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Ethanol Free

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by PriusRos, Jul 12, 2013.

  1. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Are you referring to having to leave your credit card with the attendant or having to give your zip code? At a lot of stations here (MD) I have to enter my zip code when using a credit card. It's something to do with verifying that the credit card belongs to you.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The problem is I don't have a zip code. Funny: Oahu as this, Maui no.
     
  3. goliath1812

    goliath1812 Member

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    I had a similar but opposite experience when I was in Canada. Places that took debit (interac) cards would not accept my debit card, because in the USA, debit cards are the same as credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).

    But keeping on topic, I wish there was any kind of gas station around me that sold ethanol-free gas. There used to be one or two, but they seem to have disappeared. I would love to use it in my mower, but can't find any any more :(

    I had also filled up my Yaris with ethanol-free a few years ago when I found a station randomly driving around. I did get better MPGs (by about 2-3 if I recall), but it was quite expensive.
     
  4. MPGnutcase

    MPGnutcase Active Member

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    I have found it is a 8-10% boost in highway MPG
     
  5. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Can you post some numbers? i.e., e10 vs. non-ethanol mpg?
     
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I assume you are saying E0 is better MPG compared to E10
     
  7. MPGnutcase

    MPGnutcase Active Member

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    YES I am..................:cool:
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Well as much as 10% deficit could explain Consumer Reports lousy 44 MPG on the PiP
     
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Nope. I still got 50 MPG with E10.
     
  10. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    These anecdotal reports are really not going to let us conclude anything about E0, other than perhaps that the people who buy the stuff at a stiff markup need a little science education.

    E.g.,
    Today my drive to work was 63.6 mpg, but yesterday it was 72.4, both on the same tank of E10. Guess it must be the extra dust from another day without a car cleaning ?
     
  11. Roland1555

    Roland1555 Senior Member

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    This used to work Mendel; when asked for a zip code enter the 3 numbers for your postal code, then add 2 zero's for a total of 5 numbers.

    Roland
     
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  12. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Yikes if dirt on the car causes low MPG I am dead in the water. We are doomed with anecdotal and so I assume 3% loss for E10. At least I *could* clean my car and do that MPG test; E0 I have no easy access to. Here in DC we are now getting anti-adding-more-ethanol (eg; anti E15) radio ads, presumably *someone* thinks Congress/EPA is pushing that soon. Believe Congress did already mandate adding more ethanol from advanced celluosic processes, but maybe in the lack of advanced ethanol production, I suppose Congress might go along with just adding more corn ethanol.
     
  13. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I do hope you know my dust example was meant to be facetious, something everybody would recognize as nonsense. For some reason E0 has this life in conspiracy circles that will just no die, even though a drop in mpg by 10% from E10 is just as silly.

    And yes, a 3% drop in MPG using E10 compared to E0 is "just about right."
     
  14. MPGnutcase

    MPGnutcase Active Member

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    all that I can find in Illinois is E10 bot Rpad Ranger in Wisconsin has pure E0 when I am up that way I get it and it makes a 10% better MPG on my Company Ford Flex
     
  15. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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  16. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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  17. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    I have one station in town selling non-ethanol, 9 miles away, I use it! :D
    Thats all we need is more ethanol E15 :cry:
     
  18. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Well, the last time I filled up, the station where I've been buying the E0 charged 17 cents more than the regular E10 ($3.77 vs. 3.60) whereas the week before they only charged 10 cents more. The price of regular also went up 4 cents. However, that particular station - Liberty in Charles Town, WV - is cheaper than most of the other stations in the area and so the E0 is about the same price as the E10 at some of the other stations.
     
  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Well the E15 is apparently hard to do right now nationally because all the distribution needs to be upgraded etc. What they are trying to do is have blender gaso pumps where you can dial in what E% you want. US auto makers are making new 2013/2014 cars E15 compatible.

    Yes I saw the Charles Town on the map...that would be one my closer E0 still an hour.

    I am confused about who has E0 and who has E10:
    I think you have E10 if:
    (1) You are in EPA ozone non-attainment zone requiring RFG (most metro areas); and/or
    (2) Your state may require E10 even if you are not in ozone non-attainment zone
    (3) any other reasons? Such as distributors just give your area E10 since it is more readily available?
     
  20. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    Lets not forget the U.S. EPA testing for new vehicles is conducted with gasoline engines with
    0% Ethanol. If the benefits of 10% Ethanol from the government standpoint is so great why is
    10% or 15% Ethanol not used in all testing of gasoline engine vehicles for EPA fuel mileage standards?

    I am sure it is any easy answer but having graduated from public school I just can't quite figure this one out.....