Boat US article on ethanol fuels

Just got this in my email. Good article starting on page 40.

Boat US May 2011

Interesting!

Koz

Too bad the author did not ask about the mileage losses in ethanol fuels or where to get fuel without that additive.

BTW, a friend of mine started testing engine performance with none ethanol fuels. He is definitely noticing an increase in mpg...

Originally Posted by ng2951

Too bad the author did not ask about the mileage losses in ethanol fuels or where to get fuel without that additive.

BTW, a friend of mine started testing engine performance with none ethanol fuels. He is definitely noticing an increase in mpg...

That effect is well documented. Ethanol has less energy in the molecule than gas. The production of ethanol also takes more energy than you eventually get from its combustion. BUT MTBE, the previous octane modifier, is a persistent poison so something different was needed.

Originally Posted by ng2951

Too bad the author did not ask about the mileage losses in ethanol fuels or where to get fuel without that additive.

BTW, a friend of mine started testing engine performance with none ethanol fuels. He is definitely noticing an increase in mpg...

I think there is "rule of thumb"; if the fuel has 10% ethanol it will lose 10% fuel mileage.

Koz

I think there is "rule of thumb"; if the fuel has 10% ethanol it will lose 10% fuel mileage

I agree. I’ve put a lot of mileage on my TM the last couple of years and have been keeping close tabs on the fuel mileage. I always at lose an average of ten percent in MPG whenever I’m in an area that has ethanol in the gas.