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E-10 may not be E-10

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-08-26          156341


On a radio show today a guy said his truck just wouldn't run right on E-10. A mechanic tested his fuel and found it to be 30% ethanol, not 10%.

All the "experts" say that E-10 should reduce mileage by 3% or so, but it always reduces my mileage by 10-15%. I wonder if that's because it's more like 30% ethanol.

Anyone know a good way to test for ethanol content at home?




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E-10 may not be E-10

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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2008-08-26          156343


Don't know of any home test, sorry. But my experience is similar to yours. I avoid stations that sell that crap. Even though the sticker on the pump might say "up to 10%", it costs me about 3-4 mpg. On straight unleaded regular, my Olds consistently returns 30mpg highway. On some of that "10 percent" rubbish, I drop as low as 26

My old Mercedes doesn't like that ULSD they foisted on us last year either.

//greg// ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-08-26          156344


Idiotic state law here says it's the only thing that can be sold from October through March so it's a little hard to be choosy :) ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2008-08-27          156346


Well the problem is one of simple physics; ethanol has a lower BTU rating than does gasoline. By comparison, diesel fuel has a higher BTU rating than gasoline. That's why diesels get comparatively more MPG. By diluting gasoline with ethanol, they've reduced the BTU value of the gasoline. Lower BTU = lower MPG.

Can't say whether or not it will work, but you might consider trying an octane boost additive during the months you're forced to burn that ethanol blend.

//greg// ....


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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2008-08-27          156347


There should be a state agency that monitors fuel. Usually it verifies that the pump supplies a gallon when it charges for a gallon, but they may have a lab that tests fuel composition if you alert them. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-08-27          156352


Dumb here and have paid attention to the lower mileage arguement with ethanol carefully. Not sure really how my mileage is affected due to not driving enough tanks with it to really know.

Here is where I am confused, the octane rating, does ethanol not affect it or does octane rating mean nothing as to fuel mileage in todays engines? kt ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2008-08-27          156355


Quote:
Originally Posted by kwschumm | view 156341
Anyone know a good way to test for ethanol content at home?


Ken, all you need is a test kit, Google for something like "alcohol content test kit".

If you are not willing to spend ~$25 for one, a test tube and rubber stopper will do the same thing.

Any form of alcohol has a real affinity for water, you can use this to your advantage to test for the presence and (roughly) the quantity of alcohol in fuel.

Take a large test tube and if it is not calibrated make a mark about 10% (volume-wise) up the tube from the bottom. Then fill to this mark with clean water. Now fill it the rest of the way to it's capacity with the fuel you want to test, and put in the stopper. Now shake it vigorously for a minute or two. Let it settle for a minute or two upright and still. Now all you have to do is observe how much, if any, the 'water' line has risen in the tube.

Since gasoline will not absorb water into solution, the only thing that will be absorbed into the water will be the alcohol.

Best of luck. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-08-27          156356


Thanks, Murf, that's brilliantly simple. It makes total sense and it will give me an excuse to use the graduated cylinder that's sitting on my shelf gathering dust. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-08-27          156360


The state of Iowa does do random testing of fuel and the accuracy of pumps, I'm sure every state does that. Just in the last month an owner of two stations was shut down and fined 40K per station for selling 30% ethanol when the punmp said 10%. I agree the physics of the product are the true answer. I use ethanol simply because I grow the corn. Frank. ....


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