# BTU content of the various fuel blends **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** fuel-economy\ **Created:** [July 24, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153 "2008-07-24T17:08:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@Cadman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cadman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/1 "2008-07-24T17:08:58Z")
Is there a place that lists the BTU content of the various fuel blends used around the country in the summer and winter? For instance in the Kansas City area the EPA requires a special summer blend. Since I work in that area but live outside of it, I would like to know if it is better to go with the non-EPA blend. I am more interested in BTU’s as Octane levels don’t necessarily translate into better MPG’s. I am experimenting now, but it requires a slight detour to get the non-EPA blend and I am not sure I am saving anything. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/2 "2008-07-24T17:56:24Z")
Octane does not relate to BTUs; it just a measure of resistance to knock. High octane gas has no more heat content than regular; that’s why it’s a waste of money if your car does not need it. The difference in summer and winter blends is mostly in the volatility; this is important for cars with carburetors to make them start easier; less important for cars with fuel injection. I would forget about summer or winter blends and just tank what’s available; your DRIVING STYLE will determine mostly what mileage you get. Heavy fuels, like diesel, have a higher heat content per gallon. But only a deisel can get this energy out. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/3 "2008-07-24T18:06:19Z")
Doc’s right. The only thing you might benefit from is ethanol content. Ask your stations whether they’re using E10. If you’re lucky, one might not be, and that should give you a slight (about 3%) mpg boost. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/4 "2008-07-24T20:34:30Z")
ethanol … E10. … should give you a slight (about 3%) mpg boost. Why? As I understand it E10 has a lower energy content. It should give reduced mileage. I seem to recall a lot of people complaining about it. (I run diesel, so I don’t do ethanol, we just get the lower energy winter blends to reduce our winter mileage.) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/5 "2008-07-24T20:40:04Z")
I guess I stated it poorly - if you can avoid E10, you’ll get about 3% higher mpgs. I can’t avoid it around here. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/6 "2008-07-24T23:20:40Z")
BTU’s per pound: Gasoline, 19,000 Ethanol, 12,600 Methanol, 9,600 Nitromethane, only 5,000, that’s why dragsters burn so much of it, on the other hand, a gallon of nitro weighs over 9 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![hilander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@hilander](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hilander)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/7 "2008-07-25T12:31:26Z")
no you stated this fine to begin with- - -I understood and agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Cadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@Cadman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cadman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/btu-content-of-the-various-fuel-blends/17153/8 "2008-07-25T15:55:07Z")
That’s what I see with my 89 Tracer 1.6l. A 1-2 mpg drop when using E-10. I try to avoid it but in Missouri it is mandated except for Premium. I sometimes fill up at a Caseys just outside of the EPA mandated anti smog blend zone to save a little. However the clerk doesn’t know what’s in their gas and it’s not marked on the pump. They sell Regular and Super Unleaded, sometimes for the same price.