Todays Gas for Daily drivers

**Canuck** · #1 08-03-2011, 06:58 PM

looking for feedback on what you are using for your daily drivers. I have noticed that most grades have Ethanol with the exception of Chevron 94. I use 89 in My 2003 GMC Yukon and 91 in my Mercedes E55 AMG.
A limo driver I know claims he only uses Chevron 94 in his 2009 GMC Yukon that he puts 60,000 miles a year on and gets better gas milage.
I just switched to Chevron 94 for the Mercedes and will see what it is like after a few tanks. I use 91 in the Yukon when towing.
Anybody finding any solid results with brands or Octane levels?

**RPOLS3** · #2 08-03-2011, 10:19 PM

Haven't been able to find anything for several years around here (Northern Illinois) that is pure gas anymore. Highest octane (unless a place has racing gas) is usually 91 or 93 at most stations around here.

Ethanol has less energy than pure gas so yes it will provide less mileage than 100% pure gas. I know your question was about daily drivers but the real issue for the older cars is how the ethanol affects the seals/hoses/gaskets of the fuel systems on the older cars that are not designed to handle ethanol. It is a huge issue in the marine/boating world. I use the marine formula sta-bil fuel additive in the cars and boats for longer storage as it is supposed to help prevent the ethanol from causing the damage it does over time.

Jake

**WILMASBOYL78** · #3 08-04-2011, 02:42 AM

Corn was meant to eat...not to fuel cars and trucks.

Ethanol has been a huge benefit to the small engine repair business...these guys are really making out. We had some stations locally that sold ethanol-free fuel...that has ended..they are not allowed to buy it wholesale in NY for sale at street level. Some stations sell fuel aleady mixed with an ethanol stabilizer....seems ridiculous! We buy low lead AV gas for all the older cars, lawn tractor, chain saws, outboards, etc...it burns clean and there are no contamination issues.

Maybe this is why sweet corn is $6 per dozen now...almost like buying gas [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif[/img]

wilma

**Salvatore** · #4 08-04-2011, 02:49 AM

I am with you Tommy!

budnate · #5 08-04-2011, 02:52 PM

I have this saved, http://pure-gas.org/

RichSchmidt · #6 08-04-2011, 07:15 PM

Probably the biggest issue with ethanol is that it hardens accelerator pumps.If you drive the car every day you probably wont have an issue,but if you let the car sit,you will definatly get a flat spot on acceleration. This is why it is such a big problem for the boating and small engine industy because those engines sit for weeks at a time without. It will corrode the insde of carbs and gas tanks if it sits since it absorbs water and then lets it corrode the metal around it. If you use the car all the time it is less of an issue because the gas is always fresh.

**firstgenaddict** · #7 11-06-2011, 10:43 PM

It's bad on the fuel level sending units on the newer cars, I just replaced the whole unit in my Grand Cherokee and the gauge doesn't after only 6 months, same with my dad's Suburban approx 6 months.

It's horrible in the older vented systems because they exchange air with the atmosphere, so as long as you have moisture in the air it will be absorbed by the ethanol and then end up as water in the tank.

Keith Tedford · #8 11-07-2011, 04:40 AM

I don't know about the US, but here in Ontario, Petro Canada and Shell premium gas does not have ethanol according to their gas pump labels. That's all I use in everything, from weed eater to L78. Not only does ethanol attract water, it also leaches oils out of rubber, neoprene and soft plastics. It's been a nightmare for marine people, great for the small motors repair people.

**Canuck** · #9 11-07-2011, 06:42 PM

Been using Chevron 94 now since August in my E55 and finding a nice improvement in performance and a reduction in fuel consumption. Using the onboard trip computer shows I am getting 24 MPG (imperial gallon) on highway cruising.Has been getting about 22.
I have been using 91 Octane for My Yukon with tanks of 84 for towing trips through the mountains and am seeing better performance as my MAP sensor light no longer comes on when towing up a steep grade. Fuel consumption is slightly better.

Paul

**1969L78Nova** · #10 11-07-2011, 09:21 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Keith Tedford</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know about the US, but here in Ontario, Petro Canada and Shell premium gas does not have ethanol according to their gas pump labels. That's all I use in everything, from weed eater to L78. Not only does ethanol attract water, it also leaches oils out of rubber, neoprene and soft plastics. It's been a nightmare for marine people, great for the small motors repair people. </div></div>

According to Petro-Canada whom I wrote to:
Ethanol is only present in Petro-Canada Regular Clean 87 Octane (10%) and Plus Clean 89 Octane (5%). Petro-Canada SuperClean 91 Octane gasoline does not contain any Ethanol.
Ethanol content in SuperClean 94 or Ultra 94 is 10%.

The L78 will only run on 94 octane (10% ethanol). I'm now thinking about purchasing their 91 octane ( No ethanol)and adding a booster.
It may be less expensive and I won't have to deal with the ethanol issue.

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