Did an experiment: Ethanol, versus non-ethanol

[Steven Pederson]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Decided to do a little experiment to see what my MPG difference is between running the tank of ethanol E10 fuel found in all regular unleaded, and running a tank of non ethanol in non-oxy premium fuel. Test car was the 2002 Chevy Malibu with 230,000 miles; both tanks were burned driving to and from work only. Weather was about the same during the two tanks. [/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]First tank: Ethanol: 302 Miles burning 10.6 gallons of fuel: 28.4mpg.[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Second tank: Non Ethanol: 330.4 miles burning 10.2 gallons of fuel: 32.4 MPG. [/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]That is a difference of: 14% in the vehicle. [/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Now, I don’t believe that fuel alone made this much of a difference, the two tanks were burned with driving to and from work only, I tried to drive the same, but I think subconsciously I may have been easier on the pedal with the non-oxy….. I also tried to get as much in the tank as possible when I filled the car, I also filled both tanks up at around ¼ tank.[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]So, if fuel was purchased today, ethanol it would cost: $.12/ mile: non ethanol: $.11/mile.[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]I’m thinking as long as they are within 10% of each other at the station, I’ll fill with the non-oxy. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[PJM]

Steve

Good Information and your mileage is better then the EPA on that vehicle which is 20/29. I have owned several V-6 and never got close of 30mpg.......

[Jerryv]

How much did you pay for the non-oxy? It looks like premium is usually about 20 cents a gallon more, but the non-oxy is probably higher. 3.69 vs 3.89 is only a 5.5% increase in cost.

28.4MPG x .12 = $3.41/gal

32.4MPG x .11 = $3.56/gal

Roundoff?



Jerry

[T Mac]

The percentage you give has been about like my experience, too.

[Phil T]

My 1T pickup and my wife's Honda Accord both suffer a 20% mileage penalty with 10% ethanol. We actually burn more petroleum with ethanol.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

I have always heard 15% loss with ETOH fuel. Looks like you are right on.

[bigdaddyguns]

Ethanol has 67% of the energy of gasoline for equal volume (gallon) so there will be a drop in mpg when it is mixed in. I ran some tests on my own car years ago and for that particular vehicle I would get 15-22% less mpg with E85 vs gas (E10). Your results are within expectations. Bottom line E85 has to be at least 25% cheaper than regular unleaded for there to be a cost benefit.

[feklar]

Let me throw a wrench in it:

Ethanol: largely from US crops refined in US with lots of US jobs along the way.

Gasoline: largely from outside the US with a lot less US jobs along the way.


It is like that commercial which goes something like this "so I put on my shoes made in China, my jeans made in Indonesia, go get in my car made in Germany, fuel with gas produced in the Middle East, go to the coffee shop and get coffee grown in Columbia, and use my computer made in China and try and fail to find a good job in the USA."

[Steven Pederson]

[QUOTE=Jerryv;1425863]How much did you pay for the non-oxy? It looks like premium is usually about 20 cents a gallon more, but the non-oxy is probably higher. 3.69 vs 3.89 is only a 5.5% increase in cost.

28.4MPG x .12 = $3.41/gal

32.4MPG x .11 = $3.56/gal

Roundoff?



Jerry[/QUOTE]

Your right, i need to go back to the same station and see what the difference is, i filled up about two weeks apart, so the prices had changed, need to look at current prices for both.

[Steven Pederson]

[QUOTE=bigdaddyguns;1425969]Ethanol has 67% of the energy of gasoline for equal volume (gallon) so there will be a drop in mpg when it is mixed in. I ran some tests on my own car years ago and for that particular vehicle I would get 15-22% less mpg with E85 vs gas (E10). Your results are within expectations. Bottom line E85 has to be at least 25% cheaper than regular unleaded for there to be a cost benefit.[/QUOTE]


My test was between E10 and Non-ethanol.