Quote:
Originally Posted by shultice24
Here in Iowa, super unleaded (10% ethanol) is usually about 8-12 cents a gallon cheaper than the regular unleaded blend (I'm guessing due to many ethanol plants in the region). I'm not sure if this is the case for many of you or not, but I was just curious as to which blend you fill up with?
Naturally, the ethanol blend is probably the most popular here since it's the cheapest, and that's always what I used to put in my car. A few weeks ago I switched to regular unleaded our of curiosity. While I had been averaging 33-35 mpg, I got 37 on the last tank. Obviously I'll need to try it over a handful of fill-ups to know for sure, but if that increase holds, that probably makes up the price difference.
While the ethanol industry insists otherwise, I've also heard from a few sources that the ethanol-blend might be a bit harder on the engine.
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In nearly all tests, it's shown that ethanol blends burn less efficiently than non-ethanol blends. It's not that the ethanol is any
harder on your engine, it simply does not get as good of a combustion as regular 100% gasoline, and therefore less fuel efficient.
When I fill up with a 10% ethanol blend, I notice about an average 3% drop (1mpg) in my mileage. However, Florida (or my county, or someone) has mandated a 10% blend at all pumps, so it's not even an option for me.
The best way to figure out which is best for you is just to test it. See what mileage you get on 3-4 tanks of regular gasoline vs. the mileage on 3-4 tanks of the ethanol blend. Look at how much $$ you save buying the ethanol blend vs. buying gas, and how much $$ you save from better fuel economy using the regular gasoline vs. the ethanol blend. Just pick the one that is better for you.
Most likely, however, the difference is probably negligible.... From what you've said, with the ethanol blend you save about 4% of cost but lose about 4% of fuel economy, so it's just about a wash.