Ethanol vs Non-Ethanol Gas: 2011 Mazda 3 s

[saratoga172]

This is more of a question about my car, but I'm interested in the information in general. I've got a 2011 Mazda 3 s with the 2.5.

I've been running only ethanol free gas in my car since I bought it new back in December. Is there any benefit long term, or short term, to keeping only ethanol free gas in it. Be it mpg, deterioration or anything else over time. I'd assume mpg would cancel out with the cost of gas.

The manual says not to run anything containing more than 10% ethanol, which is what most stations around here are. Non-ethanol is only about 10 cents more per gallon than the ethanol stuff. My amount of driving equals out to about $60 more per year for Non-ethanol gas. so barely a difference.

So, any real reason I should stick to non-ethanol gas?

tldr;
Quit being lazy

Thanks

 

[punjabiplaya]

gonna be hard to keep it free. Just going to pay more for a teeny bit more mpg. Engine has tuning to provide safe ethanol burning.

 

[LTC8K6]

With the price difference, the mileage penalty for 10% ethanol probably breaks even. Probably a wash between the two.

As far as damage, a 2011 vehicle should have no worries about E10.

Now, if they force E15 on you...

 

[Eli]

Interesting to see this thread here. There is a big thread on this subject on the Insight forums.

Gasoline with 10% ethanol (E10) contains 3.3% less energy than 100% gasoline.

I just filled up with 100% gasoline for the first time last weekend. There is only one station in town that sells it.

The only reason to ever purposefully seek out 100% gasoline is for fuel economy. But 3.3% of 30MPG is 31MPG.... Very difficult to nail down such small numbers.

Alcohol is not a bad fuel. Sure, it contains less energy than gasoline, but it also has many desirable properties. Gasoline is a terrible fuel. It burns nasty.

If anything, running 100% gasoline would be more detrimental to your engine over the long haul.

Anyway, I will report back my findings if I'm able to detect any increase in fuel economy. It will take a long time to get any meaningful data since I only fill up every month or so. I don't think I'll be able to detect it honestly. My average fuel economy swings by much, much more than 3.3% depending on half a dozen or so factors.

 

[Zenmervolt]

The main worry regarding ethanol is that it is slightly corrosive and older fuel systems had problems with ethanol eating seals.

Newer cars suffer no mechanical issues from running ethanol and the mixture restrictions have more to do with the range of adjustment that the EFI computer is programmed to make for mixture. You need to run ethanol a bit richer than gasoline so the EFI brain needs to be able to compensate. The amount that it can compensate is what dictates the allowable % of ethanol in the fuel.

ZV

 

[dud]

Interesting thread. I wasn't aware that ethanol-free gas was still available; I know it is not available locally.

If you are concerned about ethanol in your gas there are additives that can be added to each tank of gas to protect the fuel system, etc.

 

[Eli]

http://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[Lotheron]

http://www.pure-gas.org/

None even close to being near me.

That being said, I only know of one E85 station around me either.

 

[Zap]

The main worry regarding ethanol is that it is slightly corrosive and older fuel systems had problems with ethanol eating seals.

Is it really that big of a problem? My 1986 Mustang GT owners manual said 10% ethanol was fine. However, it also said Methanol was not to be used past 2% or so.

 

[LTC8K6]

Is it really that big of a problem? My 1986 Mustang GT owners manual said 10% ethanol was fine. However, it also said Methanol was not to be used past 2% or so.

Well, the corn lobby is pushing for E15, and the EPA has allowed it, so yeah.

Potentially you could have 15% ethanol blend instead of 10%.

 

[chin311]

there's an 100% gas station around me, but have yet to go there, its like 20cents or more then the other stations and it's just not worth it to me. i will avoid 15% blend like the plague if that shit starts coming around.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Is it really that big of a problem? My 1986 Mustang GT owners manual said 10% ethanol was fine. However, it also said Methanol was not to be used past 2% or so.

It's only a problem in really old cars ('50s and '60s) and I should have called that out more specifically. My idea of "older" and "newer" is a bit skewed with cars.

ZV

 

[slag]

it is also a problem with most marine carbureted engines and many small engines.

 

[saratoga172]

Cool thanks for the info. I put E10 in this go around and so far I'm about on par with 100% gas. I never have to go out of my way to get ethanol free gas. There are multiple stations on the way to class and multiple on the way to work. Just a couple stations I prefer if possible. I've found certain stations give a more noticeable difference in mileage than fuel type.

there's an 100% gas station around me, but have yet to go there, its like 20cents or more then the other stations and it's just not worth it to me. i will avoid 15% blend like the plague if that shit starts coming around.

It's only about a 10 cent difference. Might actually be more worth it now since its about 2-3% more.

Interesting thread. I wasn't aware that ethanol-free gas was still available; I know it is not available locally.

