Is CA E10 gas worse than any other?

wavinwayne

wavinwayne

Joined
Jan 6, 2005
Messages
9,614
Location
North Alabama
I came across a video the other day where a small engine repair guy claimed that E10 gas from California specifically goes "rancid" faster and worse than E10 gas from other states. Is there anything unique about the E10 gas blend in CA that would make it particularly bad, especially if it sits for several months? Let's assume the fuel is in a sealed canister or a piece of OPE stored at least in a covered shed.
 
I don't see how, US fuel all has the same standard, controlled by the EPA not the states.

Also, Ethanol does not go bad. Once blended it does start to degrade. Humidity is one thing that can cause problems, which in California I would guess on average their humidity is quite low.

E10 can be "up to 10%" ethanol. The allocations are by refiner. Unless somehow in California they all end up being 10%, where elsewhere possibly there less?

Sounds like a youtube fib to me?
 
The Critic said:
A few years back, a friend tested some of the local fuel. Supposedly one brand was consistently testing at 15% Ethanol and all of the others were at 10%.
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My understanding is the more ethanol in the mix, the greater the chance for the fuel to take on water. Is that correct?
 
wavinwayne said:
I wasn't sure is CA was allowed to do their own thing or not.
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California does in fact use a special blend of "Reformulated" gasoline. There is an extra step. It reduces the vapor pressure so it evaporates less. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/fuels-enforcment-program/california-reformulated-gasoline

Other states use the same type of process between winter / summer gasoline blends - or a similar process. The reformulated thing goes way back to the 90's - and my understanding is that the standard non CA blend isn't much different anymore, dependant on the seasonality of the gas.

Not sure how it would have anything to do with ethanol and going bad. Not something I have ever heard before.
 
California most likely requires lower vapor pressue gas year 'round. This likely has little to do with ethanol, since it has a relatively low RVP to begin with. California likely has banned some chemical that may retard bacterial growth in the ethanol that the rest of the country uses. Just speculating here.

Having said that, I don't know all of the chemicals that go into ethanol to "denature" it. I know drip gas (casinghead gas distillates) was used at one time, and it smells awful. But California, as we all know, likes to set it's own rules.

I DO know that ANY ethanol storage tank anywhere in the rest of the USA will always have black staining on any tank painted white. It was explained to me that any vapors coming from the ethanol tend to condense and mix with water which in turn exacerbates bacterial and mold growth on the outside surface of the tank. Even tanks painted with the tried and true CHALKING paint is not immune to the black mold!
 
I have to say that it is true. Having moved from CA less than 3 years ago to another state which has ethanol adulterated fuel, there is a difference. Far less damage here on old fuel cases coming through the shop. Fuel here stores better also. Something in the CA fuel causes it to go bad very quickly and it seems more corrosive when it does. Just another line on the ever growing list of why we left.
 
Opelman said:
I have to say that it is true. Having moved from CA less than 3 years ago to another state which has ethanol adulterated fuel, there is a difference. Far less damage here on old fuel cases coming through the shop. Fuel here stores better also. Something in the CA fuel causes it to go bad very quickly and it seems more corrosive when it does. Just another line on the ever growing list of why we left.
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One reason I wondered if CA gas really was worse is because I ran my riding mower and my first weed trimmer on E10 gas for many years in AL without any issues. I didn't even drain the gas over the "winter" here or use any fuel stabilizer and both pieces of equipment fired right up every Spring. I use E0 only nowadays but that's mostly a best practices thing. My bet is on what @JohnnyG speculated about CA gas lacking some bacteria-retarding chemical, resulting in the fuel going rancid and gumming things up more quickly.
 
SC Maintenance said:
I don't see how, US fuel all has the same standard, controlled by the EPA not the states.

Also, Ethanol does not go bad. Once blended it does start to degrade. Humidity is one thing that can cause problems, which in California I would guess on average their humidity is quite low.

E10 can be "up to 10%" ethanol. The allocations are by refiner. Unless somehow in California they all end up being 10%, where elsewhere possibly there less?

Sounds like a youtube fib to me?
Click to expand...
I hope that becomes true soon. Unfortunately it's not at the moment. CA in fact has their own blend.
 
John R said:
The US Gasoline Requirements maps are here: https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural...s-and-refining/fuels/us-gasoline-requirements
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Pretty much what I expected. California sets their own (lower) RVP standard and requires reformulated gas, apparently all year long.
Just one more reason that CA gasoline is more expensive. In order to comply with those mandates, an entire distribution system must be customized to deliver products there.
Probably also how Gavin can afford his new mansion.
 
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