15% ethanol!?!?

[k0ua]

The local distributor of non-ethanol gas in my area charges $4 and up per gallon no matter what the price of oil is. Unfortunately, he has a monopoly on the market. I am weaning myself from gasoline powered equipment.

It is $2.24 per gallon here for the premium without ethanol. It goes up and down with the rest of the fuel.. regular 10% is $1.77 this morning.

 

[Copperhead]

Yeah, MO has generally had lower fuel taxes than many other surrounding states. In Iowa, we got an additional 10 cents on a gallon last year. Premium in my area is around $2.62, Regular E10 at around $2.09, ethanol free regular at around $2.41. But at least, for those that desire it, ethanol free is available all over the place, but they do price gouge for it. Ethanol and gasoline are running at almost the same commodity market price. There is no market reason for ethanol free and E10 to be different in price. We all like to blame stations for price gouging on fuel, and most times they are not. But this is one instance where they clearly are with no excuse.

 

[5030]

Glad my Ford Focus gets 39.5 and it's Flex Fuel, not that I'd even run E85.

 

[Copperhead]

A few years ago when fuel was considerably higher, my pickup lived on E85. Averaged $1 per gallon less than anything else. Even with the lower fuel economy, it was still a win. I base all my fuel decisions on cost per mile, not just mpg. Right now at the current pricing, it is getting E15 most of the time. Not quite sure how they figure the pricing, but E15 is 5-10 cents lower in my area than E10 regular, and 40 cents lower than ethanol free regular. I get roughly same mpg on E15 as I do E10. E85 is approaching a 60 cent spread from E10. Once it hits 70-80 cent lower, then will consider using E85 again.

 

[Patches]

Do you consider the MUCH shorter oil/filter change intervals in your cost calculations?

 

[Copperhead]

I haven't changed anything regarding my oil change intervals. I like to do a complete chassis/component greasing of my 2500 pickup every 5000 miles with a complete undercarriage inspection. I just go ahead and change the oil and filter at that time. Doesn't matter if I use non ethanol, E10, E15, E20, E30, or E85 fuel. My pickup has to deal with gravel roads/off road frequently, so I like to grease at 5000 miles. I have a fumoto drain valve on the oil pan, like all my engines, so a quick flip to drain, a quick change of a filter, 6 qts of oil is no big deal. I use the same oil I get from my oil supplier, delivered free to my house and filters in bulk at very cost effective pricing.

ILSAC GF-5 rating has better protection for higher than E10 fuel than either API SN or dexos1 by a significant amount. And the oil I use is API SN, ILSAC GF-5, and dexos1 rated. No worries.

 

[5030]

A few years ago when fuel was considerably higher, my pickup lived on E85. Averaged $1 per gallon less than anything else. Even with the lower fuel economy, it was still a win. I base all my fuel decisions on cost per mile, not just mpg. Right now at the current pricing, it is getting E15 most of the time. Not quite sure how they figure the pricing, but E15 is 5-10 cents lower in my area than E10 regular, and 40 cents lower than ethanol free regular. I get roughly same mpg on E15 as I do E10. E85 is approaching a 60 cent spread from E10. Once it hits 70-80 cent lower, then will consider using E85 again.

My Ford manual recommends running a tankful of e10 ocassionally (if running e85). Why I don't know

I change my oil every 5 in my pickup, but it's 12 quarts (3 gallon) per change... It's a diesel. The drain oil gets recycled into my small engines and then to the recycler, in my case, my waste oil furnace.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here is a link from my Boating Group about pending action and public comment about 15% mandate...

http://www.capwiz.com/boatus/issues/alert/?alertid=72776626

 

[Copperhead]

The only problem with "the sky is falling" thoughts about E15, E10 will still be readily available. Even the EPA has E15 pumps specifically labeled that is not to be used in pre 2001 vehicles and such. Some folks seem to get the idea that E15 will be the only thing available. And for a boating group to worry about it, seems like an enlarged paranoia gland. The EPA is not mandating across the board E15 for everything. Only wanting to mandate that it be available the same way E10 is. More about getting more pumps with E15 online. Depending on area, even ethanol free gas continues to be readily available. I choose to use the E15 regularly, only because there is no mpg change from using E10 in my pickup, and it is 5 to 10 cents a gallon cheaper.

 

[ultrarunner]

Zero on ethanol free gas availability for road use here...

It has played havoc already with every antique auto that has a fuel tank sealer with some being 100% problem free going back the to 70's...

Absolutely criminal the EPA does not mandate ethanol free also be available at the pump...

It has already cost me many thousands of dollars in fuel system damage.

I would gladly pay a premium to be free of it... but $30 to $40 a gallon is the cost of True Fuel and paying $400 to fill the tank of my antique is ludicrous...

Just about all older gas equipment is vented... which is another problem... took the 1938 Bantam to to a charity 4H car show and it would not fire... always runs like a top... drained the fuel, let it settle and found a clear demarcation of water and fuel...

I've been in the auto side of thing 40+ years and NEVER had fuel related problems prior...