| Author | Message | ||
     Irideabuell |
Would this "up to 10% ethanol" that now comprises part of our fuel supply here in Florida be the cause for me only getting 45 mpg now? The reduction in fuel mileage seems to coincide with the appearance of these stickers on the gas pumps. I religiously got 50+ mpg until now. Can you purchase fuel without this additive anywhere? | ||
| Jaimec |
Canada, I think. Things may've changed. I always got better mileage in Canada than I did here in New York. New York has been running 10% ethanol year round now for a few years. | ||
| Mnbueller |
Here in Minnesota we have been running 10% ethanol for a good 5+ years. But they only blend the low and medium grades (87,89 octane). Premium is still pure gasoline. But ethanol has about 30% less heat value than gasoline, so 10% of you gas is 30% less efficient, so yes your milage would decrease, but it should only be 1-2 mpg at most. If you have gone from 50+ to 45. something else has changed too. Driving habits, tire pressure, added saddle bags, increased idle time....many many other contributors. (Message edited by Mnbueller on May 12, 2008) | ||
| Newbuellertoo |
Here, (North of Toronto), only the 87 & 89 octane fuels contain ethanol. For the most part 91 and 94 (Sunoco) don't have it listed as an ingredient. I try to stick to mostly Shell or Sunoco, so I can't be sure about all brands. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have done a personal study of this problem with two of my vehicles and the results over a year showed a loss of 8% of my fuel mileage using gas with up to 10% alcohol blend. Not a good trade off at all. | ||
| Froggy |
Newbuellertoo, they don’t make 94 with ethanol, so it’s being phased out. Personally, I have noticed only a small hit with the ethanol blends. My Uly would do about 58-59mpg with non-ethanol, and 55-57 with E10. My 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo 3.4L would get 33-34MPG on E10 with 36-37MPG on the straight gas. | ||
| Jlnance |
it should only be 1-2 mpg at most. If you have gone from 50+ to 45. I see what you're saying. A 10% blend would contain 3% less heat, and you would expect a 3% drop in mpg, which is about 1.5 mpg. But that assumes the engine is as efficient running off the blend as it is off straight gasoline. Given the engine was designed (and presumably tuned) for gas, efficiency may drop if you burn something else. | ||
| Jaimec |
I believe the oxygen sensor in the exhaust measures the percentage of unburned fuel and adjusts the fuel flow accordingly. That being said, in order for your engine to get the same performance as with gasoline, the injector has to inject MORE of the gas/ethanol mixture to produce the same amount of power. I don't know if that makes the math work, but I know I see a lot worse mileage drop off than just 1 or 2 percent with an ethanol blend... | ||
| Sloppy |
Don't forget that not only do you get LESS heat energy from ethanol, but it requires MORE FUEL than petrol in order to burn with air (on the order of 10% more, depending upon mix percentage). So it's a double hit -- less energy and more fuel in order to burn... that's why you'll get less mileage. While there are downsides, there are significant benefits, but that's a different discussion that doesn't belong on these boards. | ||
| Azxb9r |
From what I have seen, the effects will vary from one vehicle to the next. Up to a 10% drop in fuel mileage is pretty normal though. | ||
| Werewulf |
i read in the news, that ethanol will degrade fuel hoses and fibre glass fuel tanks on boats...i wonder what all it will do for our bikes in the long haul? (Message edited by werewulf on May 13, 2008) | ||
| Irideabuell |
I guess I'm just wondering where the benefit is in all of this. It sure sounds like the oil companies are the ones making out as fuel prices continue to climb, but they are providing a product that costs me even more than it already does in reduced mileage! | ||
| Jaimec |
I recall reading that most of the vehicles sold in Brazil run on 100% ethanol. Of course, it is much more economical producing ethanol from sugar cane (of which they have LOTS) than it is from corn (which is what we use). The only REAL benefit will come from producing ethanol CHEAPLY from NON-food crops. There really is something perverse out of diverting food crops to fuel automobiles when world hunger is still a big issue... | ||
| Darthane |
When blended in a small concentration, I sincerely doubt it has much effect - the auto industry would be completely up in arms if a 10 or 15% ethanol blend had an adverse affect on warranty. ...remember, though, to never, EVER put E85 into a vehicle that didn't come from the factory labeled as FlexFuel. | ||
| Puredrive |
we should definitely be using sugar cane instead of Corn. I wonder who makes the call to make the change? | ||
| Bumblebee |
Ethanol will reduce fuel mileage. Just about all fuel here in the golden state is now 10% ethanol. We have one "Greenie" station here selling E-85, that 85% ethanol, my pickup has a Flex Fuel engine that can run on this, so I tried some. It got 6 MPG with that and was way down on power. Otherwise it ran just fine...yeah. | ||
| Mr2shim |
Not many pumps around here contain any ethanol. Hooray for tiny town. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I meticulously track my MGP on my truck and bike.. On my Dodge Ram its 1 to 1.5 mpg drop on City-X its a 1 to 3 mpg drop Sugar Cane is the Cheapest way to make Ethanol... I'm for it as long as Big sugar doesn't F##K up the environment like they where allowed to in the past.. I'm in the Tampa Bay area... Hess was first in Florida to take E10 state wide in all their stations.. | ||
| Sloppy |
Oh boy, we went down the Ethanol path didn't we... Ethanol is simply an alcohol. Alcohol is obtained from the fermentations of sugar. The sugar can come from ANYWHERE! Waste plant garbage, fruits, potatoes, weeds, grass, strawberries, etc. Where do plants get their energy from? The sun and soil... so ethanol will allow your vehicles to be sun and soil powered! And instead of using carbon that was buried for 150 million years, you're now recycling carbon in but a growing season. Pretty cool, heh? At least that's how a Professor from NZ described it... Ethanol is more efficient because you can run higher compressions and, if I recall correctly, it vaporizes at lower temps than gasoline. In order to make more power than petrol you'll need to re-map your fuel. But, as already described, the energy per volume is lower with ethanol than petrol so your mileage will be less on a volume basis. The decision as to what type of fuel source (corn, cane, sugar beets, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.) to use will be purely based on accounting and how much you are willing to pay. BUT, here's the greatest thing about a bio-fuel economy; ANYBODY can get into this business so competition will be fierce. In fact, you can make it in your own garage - without TAX! Now that is really cool. Controversial? Sure is... but so was AC electricity at one time. Bio-fuels are but one of many solutions to end foreign oil dependency. |
