STA-BILŽ

The comments about the efficiency of E10 vs. standard non-ethanol gas are absolutely correct. E10 is about 3.5% less efficient than ethanol free gas.

jz78817

really all depends on where the ethanol is blended.

cruisin5268d

Or, how much of the cost of ethanol is subsidized by our dear leaders

danzcool

It's supply and demand. Congress mandated a certain level of ethanol usage in the fuel supply, since there are few cars using E85, the refiners have to put that ethanol somewhere or face fines, therefore they aren't producing much that isn't blended for their own financial reasons, and what they do produce they sell at a premium.

ghunt

I still remember, not that long ago, when 93 was ethanol-free...oh that sweet smell.

As far as I know I can't even get no-ethanol gas within an hour of where I'm at, I think there's two or three stations in the whole state that actually sell it.

When my wife and I drove down to myrtle beach back in October I saw one station selling ethanol-free 87 octane for $4 a gallon (and at that time regular 87 was around $2.70 or so down there). Ridiculous.

Don't know the percentage but it's a lot.

In fact a year or two ago, there were concerns about the fact that so many of the big farmers in the Midwest had started growing corn for the ethanol subsidies rather than their regular food crops. Of course, then the government started cutting some of the subsidies so that wasn't as much of an issue.

ticopowell

I agree... but with the corn subsidies it is cheaper to sell the ethanol than actual gas.

I used ethanol free gas for about 3 months, and I'm sure it was because of my changed driving habits (moved from Ca to Ok) but I didn't see any improvement in gas mileage or power... but it's also been cold out so there are too many factors to really tell what's affecting the mileage.