Elkman
Senior Member
E15 is not gasoline so much as a subsidizing of Archer Daniels Midland profits. Figure a 25-30% reduction in fuel economy.
I am surprised that Octane Rating which has been around for nearly a century is not understood by 99% of the people buying gasoline at the pump. Octane is a measure of resistance to pre-ignition and nothing more.
The higher the compression ratio of the engine the higher the octane rated fuel that is needed to provide maximum power without pre-ignition which will damage the engine. If an engine is designed to use 93 octane rated gasoline is instead fed 87 octane rated gasoline, vehicles made in the last 30 years with their electronic ignitiion will simply retard the spark and no problem. A 10% reduction in miles per gallon but no damage to the engine.
Now if the engine is designed to use 87 octane rated gasoline and someone pumps 93 octane rated gasoline into the fuel tank then that will help the profits of the gas station but do absolutely nothing for the performance of the engine or prolong its life.
Higher octane rated gasoline has the same btu's available to power the engine as regular gas at the pumps. It is only when ethanol is added to the mix that the available btu's from a gallon of fuel drops.
Plenty of people ready to help the gullible spend more money on their vehicles. A friend of my wife was conned by the tire store where they convinced her to put "nitrogen" in her new tires at an additional cost. They failed to mention and the women did not know is that air is 80% nitrogen already and no measurable difference between 100% nitrogen and 80% nitrogen mix in tire performance or life. The devil is in the details but one has to take the time to think in a critical manner which seldom happens.
I am surprised that Octane Rating which has been around for nearly a century is not understood by 99% of the people buying gasoline at the pump. Octane is a measure of resistance to pre-ignition and nothing more.
The higher the compression ratio of the engine the higher the octane rated fuel that is needed to provide maximum power without pre-ignition which will damage the engine. If an engine is designed to use 93 octane rated gasoline is instead fed 87 octane rated gasoline, vehicles made in the last 30 years with their electronic ignitiion will simply retard the spark and no problem. A 10% reduction in miles per gallon but no damage to the engine.
Now if the engine is designed to use 87 octane rated gasoline and someone pumps 93 octane rated gasoline into the fuel tank then that will help the profits of the gas station but do absolutely nothing for the performance of the engine or prolong its life.
Higher octane rated gasoline has the same btu's available to power the engine as regular gas at the pumps. It is only when ethanol is added to the mix that the available btu's from a gallon of fuel drops.
Plenty of people ready to help the gullible spend more money on their vehicles. A friend of my wife was conned by the tire store where they convinced her to put "nitrogen" in her new tires at an additional cost. They failed to mention and the women did not know is that air is 80% nitrogen already and no measurable difference between 100% nitrogen and 80% nitrogen mix in tire performance or life. The devil is in the details but one has to take the time to think in a critical manner which seldom happens.