10% Ethanol??

[Jess28]

What does the “contains 10% ethanol” mean when you get gas these days? I don’t remember seeing it prior and now it’s on almost every single pumping station. Does this mean that the gas we are buying now is less potent (less miles per gallon) than it was prior to these signs being placed up? Why would they be changing gas up? Is it better for the environment?

 

[MaximumSpeed]

It is letting you know the ethanol content. Ethanol is the new corn-based fuel that they have been pushing (that has raised the price of corn). Most of the stations in my area have big banners proclaiming "NO ETHANOL" rather than what you're seeing. The one exception is the station with E-85 (which is 85% ethanol).

 

[MotorX]

I have a car that can use the 85% ethanol, and it is nice to have the lower prices that it brings! Although, I also like corn on the cob, and that was pretty pricey this summer!

 

[MyMotor]

So does it take a particular type of car to run on this fuel? Do you have to buy particular models of car in order to use it, and what kind of damage would it do to a normal car?

 

[MotorX]

The engine has to have a slightly different configuration, I think, to run the ethanol properly. My car is a Dodge Grand Caravan from 1999, and it's made to run it (says so on the cover over the gas cap). I don't know if it would damage a regular car or not, but it won't power it properly, I think.

 

[MaximumSpeed]

MyMotor, I found this information about ethanol and how it will affect a car that is not set up for it. Take a look; it contains the answer to your question in reasonable detail. Hope it helps!

 

[Fanbelt]

Thanks MS for sharing the link, and wow! There are many things ethanol can affect the cars which are not set up for it. Though, I wonder what would happen if an "E-85 car" was fueled with non-ethanol gas.

 

[Dodge Doll]

My first car was supposed to run unleaded gas, and the idiot that I was went "cheap" and put leaded gas into it. You know what the result was, the car didn't run as well as it should have.

Most vehicles post-1995 can safely run an ethanol gasoline; it's far kinder to Mother Nature, I'll say that much.

 

[Kohn]

Hi Dodge Doll, maybe post-1995 vehicles may run on E10. But running on E85 requires a particular compression ratio to be efficient. Some cars these days are designed to run on either gasoline or 100% ethanol.

 

[Mustang37]

Wow, this is a lot of information. I really thought that the gas stations were just posting the signs so they could not be blamed for bad gas. Great conversation and great answers! I learned something new.

 

[Dodge Doll]

Kohn, you're right - I was just trying to keep things simple! BUSTED!

There's all sorts of hybrids out there nowadays, that can accommodate different fuel sources, including electricity for city driving.