Has anyone experienced any difference in performance when running gas with 10% ethanol blends? My R/T seems to be running rougher, but it might be my imagination. I wouldn't have bought gas at this particular station, but it was the cheapest in town.

Michael

 

I don't think it is your imagination.... I haven't ran any ethnol blends in my 06 magnum sxt..and I don't plan on it... BUT>>

There is a gas station that is near my home that sells the 10% ethnol blend and every Dodge that I have owned ran rough after throwing some in. I have owned a 82 ram charger, 91 ram charger, 95 neon acr, and a 04 Neon. More annoying then anything.

I really like the car I have now so even if she is running on fumes I will keep on going till I hit the next station down the road..

 

Yes, I've tried a couple of tankfuls, with my R/T, definitely ran rougher, didn't think the performance was there, and there was a 2 mpg gas mileage penalty to boot. No ethanol for me!!

 

where i live most of the gas stations have a sticker saying the gas may be blended up to 10% ethonal. but i have never really noticed a differance in mine. there is an ethonal plant here so i imagine they just pump some of that into the gas but i don't know for sure lol

 

they add the ethanol in the winter months to keep the gas from freezing. not used in the summer or warmer climates.

 

i believe it's added year round up here in canada but i'm not 100% on that

 

they thin it out here year-round. I have noticed lass mpg from it.
Interesting concept, reduce the quality of the product while increasing the price.
...and we still wait in line for it.
we are indeed a farm of ants.

 

the alcohol does raise the octane rating, not all bad.

 

Ethanol has been used in gasoline in Illinois as far back as I can remember (I'm 42). Ethanol contains 67% of the BTU's in gasoline. Gasoline is rated at 115,500-125,071 BTU's per gallon, while ethanol is rated at 76,000-84,262 BTU's per gallon. What this means is you will get lower MPG with an ethanol blend, but since ethanol has a quicker flame front, you get quicker expansion, ie quicker acceleration.

The old problems with vapor lock are not applicable to a modern fuel injected engine. In an older car with a mechanical fuel pump mounted on the engine, the pump had to pull the fuel from the tank, and with heat soak of the the adjacent fuel line, the alcohol could vaporize. Not a problem with a tank mounted fuel pump that pushes the fuel to the engine. In the winter, ethanol blends can be desirable because alcohol has an affinity for water. Condensation is absorbed by alcohol to create a burnable fuel. Alcohol also cleans your fuel lines and injectors.

I'm hoping alcohol prices drop as production increases. If it does, I would consider converting my R/T to alcohol. It seems to me that is one way to buffer against OPEC price increases.

My source for the BTU/gal can be found at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biomass.html

 

All of the local stations here in FL have the ethanol stickers on them....and it`s been plenty warm here

I haven`t noticed a difference in MPG or how it drives...but it`s the wifes car , and I don`t drive it much because she doesn`t like to drive my lifted CTD Ram. I haven`t heard her complain , so it must be O.K.