Ethanol Free Gas - What's Your Experience?

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doc540

doc540

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On my first full tank of 91 octane, ethanol free gas, and the Slant seems to run smoother, idle better, and hot start better than before.

Not certain, but think my compression ratio is stock for a '68 engine.

Or am I just imagining things?

What's been your actual experience with stock-type Slants and ethanol free gas?

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Not owner of a slant so can't help there, but I use it just for the reason it is better for the carburetor. Stores all winter with full tank without any additives and starts right up in spring. I don't notice any performance improvement in my 318 or 360. Maybe slight increase in mileage though.
 
Maybe a feel good thing but 91 octane has a slower burn rate then 87 octane so could be the car likes it. If it don’t ping you don’t higher octane.

Only way is to run both and see which grade returns the best fuel mileage. IMHO
 
fklskv said:
Maybe a feel good thing but 91 octane has a slower burn rate then 87 octane so could be the car likes it. If it don’t ping you don’t higher octane.

Only way is to run both and see which grade returns the best fuel mileage. IMHO
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better for old style gas tanks as far as rust is concerned too !
 
No slant here, but I buy it for all my small engines. Mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, generator, 4 wheeler, and the grandsons dirt bike.
 
I only use ethanol free. Well, as far as carbureted engines go. On our drive from Buffalo to Carlisle, we planned a route to hit the Ethanol free stations. Worked out exceptionally well. Now when I worked for a small engine shop, most all problems were from that new chitty gas that turns to water. The worst thing was the owner would stock, use and recommend E10 to the customers, just to sell this “fuel medic” potion
 
As we speak i believe all gas in Ontario has a minimum of 5% ethanol so ethanol free is no longer available.I have been using Petro Can 94 which has higher ethanol in my Dart for 2 years now to prevent detonation and haven't had any problems.
...But i have had ethanol free gas go bad in small engines if stored too long.
 
Yeah in Manitoba, at the pumps, we have 87 and 89 ethanol blended. I have not seen 91 ethanol free in 20 years.
My engine and entire fuel system,are very happy with 87E10. If I could get it in 15%, I would try it.
 
Thanks for the information from those with first hand experience.

Issue's settled for my Slant.

60 mile test yesterday in 90+ degree conditions.

Better hot idle.

Better hot start.

Better fuel mileage.

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Yep we have 91 octane non ethanol at our Quick Star/Quick Trip convenience stores. Good stuff.
 
doc540 said:
60 mile test yesterday in 90+ degree conditions.Better hot idle.Better hot start.Better fuel mileage.
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In my 367HO 68 Barracuda, have been running 87E10 at 11.3/10.9Scr since 1999, and with 3 different cams,4 different carbs, 3 different intakes ,3 different ignition systems, 4 different transmissions and a bazzilion different rear gears.
Not one of them had a hot start issue, ever. All had great idles, after I got the tune in. And one combo made 32 mpgUS. All ran 87E10.
In my 1980 Volare, 9.5Scr 225 slanty, it too has always run 87E10,since1999, and thr lowest grade before that,and it also has none of those issues.
My winter engine, a bone stock 1973 318 long-block, same no issues.
None of these have run anything but 87E10 since 1999, cuz for the longest time that was all we had. So I have nothing to compare to.
But I tell you what; in 130,000 miles, by tuning for 87, I saved enough money just in the cost difference of the fuel, to freshen my engine, and then some.

So I am somewhat surprised that your engine is fussy. I wonder if it has an underlying issue, that the better grade alleviated. Nevertheless,it is what it is.

nice car BTW
 
I believe ethanol is crap for heat soak and longevity in the tank and fuel bowl. If I dont run my lawnmower for 2 weeks (nothing grows here without water in August) Im pulling the bowl and mucking the white jelly from the main jet. Sheesh! If you run it constantly, I bet its fine. Wife filled up with flex fuel E85 and we noticed a 3mpg drop but it was .85 a gallon! special introductory rate from a new E85 station.
 
pishta said:
I believe ethanol is crap for heat soak and longevity in the tank and fuel bowl. If I dont run my lawnmower for 2 weeks (nothing grows here without water in August) Im pulling the bowl and mucking the white jelly from the main jet. Sheesh! If you run it constantly, I bet its fine. Wife filled up with flex fuel E85 and we noticed a 3mpg drop but it was .85 a gallon! special introductory rate from a new E85 station.
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Yep, I run the premium non alcohol in all my lawn mowers. It's worth the extra $$$'s.
 
i'm with you AJ,i run the 5 or 10 % ethanol in everything...outboards,lawn mowers.snow blower,chainsaw
it usually sits seasonally and i haven't had a problem in years.
Hot start issues may be tuning.I have seen / heard fuel boiling in carbs when shut off but that is probably retarded timing keeping flames in the head and exhaust rather than the cylinder.
i wouldn't think 5 or 10% would be noticeable?
 
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ir3333 said:
i'm with you AJ,i run the 5 or 10 % ethanol in everything...outboards,lawn mowers.snow blower.
it usually sits seasonally and i haven't had a problem in years.
Hot start issues may be tuning.I have seen / heard fuel boiling in carbs when shut off but that is probably retarded timing keeping flames in the head and exhaust rather than the cylinder.
i wouldn't think 5 or 10% would be noticeable?
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I wonder if our Canadian Gasohol is different from American. I've never seen jelly . MY Volare has not been licensed in over 4 years, yet I can splash 30to 50 cc down the carb, start her up and drive away, with no running issues.Same with my 367. And like you I run it in everything. In my string trimmer tho, I had to drill out the jets. I have had to do that on a lot of new equipment. I am at 930 ft or so; I gotta wonder how this crappy equipment runs at sealevel,lol. I made a lot of money drilling carbs and jets since we first got E10 in 1999.

Waitaminute, I have seen jelly;
methanol (not ethanol) in a magnesium chainsaw fuel tank.
Our gasohol is mixed with 10% Ethanol, that's the E in 87E10
 
pishta said:
I believe ethanol is crap for heat soak and longevity in the tank and fuel bowl. If I dont run my lawnmower for 2 weeks (nothing grows here without water in August) Im pulling the bowl and mucking the white jelly from the main jet. Sheesh! If you run it constantly, I bet its fine.
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Add a fuel cutoff valve to the lawn mower. Turn valve off and run bowl dry before storing it.

No more gunky carb.
 
doc540 said:
On my first full tank of 91 octane, ethanol free gas, and the Slant seems to run smoother, idle better, and hot start better than before.

Not certain, but think my compression ratio is stock for a '68 engine.

Or am I just imagining things?

What's been your actual experience with stock-type Slants and ethanol free gas?

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I noticed that too. My friend works for a refinery here and says the ethanol blend in low octane probably leans it out at idle. I notice smoother idle with shell vpower here so i mix both. When it gets to half on 87 i fill with v and alternate.
 
I run non ethanol in all my carburetor engines also. Here we have Rec 90 octane.

Another benefit is the fuel nozzle is variable from zero to full. Makes it much easier to fill the Barracuda.
 
after my 273 re-build I tried running 87E10 - had condensation problems that took months to clear - now 91E10 + a bottle of STP water remover every 2-3 tankfuls - touch wood, no issues for the last 6 weeks
 
All I have run since resto. Occasionally add some octane boost. Very happy with heat soak and more. All the lawn equipment gets the same!
 
Ours here is 90 octane ethanol free. It does run better in my truck, but at around 50 cents a gallon more, into the 3 dollar range, a bottle of Lucas ethanol treatment dumped in every tank full does the same thing and is cheaper.
 
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