Today our state government (NSW Australia) has announced from July all fuel sold in the state will include a 2% ethanol blend (by law).

Does anybody have an idea what that might mean to the ML500?

Does anybody else run with an ethanol blend?

I currently run 95 or 98 RON (Octane) premium unleaded.

Thanks.

 

Big cover article in U.S. New & World Report magazine about ethanol and the fact that it:

1.) Has less energy per gallon than gasoline - i.e. you will use more to achieve the same engine output.
2.) It takes almost as much energy to produce it as it contains - i.e. almost net zero gain.
3.) Corn prices for food are way up as a result of the ethanol use.

Here's the link to the article:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/ar.../12ethanol.htm

 

In our area in the US I have noticed stickers on the fuel pumps that indicate the 91 octane I use has a 10 percent Ethanol content. I have been using it with no ill effects and a bit reduced fuel mileage. My dealer has said that it is fine and everyone is using it and they have seen no problems.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Since the original headlines it appears that the government is setting a target of 2% of all fuel sold overall should be ethanol. (Which is quite different to an across the board 2% ethanol blend.)

What looks like will happen is there will be a 10% ad a 5% blend sold. Hopefully higher RON / Octane fuels will be ethanol free.

There's also been a few articles here stating ethanol may not be as environmentally friendly as we think.