fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I've noticed my car has been getting slower. All the gas the last few months have been the new 10% Ethanol type. My car just feels slower now. My IMRC is working, car runs fine, nothing wrong with it as I can tell, but the power after v-tec just doesn't seem to be there like it was.
The only thing I can think of is this gas change.

spdy0001

are you sure the Ethanol is new? In my area the pumps have read "May contain up to 10% Ethanol" for years now . This is typically only added in the winter though.

If it is new then yes it will be robbing some power. Other things this time of year will make your car slower as well such as warmer and more humid weather.

disgruntlednut

Adding ethanol to gasoline is an attempt to clear up the air and the EPA has made its use mandatory from city to city depending on how bad pollution is in the area. Some people have been forced to use the blend for years while some of ya'll lucky people can still get gas without ethanol blended in.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

No it wasn't in gas down here until January. And it's always warm & humid here as well.

TheWeez

I have a couple friends that believe that 10% ethanol gas gives less fuel mileage and I believed the same thing til I tracked the 2 for several months and saw no different.

fsttyms1

I see about 30-60 miles less per tank with 10%. When all possible i try to avoid it.

CL6

Ethanol is poltical BS and it not only causes food prices to rise but contains less energy than gasoline does so your fuel economy decreased as does the power you get from your engine.

LukeaTron

If your car is running right (mainly meaning the O2 sensors are working correctly) you should see a dip in economy with ethanol. Ethanol has less chemical energy per unit volume of straight gasoline. The ECU should be adjusting the mixture so that's it running as close to stoichiometric as it can safely get it.

I can't find the numbers right now but I believe 10% ethanol is around 11:1 for stoichiometric vs 12.5:1 for straight gasoline.

So fuzzy, have you seen a drop in MPG along with the drop in power?

TheWeez

Don't worry, we'll all see a drop when it becomes federally mandated to use 10% ethanol.

smokendsm

iTrader: (1)

ethanol has been here for a year or two as well. pissed me off when i first started seeing the stickers on pumps. I guess I wouldn't be as upset if it somehow helped maintain gas prices. So not only are we getting less octanol, but we're also paying more for it.

rp_guy

ethanol will lean out your car when it hits the o2 sensors (about 5% leaner); from this i would assume the ecu will compensate by giving a richer mix. bad for FI, bad mileage for regular cars. it's a toss if the ecu will retard timing, though.

google!

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I don't keep track at all of gas mileage so I couldn't tell you. The car runs fine. With only 69K miles the O2 sensors are likley fine.
The power drop I have noticed when dropping a gear or 2 to pass. When the car is in v-tec area & pulling it just seems slower then it has been before.
May have to get the neo sooner then later to mess with fuel maps.

disgruntlednut

Couldn't agree with you more.

jacked18

I have noticed a decrease in fuel economy when using gas with up to 10%. I live in PA and all the Sunoco stations have it so I try to avoid using it