Does anyone here see a mileage difference between 10% Ethanol and Non Ethanol gas. Here where i live, they are the same price.
I was just wondering.
Thanks for the input.

 

1-2mpg difference. 10-15% increase.

 

Ethanol has a lower octane rating than gasoline. The higher, the octane, the better efficiency in energy transfer you get.
In my experience with the different mixtures, gasoline with ethanol will get around 1-2 miles per gallon less than gasoline with no ethanol. I also have noticed the same difference between 87 and 89 octane gasoline with ethanol. I have gotten the best mpg out of premium (91), but the increase in price offsets the differences in mileage and makes it all about equal. I have noticed the same differences whether driving my MINI, my wife's Fusion, my old car (Mazda 3)or my 03 Screw 2wd. (I drive about 50 miles of highwat driving to work-
With my Mini Cooper...straight hwy driving @ about 70-80mph and no heavy-footed starts, I get about 39-41 mpg on regular w/ethanol, up to about 44 on premium w/out ethanol. It also depends on where you are getting fuel...but I got 46.3 today driving @65mph on Chevron 87 octane gas w/ethanol. On generic gas w/ethanol, I get much less...I just drove from Huntsville, AL to Jackson, MS over the last 2 days and everaged 43.1 (Chevron 87)...normally I get around 40.
But that's why I drive my Cooper everyday instead of my truck, with which I get around 15-17 mpg...

 

There is just so much BS here.

Octane is a measure of gasoline's resistance to detonation. It has nothing to do with energy density. If a car is designed to use a higher octane gas, using the higher octane will likely result in the best performance and mileage; the engine management system will retard the timing in response to detonation if you use lower octane than called for by the manufacturer. If a car is designed to use garden-variety 87-octane, using a higher octane will result in zero/zilch/nada benefits.

Ethanol's octane is about 113. Adding Ethanol to gasoline at a 10% ratio will raise the octane 2-3 points.

The energy density of ethanol is lower than that of gasoline, so using ethanol blend will reduce mileage. Not by a great deal, but measurable. All things being equal, you will get better mileage with straight gasoline than with an ethanol blend.

So, don't mix apples and oranges, e.g. don't mix a discussion of octane with a discussion of energy density. Ethanol has a higher octane than gasoline but a lower energy density.

 

Two thumbs up ^^^^^

 

These engines were designed to run ethanol free gas so you will see better milage out of the ethanol free stuff

 

To repeat, methanol has lower energy density so the mpg will be lower. And quite specifically, these engines are most definately designed to run gas/ethanol blend. (ever seen the flex fuel sticker?)

 

Ever seen the flex fuel sticker on a 10th gen? I sure as hell haven't, 10th gens are made for ethanol free fuel, 11th gens are made for blends

 

I apologize,
I used the show new posts button and did not realize this post was in the 97-03 bin

 

The Flex fueled trucks love E85 when it is very hot like + 100 degrees. Here is where the higher compression helps with the higher octane of it to give U more torque when it is this hot ambient temps. My area E85 runs around $.50 less than 87 octane with or without ethanol. The costs favor E85 then below 65 mph. E85 around 100 degrees delivers around 18.4 mpg while 87 octane with or without ethanol will deliver 19.6 at the same temps. U loose rapidly if the temps drop say down around 70 degrees. Than Gasoline jumps to 3 mpg + of e85 Ethanol. e85, 17.5 mpg and 87 octane 20.5 mpg. These are real world figures by my 11 ta 12. The noticeable increase in torque allows the motor to pull better and stay in 6th gear at highway speeds more on hills. The high temps are cooled when the alky mixes with the hot air giving a denser fuel charge and better ignition. When temps cool off U loose the advantage of high heat and alkys ability to make the charge cold. It is why alky fueled motors seldom overheat. If I lived in desert like heat I would like to have E85 all the time during the daylight hours.