Oxygenated gasoline

Whimsey · Nov 30, 2004

Living in Northern NJ we are "forced" to use oxygenated gas. Our's has MTBE as the oxygenator. Previously it was only used in the winter but a number of years ago it became a year round curse. I knew you lost some mpg with oxygenated gas, but I never realized how badly until yesterday. I had to go to Lancaster PA with my 2002 V-8 p/u truck. I filled before I left and reset the trip odo. I refilled the truck in PA and calculated my mpg, 15.03 mpg

. Especially considering it was 1/2 highway at 65mph and secondary roads with very little stopping. The refill was 12 gallon of NON oxygenated gas added to the remaining 18 gallons of NJ oxygenated gas still in the tank. Got home and filled again. Calculated the mpg again and it was 21.02 mpg

! And coming home I went 75 mph on the highway instead of 65! Plus the trip home was more uphill over all. 6 mpg more represents a 40% improvement! I knew there was a difference but I didn't realize it was so great

. Incidentally the wife has an Explorer and travels to see family in VA, where they have NON oxygenated gas also. she has found just about the same spread in mpg using NJ oxygenated gas vs. the VA non oxygenated gas. And I told her she was crazy, oh well

.

Whimsey

Jackpot01 · Nov 30, 2004

Do the pumps say on them MTBE? I think some around here in Western PA are oxygenated. I will be sure to find out when I fill up next time.

Eric

Whimsey · Nov 30, 2004

NJ hasn't gone to ethanol yet for it's oxygenator yet as far as I know. But considering the extra lousy gas mileage I'll have to check the pump next time I get gas. I'm about 20 miles from the Delaware River. On the NJ side it's oxygenated and right across the river in PA it's NON oxygenated last time I checked. Maybe if you're near a big city like Philly or Pittsburgh you have oxygenated gas

. I was no where near a big city when I refilled in PA

. The reason for oxygenated fuel came about when vehicles had carburetors and no computers to control the emissions. Also to support a large contributor of the politicians, ADM

. I'd like to see proof that using oxygentated gas and burning more fuel as a result produces less real world emissions than using non oxygenated fuel in a "modern", say post 1993 vehicle. If emissions are based upon the amount of fuel burned I'd say no. Of course once the government makes a law or institutes a tax it's there forever. For example, did you know the 3% federal surcharge on your phone bill was instituted to finance the Spanish American War of 1898. And it's still on the phone bill 106 years later

!

Whimsey

Ken42 · Nov 30, 2004

I live on the Border of Washington and Idaho and Idaho does not have oxygenated gas when I fill up in Washington St I get around 25 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving with Idaho gas I get around 30 mpg with the same type of driving

brianl703 · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Whimsey:
in VA, where they have NON oxygenated gas also

Northern VA has oxygenated gas. Apparently the key is whether the area requires emissions tests(is a "non attainment area")--if they do, they also have oxygenated gas.

Whimsey · Nov 30, 2004

Brian,
Her family is in the Waynesboro/Staunton area. As we say, well out in the "boonies" of Western Virginia

.

Whimsey

427Z06 · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Whimsey:
...And coming home I went 75 mph on the highway instead of 65! Plus the trip home was more uphill...

There may be your problem...you need to drive faster when going up hill.

T-Keith · Nov 30, 2004

I though MTBE was a octane increaser?

Probably still better then ethanol.

Whimsey · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by T-Keith:
I though MTBE was a octane increaser?

Probably still better then ethanol.

Nah, MTBE is an oxygenator like Ethanol. Only it's more deadly but on the bright side you don't lose as much mpg as you do with Ethanol

. Though I'm sure NJ will be converting to Ethanol soon

.

Whimsey

ted s · Nov 30, 2004

MTBE was banned in a lot of states, it is a cancer causer and gets in the ground water

labman · Nov 30, 2004

MTBE is not the problem some say. For a more balanced look, try Demonizing for Dollars in the 15 November Forbes magazine, free at most public libraries, or $3 at http://www.forbes.com/business/forbes/2004/1115/173.html. Instead we are stuck with higher gas prices and ethanol. That is after paying millions for new gas tanks to prevent leaks. Remember all this comes out of the motorists' pockets.

rpn453 · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by T-Keith:
I though MTBE was a octane increaser?

It's that too:

quote:

MTBE has been used as an octane enhancer (helps prevent the engine from "knocking") in gasoline since 1979, after the US phased out lead additives. Since 1992, MTBE has been used at higher concentrations in some gasoline to fulfill the oxygenate requirements set by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

From:
http://environment.about.com/cs/waterissues/a/MTBE.htm

brianl703 · Dec 1, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Whimsey:

Her family is in the Waynesboro/Staunton area. As we say, well out in the "boonies" of Western Virginia

I see. I always try to fill up with gas in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania, because they are not using oxygenated gas.

Did MTBE cause more intake valve deposits than Ethanol? I thought I read something somewhere that said it did.

Oxygenated gasoline

Similar threads