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Post by freezerfiller on May 5, 2020 11:32:43 GMT -6
I've been driving quite a bit lately for work and I've noticed the last two fill ups that my truck has gotten significantly better fuel economy. I suspect since oil is at an all time low and ethanol is at an all time high due to sanitizer needs, that in the 43 states that don't require ethanol to be in gasoline, the ethanol has been replaced by good ol' cheap gasoline. And while gasoline is in the $1.50 range here, ethanol free gas is still up around $2.79. I may go buy a gallon for the mower and see if I can do a water absorption test to determine if there is any ethanol in there and if not, time to fill up the boat!
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985crabs
Captain
2000 V1900 Bay Series, Yamaha 150 Carb. 2
Posts: 1,317
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Post by 985crabs on May 5, 2020 11:41:49 GMT -6
Interesting hypothesis, how do you plan to do a water absorption test?
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Post by freezerfiller on May 5, 2020 15:33:50 GMT -6
Put about 1.5" of water in a water bottle, draw a line at the level. Pour gas up close to the top, cap it and shake it. If the water level rises above the line, ethanol is present. If it doesn't, it is not. Unfortunately Louisiana is one of the 7 states that requires Ethanol to be in the gas. Here in GA, it is optional. The good news is that Louisiana only requires 2%
Only seven states--Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington--have mandates that require ethanol to be blended with the fuel supply.
Louisiana and Washington require ethanol to make up 2 percent of the total volume of fuel sold, while the other states specify E10--a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.
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985crabs
Captain
2000 V1900 Bay Series, Yamaha 150 Carb. 2
Posts: 1,317
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Post by 985crabs on May 5, 2020 15:39:49 GMT -6
Fancy. The nuns taught you all of that?
What am I buying when I pull up to the No E pump here in LA? Sign says 'No Ethanol'. Are they BS'ing me?
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Post by freezerfiller on May 5, 2020 15:43:13 GMT -6
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Post by freezerfiller on May 5, 2020 15:44:58 GMT -6
No, off road/marine fuel is exempt from the ethanol requirement. But here they are charging an unethical surcharge for it.
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Post by freezerfiller on May 5, 2020 15:46:41 GMT -6
Fancy. The nuns taught you all of that? What am I buying when I pull up to the No E pump here in LA? Sign says 'No Ethanol'. Are they BS'ing me? If there was one thing the nuns knew, it was ethanol properties!  |
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Post by gnrphil on May 5, 2020 16:46:43 GMT -6
Ok just done a crude test in a pickle jar with 87 octane fuel, water level didn't appear to have risen but the fuel is cloudy. I'll leave it over night and see how it looks tomorrow.
I think you might be onto something Freezer.
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985crabs
Captain
2000 V1900 Bay Series, Yamaha 150 Carb. 2
Posts: 1,317
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Post by 985crabs on May 6, 2020 8:42:07 GMT -6
I'm going to have to try this. My price differential is only $.30 between E and No E, but there is a principal at stake and I burn a fair amount between my equipment and my boat.
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Post by gnrphil on May 6, 2020 9:50:16 GMT -6
Looks like Freezer is right, assuming my test was reasonably accurate, there is no ethanol in the regular 87 gas I bought two weeks ago. I need to go get some premium and test that, all I can get around here in non ethanol is 87.
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Post by freezerfiller on May 6, 2020 15:59:03 GMT -6
I tested the station closest to my work today and it contains ethanol. I will re-test the last station I filled my truck with and see what's going on there tomorrow.
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Post by freezerfiller on May 6, 2020 16:00:23 GMT -6
 The line is where the water was before I added the gas and shook it up. You can see the phase separation line is about a half inch higher now.. |
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Post by gnrphil on May 6, 2020 16:13:07 GMT -6
Here's mine from yesterday, you can just see the red line where the water was filled too.  |
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Post by Juan on May 6, 2020 16:28:27 GMT -6
Maybe they need to run out of the ethanol gas that's already in the tanks before the non ethanol shows up. I'll wait to see the results on another test or two before I get any but it sure sounds promising.
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Post by freezerfiller on May 6, 2020 18:49:09 GMT -6
I just checked the station that I filled up last time, and it still has ethanol. I guess this myth is busted. Glad you found some Phil. I bet it is coming, it only makes sense. Whatever, if I keep testing, I need to get me a test tube. I lose a cup and a half of good gas with these water bottles..
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