Is ethonel blended gas good or bad for our cars. There is a gas station selling 92 octane ethonel blended gas versus the gas station that I go to now only has 91 octane. Would that gas be good for high boost applications (above 13 psi) or just for stock boost (10 psi). I know ethonal gas is cleaner but thats about it. Any help or feed back would be appreciated. Thanks.

R.K.

 

Good question. I would like to know the answer as well.

 

I dont think it would be good.. since they are having to build specific engines to run the hybrid fuel..

 

A lot of gas stations in the country use an ethanol blend in their gas. Usually, it's limited to 10%, which is what most car manufacturers recommend as a limit. Check the owner's manual, Mazda may have a statement about it.

 

I don't have a manual for my car. I doubt that they had ethenal blended gas 10 years ago anyway.

R.K.

 

Ethanol blended gas isn't that uncommon. Its similar to MTBE as an additive to your gas, but burns cleaner. I don't think it would cause any problems, but do some more research before you try it.
john

 

I belive ethanol does not release as much energy when combusted as gasoline so you need more of it for the same power, but I'm damn near positive it is less prone to detonation..so technically the ethanol blend would be like an octane booster and make it a safer choice for an fd as opposed to 100% gas.

BTW, i have no choice in colorado and have been using 10% blend for nearly a year now.

 

with exception of when I race, I have run ethanol for around 2 years with no ill effects.

 

I've been using the 10% ethanol for 4 years now. It works fine, no problems whatsoever. It is rated at 92 here in Alberta and 94 on the west coast. You will generate slightly less power with it as it contains less energy than straight gasoline, but most of the additives are like that (except xylene, which is toxic - but used by one gas company, I was told). For the non-chemists, ethanol is the alcohol you drink (if you're so inclined).

 

They usually get ethanol from stuff like expired candies.

Ethanol has less energy per combustion event.

However, it also has a higher octane and reduces detonation.

 

The facts about Ethanol:
-Ethanol is an oxygenate, like methanol and MTBE
-Oxygenates are cheap octane boosters
-Oxygenates will lower emmissions in vehicles without closed loop (modern) air/fuel control
-Ethanol has a lower energy content than gasoline which means less fuel economy. But not much less (tenths of a gallon)at 10% blend.
-a 92 octane gasoline/ethanol blend has the same ability to reduce detonation as 92 octane gasoline
-vehicles designed to run E85 (85% ethanol) have special materials in their fuel systems
-Ethanol fuels are very common in the mid-west

I would not advise running Ethanol blends 100% of the time, if you have a choise. The reason is the base gasoline used with ethanol blends is of a lower octane. Lower octane base fuels consist of components which have high amounts of olefins and diolefins which contribute to a build up of deposits on fuel injectors and combustion chambers. Deposits on fuel injectors cause injector plugging.

 

How is it oxygenated?

If something is oxygentated does it not run leaner?

 

If you don't have a manual, spend $25 and get one from Mazdaformance. Either that or download one for free from www.iluvmyrx7.com

You must be a younger guy because they have been blending ethanol in gas since before I started driving in 1991.....In the midwest, almost all gas stations use an ethanol blend and have for many years...

 

crazyrx7, I ran the fuel You are talking about all summer at 18 PSI with very little knock on the PFC. I once filled with 91 octane from a different company and the knock went up. I would think that it is safe or even better plus it is the highest octane We can get Here. We send all the good stuff down south.

 

and if i am not mistaken no more rust in the fuel tank
ethanol takes up water

 

Correct, they had it for the last 25 years.

The manual states not to use more than 10% ethanol.

Both answers here:
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuel...rgas/ch4.shtml

Yes, as long as the alcohol percentage is small. Fuel systems with 20% or more alcohol can have severe corrosion problems because the alcohol itself attacks fuel system components, and the absorbed water can come out of suspension. Race cars that run high alcohol-content fuel have special fuel systems to handle it.

 

Good to hear as here in New Zealand they are bringing in all gas to be 10% meth. We can get 98 octane from the pump, i wonder if the meth will bump this up, maybe 100 - cool!

 

i would not run E85 in a old car (ie 10 year old). The reason being, gasoline leaves behind a residue like substance in the fuel lines and fuel tank.

When you add E85 to your car the ethanol will clean out all that residue/varnish and you would be stuck with clogged lines, fuel filters, and potentially clogged injectors

 

So you only get 92 octane in the US?

Hehe...

The lowest you can get (normally) is 95 octane here in the UK, and also the same 98 octane that boyrotor can get in New Zealand.

I guess that does kind of make up a little for having the most expensive fuel in the world!!

But wouldn't adding some injector cleaners help avoid the clogged fuel system?

 

According to a FD mechanic I heard that Jap injectors don't usually clog up.........

 

They'll clog if you pour mud into them

 

LOL, the truth be known:

1) Most of the non-US countries pay so much for gasoline due to hideous taxes levied by their socialist governments.
2) They use a different octane rating system, which is actually allows for LESS quality control.

See here for an octane comparison and explanation:
http://www.btinternet.com/~madmole/R...RONMONPON.html