If you are concerned about ethanol in your gas there are additives that can be added to each tank of gas to protect the fuel system, etc.

Lots of stations around here. All of them seem to magically be the same price though. Never any variance in price anymore. Not too worried about ethanol...just curious if ethanol free posed any real benefits. Looks like it really doesn't for modern cars/trucks.

 

[thescreensavers]

lol florida is 100% E10, you cannot get 100% gas, only marinas have Ethanol free gas.

 

[Fenixgoon]

With the price difference, the mileage penalty for 10% ethanol probably breaks even. Probably a wash between the two.

As far as damage, a 2011 vehicle should have no worries about E10.

Now, if they force E15 on you...

if they force E15 just about everyone is screwed. i know my car (2010) and bike (2009) can't handle either. especially the bike.

 

[chin311]

lol florida is 100% E10, you cannot get 100% gas, only marinas have Ethanol free gas.

nah there's a place in town that sells it. but i'm not driving 10 miles round trip extra to get it. plus, like i said its more then 10cents more, sometimes 20-30 cents more. don't believe me don't care! lol

 

[soccerballtux]

Alcohol is not a bad fuel. Sure, it contains less energy than gasoline, but it also has many desirable properties. Gasoline is a terrible fuel. It burns nasty.

If anything, running 100% gasoline would be more detrimental to your engine over the long haul.

Gasoline is not a bad fuel. Sure, it contains more pollutants than alcohol, but it also has many desirable properties. Ethanol is a terrible fuel. It uses food for fuel, raising the price for families in 3rd world countries to feed themselves.

If anything, running 10% ethanol would be more detrimental to your engine over the long haul. Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline to your piston seals and other important moving parts.

 

[soccerballtux]

The main worry regarding ethanol is that it is slightly corrosive and older fuel systems had problems with ethanol eating seals.

Newer cars suffer no mechanical issues from running ethanol and the mixture restrictions have more to do with the range of adjustment that the EFI computer is programmed to make for mixture. You need to run ethanol a bit richer than gasoline so the EFI brain needs to be able to compensate. The amount that it can compensate is what dictates the allowable % of ethanol in the fuel.

ZV

I disagree. I have seen many newer cars develop ethanol related seal problems. Personally if I had the option of running only 100% gas (I don't), I definitely would.

 

[Eli]

Gasoline is not a bad fuel. Sure, it contains more pollutants than alcohol, but it also has many desirable properties. Ethanol is a terrible fuel. It uses food for fuel, raising the price for families in 3rd world countries to feed themselves.

If anything, running 10% ethanol would be more detrimental to your engine over the long haul. Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline to your piston seals and other important moving parts.

I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. Piston seals? Other important moving parts? Which parts are those?

Ethanol is not corrosive to metal. The problem with ethanol is with some rubber and plastic parts. Ethanol has cleaning properties.

Again, alcohol is a superior fuel to gasoline. It burns cleaner, and it is capable of producing more power than gasoline if the engine is built for it.

Ever looked at the oil from an engine that runs something other than gasoline? You would be shocked at how clean it is. Natural gas and propane would also be superior fuels.

Why we use gasoline, the world will never know. We almost gave up on it as a fuel until they found tetraethyl lead. What a great idea that was.

 

[sdifox]

ethanol from corn is pure fail.

 

[ShawnD1]

Interesting thread. I wasn't aware that ethanol-free gas was still available; I know it is not available locally.

Yall should check out canada. The only place I've ever seen sell ethanol blended fuel is Mohawk and their shit is the same price as regular gasoline, so there's no reason to buy it
(ethanol is heavily subsidized in the US, not in Canada or anywhere else)

 

[desy]

EROI on corn ethanl gets better all the time and for a fledgling industry I suggest a little patience. OIl has 150 yrs to mature and is in terminal decline so alternatives are going to have to be sought out.
People will accept 10% but not 15%? I think people get confused its 85% or E85 that causes problems and to solve those is about $300 upgrade to the fuel system, we have had 85% ethanol capable vehicles at work for almost 10 years now. If you are talking lawn and garden equipment and older boat motors and RV equipment then I can see in those types of vehicles avoiding E15 but for modern cars and trucks? not an issue

 

[sdifox]

EROI on corn ethanl gets better all the time and for a fledgling industry I suggest a little patience. OIl has 150 yrs to mature and is in terminal decline so alternatives are going to have to be sought out.
People will accept 10% but not 15%? I think people get confused its 85% or E85 that causes problems and to solve those is about $300 upgrade to the fuel system, we have had 85% ethanol capable vehicles at work for almost 10 years now. If you are talking lawn and garden equipment and older boat motors and RV equipment then I can see in those types of vehicles avoiding E15 but for modern cars and trucks? not an issue

Problem with corn ethanol is corn, not ethanol.

 

[soccerballtux]

ethanol from corn is pure fail.

that too.