Anyone tried running Non-ethanol gas?

[Alan_nc]

They have non-ethanol gas at a couple of stations here (north central NC). I always run it in my small motors (mowers, pressure washer, chain saw, weedeater) and ran it in my Versa for a couple of months. Got about 2 mpg better gas mileage but the cost made it not worth it. Does seem to make the car start easier and run smoother.....but that is just seat of the pants.
Wondering if it would help the ol 94 3.0 auto.

 

[Curious Hound]

No problem running non-ethanol gas. Thats how gas used to be. My understanding is that the ethanol does help reduce water buildup in the fuel system. So it would be good to run some gas with ethanol periodically.

 

[Dirtman]

The difference between E10 and pure gasoline is usually not worth the cost unless you need to use pure gasoline because of the engine type not being compatible with ethanol. Around here non ethanol gasoline is usually at least 93 octane though, which in itself yeilds some benefit on engines like the 3.0 with compression high enough to be on the border of what 86-87 octane can handle without knocking. Whenever I haul heavy loads with my truck I always fill up with mid or premium to keep it from pulling too much timing on steep hills when I really romp on it. Im summary, I don't think youll see a benefit cost or otherwise with pure gasoline, but an octane bump can help when you wanna be hard on it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No problem running non-ethanol gas. Thats how gas used to be. My understanding is that the ethanol does help reduce eater buildup in the fuel system. So it would be good to run some gas with ethanol periodically.

Ethanol pulls moisture out of the atmosphere which can cause the alcohol to separate from the gas.

 

[Dirtman]

Thats why you put some isopropyl alcohol in the tank in the winter. The isopropyl stops the phase seperation of the ethanol/water and gasoline.

 

[sgtsandman]

If we had it readily available and bot at an ridiculous price, I would probably run it. The only places that sell it here are specialty stores for off road equipment and those into racing. The price of a 5 gallon can is insane.

I did stumble upon a station once driving out to Illinois. The fuel mileage I go was very good and the throttle response seemed to be much better.

 

[Curious Hound]

I usually run regular 89 octane. If i take the lawn equipment fuel cans to get filled with non-ethanol, i usually top off the truck with it. But thats all. Its pretty common around here and priced comparatively with 93octane .

 

[Dirtman]

Only place you can buy it here is the airport and the marinas for about 3.75 a gallon.

 

[Shran]

There are a bunch of stations that sell it around here. Usually in either 85 or 91 octane. It makes no difference as far as I can tell in regards to gas mileage or how the vehicle runs, just costs more.

I bought a gallon of 91 for my lawn equipment - Honda mower burned it just fine but it was awful in my Stihl saw and trimmer. Both of them would spit and sputter and bog down. Dumped the fuel out of those, refilled with normal fuel and they were back to normal. I don't know why but it was not good.

I've started using premixed fuel for my saws and trimmer, a gallon lasts me at least a year and never goes stale. If I was going to do a bunch of cutting I'd mix my own but usually that's not the case. Mower/tiller/sickle bar/pressure washer burn quite a bit so I just use whatever and run them dry at the end of the season.

 

[JMF661]

I ran 91 non-ethanol in my 5.7 tundra almost exclusively while living in Montana. Never noticed much, if any, difference between it and ethanol blended 91. Always ran premium, never tried it with 87. Like has been previously mentioned, the ethanol may help with removing moisture/water from the fuel system.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thats why 85_Ranger4x4 only runs ethanol free 87 octane gas in his small engines and a couple tanks of 87 octane ethanol free gas in his big carbed engines before they sit with ethanol free gas in the tank in the winter.

FIFY

Anything EFI I have never had a problem with so they get the cheap E10/E15 year 'round. They also do not hybernate like my carbed lawn equipment, tractors and Ranger. One tractor is a snow pusher but I still run straight gas in it thru winter.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I only run non-ethanol gas in my '02 Ranger 3.0L. My old mechanic told me the ethanol leaves far more carbon build up and crud in the cylinder heads. Walmart (Murphy Express) sells it as well as Maverick here in Colorado. The 24-7 gas stations sell it along I-70 through Kansas. The "Pure Gas" cellphone app show the nearest locations.

 

[Dirtman]

Never heard of ethanol relating in any way to carbon buildup...

 

[sgtsandman]

I usually run regular 89 octane. If i take the lawn equipment fuel cans to get filled with non-ethanol, i usually top off the truck with it. But thats all. Its pretty common around here and priced comparatively with 93octane .

I run 89 in all my small engine equipment only because Stihl requires it. Less different types of gas to keep around. I just take the 5 gallon can of 89 and dump it in the 1 gallon can for the fuel mix.

Speaking of which, I need to use up the fuel I have set aside for the chain saw so it doesn’t go stale.... that and actually run the saw for a bit to blow any build up out.

 

[19Walt93]

I had my 04 Ranger when E10 started showing up. On a highway trip running straight gasoline I could get 20 mpg, the same trip on E10 it dropped to 19 mpg. In cold weather when I backed out of my garage and got out to shut the door, the smell of E10 coming through a cold catalytic convertor would make a billy goat puke. We expend more energy making ethanol than it produces, adding it to our fuel was an entirely political decision. Brazil makes ethanol from sugar cane so it's economical and sensible for them.