Do you run ethanol free gas?

Discussion in 'MINI' started by mini on, Nov 3, 2010.

  1. mini on

    mini on New Member

    Jun 11, 2009
    20
    4
    0
    Ratings:
    +4 / 0 / -0
    I came upon this website that lists stations to buy non-ethanol gas. Check out Pure-Gas.org It seems to make a difference in mpg, power and runability in general.
     
  2. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

    May 5, 2009
    3,922
    401
    83
    stagehand/part time detailer
    Right here
    Ratings:
    +401 / 0 / -0
  3. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 1, 2009
    9,244
    3,802
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,863 / 0 / -1
    I checked Ohio and most of the stations are marina stations...no prices listed...boat gas is EXPENSIVE :eek6:
     
  4. geowit

    geowit New Member

    Oct 13, 2010
    15
    5
    3
    retired
    PA
    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    I was using a local Gulf station in Lebanon, PA but within the last month, they were forced to use ethanol. There was also a Shell station that was ethanol free. Same story with them. I was averaging about 30 mpg with the ethanol free Gulf, it dropped to 24 with the ethanol.

    Geo.
    '04 MCS IB/W
     
  5. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,714
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,916 / 1 / -0
    I get mine from Marathon on the corner of 5th ave. and Olentangy. Didn't see any ethanol sign on the pump island. Went in and talked to the owner who confirmed it was ethanol free.:D
     
  6. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 6, 2009
    7,422
    1,685
    113
    Ratings:
    +1,685 / 0 / -0
    That is not a "top tier brand" MM, so does it work with no problems. I ask because there is a CITGO near me that is pure gas. I wasn't sure about trying it, but I might on my next trip north.

    Jim
     
  7. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 1, 2009
    9,244
    3,802
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,863 / 0 / -1
    I use Marathon gas, usually from the station at Sawmill and Home Road. MM, I'll check with them (if and when they are free from selling Ohio Lottery tickets:incazzato:) and see if it's ethanol free because I haven't seen any signs there either. Marathon is a good option in Ohio being that they are based in Findley, Ohio.
     
  8. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,714
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,916 / 1 / -0
    Yeah.....
    This falls into the category of buyer beware.

    You can't go around with a gasoline "Test Tube" kit and do experiments out at the pump island without getting the "Pakistani Pump Jockey" all excited (not that there's anything wrong with being a Pakistani Pump Jockey).

    As far as the top tier gasoline list. Let's see what happens... Right now the requirement on this is for ethanol content to be no less than 8.0 and no more than 10.0 volume percent. When this goes to 15%, does BMW bail from the list of automotive manufacturers supporting top tier? What then?

    So to be on the "Top Tier" list, you must have 8 - 10% ethanol in the base fuel.

    I find it strange that Marathon isn't on the "Top Tier" list.
    Hmmmmm..... I wonder if it's because they might not be putting 8.0 - 10.0 % ethanol in their gas? It's a wonderment????

    So if BMW is taking a stand on 15% ethanol...... Is there a Diesel MINI in our future????
     
  9. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

    May 8, 2009
    1,593
    18
    0
    Sales Dude
    St. Louis, MO
    Ratings:
    +18 / 0 / -0
    Getting few and far between. Heading down to the dragon last month ran accross a "Delores Market" in the middle of TN with a big 'Ethanol Free' sign out front. After a eBrake induced power slide I took a flier that the storage tanks were fairly clean. Damn Augie was mighty happy and showed it with about a 3-4 MPG improvement.
     
  10. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    #10 Steve, Nov 4, 2010
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2010
    I found an ethanol notice on the pump at one of my favorite Shell stations many months ago. Didn't see it until the tank was almost full. When I asked (complained) about the change to the manager said she couldn't get ethanol-free anymore -- claimed to have tried -- and that I'd have to drive a couple counties away to find it. She was right. I can't find ethanol-free gas anywhere near me now.

    The other thing that bugs me about this is I remember when "gasahol" (as we used to call it) first came out many years ago and the gasahol was always cheaper than gas without alcohol...as it should be...but they didn't drop the prices here when they switched to the ethanol juiced stuff.....
     
  11. beaner

    beaner New Member

    May 5, 2009
    272
    44
    0
    Ratings:
    +44 / 0 / -0
    VP Racing Fuels is the only option available to me in south florida. my car likes it alot. especially when i give him the good high test stuff for track weekends (and a week before to let the dme adapt). i get much less knock sensor timing retard.
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 22, 2009
    5,559
    4,419
    113
    Male
    Overland Park, Ks
    Ratings:
    +5,003 / 1 / -0
    I would if there was any close to me. The only two places in my neck of the woods (thanks to Lotsie's map link) are one BP station about 30 miles away, and a grocery store chain about 5 miles closer - not exactly top tier stuff but both good, well run, high volume stores. If I'm that way it would be worth it to fill up there - definitely improves the fuel mileage.
     
  13. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 6, 2009
    7,422
    1,685
    113
    Ratings:
    +1,685 / 0 / -0
    I don't know if all CITGO stations are E-Free, but I will try a tank next Tuesday and give a report.

    Jim
     
  14. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,714
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,916 / 1 / -0
    Yeah.......
    The price all becomes a blur......
    The pump price changes daily, it's different by the freeway, it's different 5 blocks away, it's different with ethanol, it's different without ethanol, it's different when some fool blows something up in the mid-east. BP reported 1.5 billion in profit in the paper yesterday after their oil fiasco. So have you noticed food prices going up yet, being driven by the grain going into Ethanol production?:mad5:
     
  15. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

    May 8, 2009
    1,593
    18
    0
    Sales Dude
    St. Louis, MO
    Ratings:
    +18 / 0 / -0
    Side note-my John Birch Society brother who thinks most conservatives are a bunch of pussies refuse to buy Citgo cause it's owned by the Venezualan Gov't........
     
  16. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 6, 2009
    7,422
    1,685
    113
    Ratings:
    +1,685 / 0 / -0
    I read all that Tim and after giving it considerable thought, if it is E-Free, works and is not cost prohibitive, I'm buying some. :D

    Jim
     
  17. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 6, 2009
    7,422
    1,685
    113
    Ratings:
    +1,685 / 0 / -0
    I am the chief cook and bottle washer (by choice) and yes the food prices go up and down for no real reason, just like the price of gas.

    Jim
     
  18. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    Come to think of it, I saw price differences when I was driving cross country about a month ago. In at least a few states I stopped at stations where the mid-grade gas price was equal to or even less than the lowest grade (regular)...the mid-grade stuff had ethanol in it while the premium and regular didn't.
     
  19. Rooster

    Rooster New Member

    May 22, 2009
    113
    0
    0
    Systems Engineer
    West Hollywood, CA
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I checked out that website. There's not one single gas station listed in the entire state of California that's ethanol free. Sadness!

    At least there's 100 octane unleaded at a few gas pumps around these parts... I'm assuming those are ethanol free... but at $6.99 a gallon it's a bit pricey for all but track days!
     
  20. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

    May 8, 2009
    1,593
    18
    0
    Sales Dude
    St. Louis, MO
    Ratings:
    +18 / 0 / -0
    Right behind ya' at the pump brother. Communist Schomunist we're talking performance here.:cornut:
     

Share This Page