General Discussion

lindisfarne

(4,392 posts)

7. Ethanol does have less energy -but don't believe rest

Fri Jul 5, 2013, 05:50 PM

Jul 2013

A few years ago, I lived where I could buy gas without any ethanol or with up to 10%. My increased mileage was always worth paying the extra for the gas without ethanol - I got about 10% higher on highway driving (55-60mph).

Manufacturers are opposed to ethanol content of gasoline being increased to 15% because they say it can damage parts of cars. I've always wondered if up to 10% ethanol content does damage to at least some parts, but it's just less quick to occur/less noticeable.

I don't think I believe the claim in the flier that premium gets enough better mileage to justify the increased price.
But it is true that the energy content of gasoline without ethanol is higher. A gallon of ethanol has less energy content than 100% gasoline (and 90% gasoline/10% ethanol also has less energy content than 100% gasoline).

I'd email the flier to whatever state agency regulates business claims, along with the location of the gas station. It is misleading.

Buy the gasoline recommended by the car manufacturer.

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I stopped for gas today and saw these taped to the posts holding up the canape. [View all] RC Jul 2013 OP

I like the deviled eggs when I want premium gas. bluedigger Jul 2013 #1

As it should be Cirque du So-What Jul 2013 #3

... bunnies Jul 2013 #4

A big honkin' burrito from Acapulco Joe's here in Indy works better. Brigid Jul 2013 #18

Oh, don't be crudite to the OP. Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #35

Sorry. bluedigger Jul 2013 #36

Let's get this Pâté started. Kurovski Jul 2013 #77

Okay. I'm the best dancer. Honestly, I'm tapas at it. Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #79

No double-dipping. Kurovski Jul 2013 #82

Yes, it's aperatif to refrain from doing that. Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #87

Ham I going to ignore strict hors d'Oeuvres from you? Kurovski Jul 2013 #88

Butter makes everything better by an hors d'oeuvre of magnitude pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #91

Now whatcha' gotta' be petit four? Kurovski Jul 2013 #100

...Kebab! pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #102

Well taramasalata! Kurovski Jul 2013 #104

As the old song says...the pâte's over pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #105

"Little Tiny Sandwiches On Sale." Atman Jul 2013 #2

K & R okaawhatever Jul 2013 #5

RC! You forgot the accent aigu over "canopy." Demit Jul 2013 #6

Ethanol does have less energy -but don't believe rest lindisfarne Jul 2013 #7

You shouldn't be getting 10% better fuel economy, though krispos42 Jul 2013 #81

And when Mythbusters took this on, they found that the 10% ethanol, came out ahead on RAW mileage. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #84

Interesting laundry_queen Jul 2013 #109

AS did the two major commercial current affairs programs here Australia. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #117

I don't buy premium Go Vols Jul 2013 #8

The do not sell the non ethanol regular in the Kansas City area. Only the premium variety. RC Jul 2013 #10

Many stations near me carry no-ethanol gas. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #9

The short time I was in Iowa I noticed significant price differences sweetloukillbot Jul 2013 #29

Site to find real gas Go Vols Jul 2013 #11

I used a site like that to find a place in Independence for real gas. RC Jul 2013 #12

None within 50 miles of me. malokvale77 Jul 2013 #19

Old age is killing your '89 Toyota. That and deliberate poor design. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #85

My 99 ford explorer screws up on the ethanol crap Drew Richards Jul 2013 #13

I have no idea what most of that means Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #14

Dieseling means the engine runs without the spark plugs functioning A HERETIC I AM Jul 2013 #22

Not a problem thx for explaining. I would just add the lean bank message is indicating that Drew Richards Jul 2013 #25

Bad design. Not bad fuel. Or perhaps just bad luck in component tollerances. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #86

Yep. I've got two vintage autos that are being slowly killed so corn corporations can get a welfare Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #15

Which gas station was? darkangel218 Jul 2013 #16

The Hy-Vee station on 23rd in Independence. RC Jul 2013 #20

Ive been fueling up only at 7/11 with premium gas darkangel218 Jul 2013 #17

They actually sell gasoline? I thought those were pumps for day-old coffee. n/t winter is coming Jul 2013 #21

Of course! jberryhill Jul 2013 #54

"While you are reading this, someone is rifling your glove box" TheCowsCameHome Jul 2013 #23

At least you learned something. We got this thing called ''GSTV.'' Octafish Jul 2013 #24

Yes. GSTV TheCowsCameHome Jul 2013 #90

It's beautiful. Octafish Jul 2013 #97

So, ethanol gas is no good? Major Hogwash Jul 2013 #26

Because they have been bought and paid for as have the Republicans? RC Jul 2013 #31

Democrats have been supporting the use of ethanol ever since the mid-70s!!! Major Hogwash Jul 2013 #62

This OP brought to you by........... rdharma Jul 2013 #27

Oil and natural gas companies like ethanol because of the energy needed to make ethanol from growing RC Jul 2013 #30

