Recently on a visit to Lancaster PA. We noticed the gas stations had signs posted that said “This gasoline contains no alcohol.” We noticed that our Subaru Forester ran better and got better MPG. We also met friends from Long Island there and they to noticed increase performance and MPG in their VW turbo station wagon. When we got back to New York and filled up with 10% alcohol/gasoline all improvement was lost. Does PA really have no alcohol in their gas?
In some states, gas retailers in agricultural areas are allowed to carry gasoline with no added ethanol so that older farm equipment can be safely fueled. I suspect that this is what you observed in the Lancaster area.
If you live in a non-agricultural area, I doubt if you would find ethanol-free gasoline, but regulations will vary from state to state, so it is not possible to give a blanket response that covers all areas of the country.
Mileage wise you’ll do better with straight gasoline. However actual performance should be better with E10 since it typically has more octane. This would become more evident on vehicles that are designed to operate on premium fuel, like your friend’s turbo VW.
However actual performance should be better with E10 since it typically has more octane.
Performance might be better, and even the mileage hit may be reduced due to higher octane [b] IF [/b] you are comparing it to lower octane gasoline and if the car maker higher octane than your would otherwise be buying.Sunoco stations in the Pittsburgh area sell gas with 10 percent alcohol.
I live on the NY side of the Pa/NY boarder and I have noticed that even though this is a farm area, corn/ beef/ dairy, all the gasoline is posted 10% alcohol. Next time I am on the PA side I am going to look more carefully at the pumps. When I was in Lancaster Co. PA, I was in the area of Paradise and Ronk PA, an agricultural area. I use 87 octane in my Subaru, Jeep and a 1983 Goldwing. My Goldwing, (4-carbs), seems to work better and is easier to start in hot weather with the non alcohol gas I buy in PA. It make sense what you said about agricultural gasoline needs. I use to use 91 octane in all my power equipment, commercial mowers,ATV,s, generator, pressure washer, saws, ect. I use #2 oil with PS cetane, anti gel additive in my 1L, 3 cyl. tractor. Since 10% alcohol was introduced I have found that 87 octane gas works fine in my power equipment. Thanks for your answer.
Some states and / or the EPA REQUIRE oxygenated gasoline in certain areas, “reformulated” gasoline…But if there is no REQUIREMENT to use it, then wholesalers can sell pure gasoline, which at todays prices is cheaper than adding the more expensive (now) alcohol. Lets not forget, the OIL companies are in the OIL business not the alcohol business. They don’t WILLINGLY give the alcohol producers 10% of their shelf space.
Most gas stations in PA, including in the Lancaster area, have E10. The stations with “pure” gasoline are few and far between.
Except for metropolitan Philadelphia, gas stations ae not required to sell gasoline with ethanol. They can still achieve octane levels with MTBE. Here’s the list for the US:
89-93 octane can be achieved without any alcohol or MTBE. 100 octane pure gasoline was sold by Amoco many years ago…
Trust me, the oil companies would not sell a drop of E-10 if they didn’t have to or want to. Those pumps are real estate and if you want 10% of the action be prepared to pay for it. Or build your own MV fueling stations.
I don’t know, but I would suspect that the Penna Liquor Control Board has something to do with this.
Except for metropolitan Philadelphia, gas stations ae not required to sell gasoline with ethanol. They can still achieve octane levels with MTBE.
And MANY areas are banning MTBE because of the pollution. The whole idea for oxygenating the gas was to reduce air-pollution. So they added MTBE…which did decrease air-pollution…but INCREASE ground pollution. MTBE is water soluble…AND it doesn’t biodegrade easily. It’s very very toxic. It was getting into municipals water supplies. Personally I think MTBE should be BANNED.
Nope . . . we have alcohol in some of our gasoline, many stations advertise “no-alcohol” gasoline as a selling point. Rocketman
And it has been in central MD for the reasons you cited.