. The only reason it exists is because of subsidys.

 

[CaptOchs]

It depends. Some 91/93 fuels do not contain ethanol. I can tell the difference in my Charger that's tuned to 93 which ones don't contain ethanol. I try and get gas from those stations instead because its like using rocket fuel.

On the flip side before the Charger I had an Impala that could take E85. I switched to using that when gas prices were high, but my range dropped. Although it was cheaper than regular gas at the time, if you did the math and factored in range vs cost, it seldomly made sense. There was a break-even point with E85 at like $4.30. If gas went higher than that, I'd save by using E85. It didn't happen very often.