I've always wondered what the definitive answer to this question is, so I figure this is the best place to ask it:

Is ethanol-containing gas bad for an older RX7 like mine? I've heard mixed things about drops in power from using ethanol to negative effects on the gas tank like rust more easily coming off the inside of the tank and contaminating the fuel.

So, which is it, rx7club members? To ethanol or not to ethanol, that is the question!

 

you worry too much.
Use the 87 Octane Regular gas for an N/A.
The N/A's are supposedly happy on 85 octane but the minimum grade seems to be 87.
Most gas has ethanol added.

 

ALL gas sold in the US has 10-15% ethenol in it, the only gas that is E0 is recreational fuel and I believe illegal to put into a car, also costs $1+ more per gallon than E10 or E15

Not much you can do or worry about unless you buy ethanol treatments, which IDK how well they actually work

 

There are actually a few places nearby me that sell 87' with etahnol and without, and clearly have it labeled as such.

Thanks for the advice guys, not gonna worry about it from now on =)

 

gas has had ethanol in it virtually since the FC was produced.

 

Maybe certain states have made laws like this... probably because of some corn lobbyists. But, This is not a nationwide thing for sure. I know that multiple gas stations advertise ethanol-free gasoline in Washington state for only a few cents more per gallon, if there is a difference in price at all.

Without subsidies, ethanol is more expensive anyways.

 

In my town, theres only one place that sells e0, and it costs twice as much as regular 87

 

they're just playing off the gimmick then, E10-E15 won't hurt your car so there is no reason to need to pay twice as much for fuel. nor does that 10-15% alcohol content make reasoning for it to be that much more expensive.

 

Cars no, but i'm in the small engine repair business, ethenol is horrible for these damn engines. 90% of my fixes are cleaning a carb and draining the fuel, because no one understands that after 30 days gas is starting to go bad, and most small engines take 30 days to go through a tank of gas when you live in a city

But also, i live in a Dow town, most people here are either so smart they are dumb, or have more money to blow than they know what to do with, or both

 

fuel stabilizer will laster longer than the pure gasoline will.

 

Oh i'm not saying that pure gas is the fix, its just better overall since it doesn't have the ethenol in it to absorb moisture out've the air, which is less likely to happen in a car being the fuel system is more sealed than your traditional lawn mower or weed wacker

I've been seeing alot of water come out've these little gas tanks, and gas that people say they "just bought" smell like varnish instead of gasoline

Or there was the one guy that brought me in a chainsaw and he thought it'd be a grand idea to use racing fuel in his 2 stroke chop saw, that was worth a good laugh

 

lol


in vegas i saw plenty of cars with jello in the tank and things growing on the walls of the tank. it's kinda sad how people can think that they can leave gas in their car indefinitely without it costing them a grand in additional repairs.

"why won't my fuel pump turn on?"
"because it's melted, and it's made of metal..."

 

there are ethanol free gas stations all over my town. I use ethanol free in my 12a. it only costs on average 2.89 a gallon. and its not illegal like ludely posted

 

Most lawn equipment take only non ethanol gas. So do boats and other motors.

I use a gas station near me that sells 93 ethanol free gasoline in the 93. It feels amazing

 

if its an engine that isn't used very often, AVGAS is good. its designed to sit around in planes that don't get used much

 

blue 100LL avgas is leaded just FYI

 

avgas? guessing aviation fuel? isn't that a totally different octane rating?

 

E 10 is just fine. Keep to the Octane more than anything. I use ethanol treatment and seafoam added in....and 2 cycle idemitsu synthetic. I keep it clean cause I keep it stored a bit.

1986 Rx7 GXL<<STILL factory>>