It takes so much oil and natural gas to make the ethanol... caraher Jul 2013 #33

Yup! Ethanol sucks too! nt rdharma Jul 2013 #39

Here in Atlanta it's very hard to escape the Archer Daniels Midland Tax. kenny blankenship Jul 2013 #28

is ethanol that corn made stuff? Liberal_in_LA Jul 2013 #32

It sure is. RC Jul 2013 #34

The numbers given are not correct - edgineered Jul 2013 #37

That 3% is the energy difference between 10% ethanol and straight gasoline. RC Jul 2013 #38

Thanks for clarifying my statement - you are correct as it is a 10% mixture. edgineered Jul 2013 #41

I'm getting a BP advertisement banner at the top of this thread. rdharma Jul 2013 #40

Total BS from the American Petroleum Institute farmbo Jul 2013 #42

Using corn to make ethanol is barely worth it form an energy standpoint. RC Jul 2013 #44

That is an entirely separate argument to what is being discussed here. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #89

Hummers have been gone for three years now. bluedigger Jul 2013 #114

And if I'd wanted to play silly buggers I could have used the "CANYONERO"... TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #118

That would have been a good one. bluedigger Jul 2013 #119

Confession time. I wish I had thought of the Canyonero before that post. TheMadMonk Jul 2013 #120

they just want you to pay more for gas Skittles Jul 2013 #43

The Ethanol content is not just for energy johnd83 Jul 2013 #45

What it really does is change the pollution produced. Ethanol is not really cleaner. RC Jul 2013 #48

Ethanol has more energy MattBaggins Jul 2013 #46

High octane gas actually is harder to ignite than regular gas. doc03 Jul 2013 #51

Higher octane does not refer to and has nothing to do with energy content RC Jul 2013 #52

Thanks I agree n/t doc03 Jul 2013 #57

Ethanol can stand higher compression than standard gas MattBaggins Jul 2013 #60

An engine designed to run on pure ethanol can be pretty gutsy, but RC Jul 2013 #64

I don't disagree with that. MattBaggins Jul 2013 #69

I think you are confusing ..... oldhippie Jul 2013 #93

It's absolutely correct ethanol is destroying doc03 Jul 2013 #47

What are you basing your claim MattBaggins Jul 2013 #49

Ask a mechanic what it does to a small engine! n/t doc03 Jul 2013 #58

On anything made in the past 10 years? MattBaggins Jul 2013 #59

So I should just through away my 25 year old outboard doc03 Jul 2013 #63

on a 25 year old motor did you do any replacement of gaskets or hoses? MattBaggins Jul 2013 #73

I have been told by mechanics that in older cars doc03 Jul 2013 #61

It doesn't work well in older engines MattBaggins Jul 2013 #65

First you are pimping for ethanol now you agree it doc03 Jul 2013 #67

Why are we being forced to buy unleaded gas? MattBaggins Jul 2013 #70

The risk associated with ethanol in older engines is the corrosion of rubber and plastic... Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #71

Ethanol corrodes aluminum as well, just not as quickly as old seals and hoses kenny blankenship Jul 2013 #80

I don't support ethanol fuel. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #83

Higher octane = less energy taught_me_patience Jul 2013 #50

I keep track of my gas mileage. RC Jul 2013 #55

Higher octane does not mean less energy. It tends to have a higher flash point. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #66

The engine has to be tuned to take advantage of that taught_me_patience Jul 2013 #76

WRX (STI) and EVO just to name a couple. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #78

Did you see the surveillance cameras watching you, violating your 4th Amendment rights? railsback Jul 2013 #53

Naa, I put covers on all of them in the house. RC Jul 2013 #56

Talk about surveillance cameras, an ad for a web site that doc03 Jul 2013 #72

Wow, that must have been some appetizer! Warpy Jul 2013 #68

Let's be clear here. A 30% increase in potential energy does not equal a 30% increase in output. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #74

here in L.A. gas is so expensive I run my truck on Windex olddots Jul 2013 #75

If that sign was holding up a tray of rumaki, MineralMan Jul 2013 #92

You'd better hummus--they may not last pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #106

I can only dream of finding petrol without that other shit mixed in. ileus Jul 2013 #94

Most marinas carry non ethanol gasoline Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #96

Yeah we're over an hour away from the nearest marina. ileus Jul 2013 #101

are those MPG accurate? Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #95

If my odometer is accurate, they are accurate. RC Jul 2013 #98

Interesting Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #99

canopy. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #103

Applause for rc, who could have edited the OP, but didn't, and provided us with some fun. Kurovski Jul 2013 #107

Amen! pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #108

You mean...it was a trap... Kurovski Jul 2013 #110

It was the work of an hors d'evious mind pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #111

You know those are delicious fried in a little sesame oil and served on a skewer. bluedigger Jul 2013 #112

Skewer? pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #113

Ugh! I think it's time we called this a wrap. bluedigger Jul 2013 #115

More's the pita pinboy3niner Jul 2013 #116