Gasoline Octane and E10 Ethanol Blend Fuels
Important E10 Ethanol Fuel Precaution:
Ethanol alcohol fuel blends expire in less than 90 days;
Studies have shown that in only a few weeks, alcohol fuels can absorb enough moisture from high humidity environment to phase separate.
Octane will drop when fuel phases separates...
If you are not monitoring or "testing" your gas for alcohol and water content, we recommend replacement of gas in your fuel tank at least every 2-3 weeks to avoid alcohol and water related engine problems.
Gas retailers that sell lower ethanol blends (5% or less) whill remain stable much longer. If you have experienced problems with gas water absorption, test gas at the pump and chose a brand with lowest ethanol content or no alcohol.
Alcohol blend fuels become contaminated by water dilution (phase separation) very quickly. When this occurs, gasoline octane of the fuel in the tank may frop as much as 3 points...
Protect your engines from purchase of lean or diluted fuel (low octane)...
Tests fuel for alcohol and water content.
Inexpensive. Re-usable. Simple. Easy. Accurate. Fast!
Simple, easy, accurate. Mix small amounts water and fuel from pump or tank into the test tube included, shake to mix the contents. Wait a few minutes until settled. An increase in the amount of water on the gauge indicates that alcohol is present in the fuel. The gauge will also indicate the percentage of alcohol. View testing procedure and instructions.
Fuel that tests greater than 10% alcohol is "bad" and should not be used in conventional engines. Some motors (airplanes and certain marine engines) can NOT use fuel that contains alcohol. Check with the motor manufacturer for fuel recommendations.
Alcohol Fuel Test Kit Information - FUEL TESTERS Contact Information
By 2008, most gasoline stations have switched to ethanol-blended fuels, replacing MTBE, for oxygenating fuel. The gas pumps are not required to disclose that gasoline contains ethanol alcohol in almost all states!
Ethanol is an Alcohol Fuel...
Ethanol is an alcohol renewable fuel, made from corn or grains, which is used to oxygenate gasoline fuel at the pumps. Ethanol is hygroscopic (will absorb water), and is an excellent solvent (dissolves materials). See About Ethanol Fuels - Ethanol History And - What is gasoline and E10?
Due to ethanol's affinity for water, phase separation and water contamination occurs very quickly.
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An octane number is a measure of gasoline's ability to resist pre-ignition, also known as "knocking" or "pinging".
Octane is a rating, similar to a ratio of measurement, not a substance chemical or product you can add to gas. Determining octane measurements involves a complex methodology.
Many wrongly believe that high octane gas will improve the "power and performance" of an engine. Many fuel additves, known as "octane enhancers" are sold with promise of increasing engine power and speed. What's important is to run on the correct octane gasoline, suitable for your engine's fuel delivery system.
Today, ethanol is the primary ingredient in gasoline that determines octane.
Because the U.S. has banned or limited use of many octane-enhancing ingredients in recent years due to toxicity, ethanol has become the primary octane enhancer found in gasoline and additives. The dilemma with ethanol is that it readily attracts and absorbs water.
Prior octane enhancers, such as TEL (tetra ethyl lead) and MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) and ETBE did not have this negative water-absorbing side effect. MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl) has also been used in octane boosters, but it's use has been limited due to concern that it damages catalytic converters.
Gas containing ethanol (e10) still has the octane listed - While "Pure" ethanol has an octane of about 113.
While it's true that pure ethanol has a higher octane number, E10 gas sold at public pumps does not have an octane higher than conventional gasoline. (Chose grade of fuel at pump for octane you prefer or require E.G. 87, 89, 91 or 93).
When fuel containing ethanol absorbs moisture the octane reading can dramatically decrease.
E10 Fuel that has experienced water contamination (W/C) and phase separation (P/S) will decrease octane about 2-3 octane points...
Most refer to this as "lean fuel" or "diluted fuel".
Example:
If you purchased fuel with an 87 octane level, after W/C and P/S will decrease to only 84, (an unsafe level for most engines).
Proper management when using alcohol-blend fuels will avoid many of these problems.
Some people chose to purchase a higher level octane blend when purchasing E10 fuel - to prevent octane from reaching a dangerously low level if fuel contaminates.
To avoid octane dropping to unsafe levels - Always purchase high quality fuel, follow necessary precautions, and refill tank often.
Replacing fuel in your tank every 1-2 weeks will usually prevent the occurence of PS and WC.
http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_engine_precautions.html
Running on gas with the appropriate octane rating will offer best performance and increase the useful life of the engine.
Quik-Check and portable ethanol fuel testers will help you to determine water and ethanol content of gasoline. More information
With E10, avoid octane boosters and octane-enhancing additives that contain ethanol and other primary alcohols...View List
Check your STATE ETHANOL LABELING LAWS
Portable Octane
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Everything you need to know to safely manage ethanol & E10 gasoline...
