Suitability of Non-Ethanol Fuel

[GeeElleKay]

The addition of up to 10% ethanol in motor fuel here in the United States has been a huge mistake. This fuel is not suitable for marine and small engine applications. The ethanol component in the fuel costs more to produce than is justified by any imagined improvement in emissions. It also reduces engine performance. I have begun using a 90 octane so-called recreational fuel in my Buick that has a V-8 Northstar engine. Since then the engine has run quieter, performed better and the fuel mileage has increased. The price of this fuel varies, from what you would pay for mid-grade ethanol blend fuel to premium. Has anybody tried no ethanol fuel in their Mercedes and if so what were the results?

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[bop11]

Try this
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp
select your state along the bottom.
Ethanol has less energy than gasoline per gal so ethanol has poorer mileage. Also there is winter gas (oxygenated = less mileage), and Summer gas(= better mileage) in the urban areas with more smog potential.

[GeeElleKay]

I am already familiar with the link you provided, but thank you for posting it in case somebody else might benefit from knowing where to purchase this fuel.

The GLK350 Owner's manual states that the vehicle should run on 91 octane. Most of the RE fuel is 90 octane. Would it be harmful to run this on a sustained basis?

[PHML]

should be ok to put non-ethanol gas in our cars....most are sold near the marina because marine engines gets messed up using ethanol gas.

this may sound crazy to most of you, but back in the 70s my uncle put moth ***** in his tank...suppose to increase octane. there is a local car mechanic guy that still does it today. my neighbor drops moth ***** in his 10 gall gas containers...let it dissolve, then pour it in his tanks...he swears by the "ummmph" is provides.

[GeeElleKay]

Aren't mothballs methane? I am sure they are a petroleum product, too.

[PHML]

Originally Posted by GeeElleKay

Aren't mothballs methane? I am sure they are a petroleum product, too.

No, the moth ***** need to have naphthalene. In the past moth crystals were composed of naphthalene...not sure readily available they are today.

Today I believe the compound is paradichlorobenzene....don't put these in your tank...LOL!!

[shotgun_banjo]

been running 94 octance fuel on the GLK that doesn't contain ethanol and I find it to be more fuel efficient and has more ummph.

[GeeElleKay]

Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo

been running 94 octance fuel on the GLK that doesn't contain ethanol and I find it to be more fuel efficient and has more ummph.

Oomph?

The 90 octane fuel is fine for the Buick with the Northstar engine, because it can run on 87 octane. However I want some opinions on whether 90 octane non ethanol fuel would cause harm in the GLK, which requires 91 octane.

[venchka]

New's Eve in a tiny town in NW Louisiana the only thing available was 89 octane ethanol free gasoline. I put it in on top of 3-4 gallons of 93 octane ethanol blend. The GLK ran fine.
If I had a choice between two pumps, 1 @ 90 ethanol free and 1 @ 91+ ethanol blend I would use the ethanol free. No science. Just my personal feeling.
Most pumps I have used in the past 6 years are labeled 93 octane. I assume in a worst case that they would be 91 octane minimum. 3 cars and a bunch of miles and they ran fine.
Ethanol free would be better. We won't go into that for forum manners reasons.

Wayne