This is topic musings from under the shade-tree, GASOLINE in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by shade-tree (Member # 298) on :
 
is MTBE a performance killer? Ethanol additives too right?

Of course ARCO is a no-no (water gas, alcohol, ethanol, etc.), but I was at 76 today, with the big 'NO MTBE', and noticed the sign 'MAY CONTAIN ETHANOL'

Is there any G.D. place that sells real gas?

read an article where they said MTBE can kill up to 10% of the combustive power of gasoline? Any it increases the tendency to knock to boot? Any truth to this?
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Wait, why is Arco bad and which is the best gas station to go to?

Whats up with the whole Chevrons techron thing?
I want to know about the MTBE too.
 

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Posted by MaddDmin99 (Member # 1397) on :
 
Yeah, I usually go to Chevrons too... Whats up with the MTBE stuff???
-Chris
 

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Posted by rob (Member # 50) on :
 
i put in 76 gas, no mtbe, and with the supercharger, i guess a little alcohol would cool the charge and reduce the tendancy to ping
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
So 76 has no MTBE.
 

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Posted by griffined (Member # 1330) on :
 
My tank was nearly empty coming back from the dyno day at Apex, and when I stopped at a Chevron in East Palo Alto(yes, I took a wrong turn and ended up going north on 101 to the SM bridge) I was surprised to see 92 octane Premium. I thought everything was 91 now? Anyway, it did have MTBE in it.
 

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Posted by Cobra-Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
how do you guys know theres a difference in gas? They all come from the same refineries down by the bay don't they?
 

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Posted by Jimbo (Member # 1456) on :
 
MTBE(oil based) and Ethanol (corn based) are oxygenates, they help the catylitic converter work more effciently. Since it is an oxygenate I suppose it could cause leaness, worse gas mileage, and release less energy. All California gas(except race gas) must have this aditive, this is why the oil co.'s claim that our gas is more expensive than the rest of the nation. MTBE will be banned soon because it was found to be a big pollutant to ground water, ethanol will be the only oxygenate soon. Gasoline is basically a commodity but the different oil companies add their additives(Chevron w/Techron, 76 w/Pro-Power) and whatever oxygenate they choose. I use 76 gas because it smells better

[ November 27, 2002, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Jimbo ]
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
According to what I have recently read MTBE was merely used to oxegnate fuel supposdely to make it burn cleaner and reduce emmisions. Since MTBE was leaking into ground water it was recently banned by the state of California in all gasoline. It didnt say anything about performance killing.

I just heard that ethanol burns cleaner than gas and also reduces emmisions but I found nothing on the performance.
 

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Posted by MaddDmin99 (Member # 1397) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jimbo:
I use 76 gas because it smells better

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quote:

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Originally posted by griffined:
[QB]I was surprised to see 92 octane Premium. I thought everything was 91 now?QB]

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Ethanol cannot be used in the same percentages as MTBE. I can't seem to remember the exact specs, but I think gas is 15% MTBE. Ethanol will be about 10% so that ups the octane rating. That's how it was explained to me anyways.

Before MTBE, I was getting about 225 miles per tank. With MTBE, I was getting about 120 miles. Now, with ethanol, I'm at about 150 miles per tank. Woohooo!! I'm getting over 10mpg!!
 

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Posted by Cobra-Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
so whats wrong with chevron besides the incredibly high prices?
 

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Posted by Mr Paint Job (Member # 1708) on :
 
the round rubber seal around the cap of my friend's fuel cell expanded and became to large to make a good seal with MTBE but now that 76 doesnt have it anymore the seal is back to it's original size and seals better than ever... THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra-Jeep:
so whats wrong with chevron besides the incredibly high prices?

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Buddys dad used to work for a little trucking company thatd rove the gas trucks to the station and when they get to teh sattion they dump a test tube of techron in there. Then they say the whole gasoline is treated. Its all an all marketing


I think I am going to go back to using 76
 

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Posted by Cobra-Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
maybe a test tude will react with that amount of gasoline. Too bad i am not a chem major LOL. So does arco really have more water in their gas? i noticed when i get down to empty the Jeep looses power it seems like..... I use arco cause its cheap but from what i've read on here i might go back to chevron.
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Yeah I think iw ill go back to 76.
 

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Posted by The TASM (Member # 292) on :
 
If this helps anyone, I saw the gas tanker leaving the AM/PM gas station at the corner of Fremont Blvd and Central. It drove straight across the street to the Shell station.
 

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Posted by Clark (Member # 1076) on :
 
Fuck, it's all gas. It all works for me. I just get the cheapest shit I can find.
 

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Posted by v6mustanglover (Member # 545) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Clark:
Fuck, it's all gas. It all works for me. I just get the cheapest shit I can find.

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Me too!
 

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Posted by Cobra-Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
Hey i changed my fuel filter yesterday and when it started pouring fuel out of it when it was off all the gas that came out was BLACK!! I am surprised gas is so dirty.
 

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Posted by CustomFastbackCA (Member # 1369) on :
 
Did some research and this is what I found. MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether), said to increase the burn rate which will cause your fuel economy to increase. Once the fuel in the combustion chamber is ignited by the spark plug, the catalyst will significantly increase the burn rate of the flame front. This increase in the rate of combustion results in an increase in pressure (or push) downward on the piston during the power stroke, directly increasing power output. Since the fuel is completely burned before the exhaust valves are opened, the efficiency of the engine is increased. This increased efficiency can be used as extra power or increased fuel milage. However MTBE was found to mix easily with water, be a carconigenic, and didn't actually burn as clean as expected. It has been banned by law, set for one year, but 76 is the first to rid itself of MTBE. Ethanol is said to replace MTBE, for it is safer, yet more expensive. MTBE and ethanol are both additives added afterwards. So go with 76 for now, unless their is some problem with ethanol?
 

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Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Ethanol is almost the same as MTBE but it will give you better milage over MTBE and is corn based instead of oil based like MTBE is.

The other day I filled my car up with 76 and put in some fuel injectore cleaner and its never run better. My mis fire is gone. Maybe I had a clogged injector from my crappy arco gasoline because its running like a champ now.
 

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Posted by darien87 (Member # 2022) on :
 
So what is this about Arco having water in their gas? I always go to Arco because they're always at least 10 cents a gallon cheaper than the other guys. I was under the impression that gas is gas. Don't they all get their gas from the same refineries? Is there anything published or on the internet about the quality of different companies gas?
 

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Posted by 5project stang0 (Member # 2082) on :
 
i use 76 out of pure puck I guess....I nevr really knew any facts about gas stations besides the fact that arco has "watery gas" I have heard that rumor
 

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Posted by The TASM (Member # 292) on :
 
I notice a bit of performance gain from ARCO 87 octane in my 94 GT (10 degree timing) over other gas brands? Maybe it's in my head, but it's my daily commuter, on a budget, so I have no other choice.

[ December 01, 2002, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: The TASM ]
 

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Posted by 87Saleen (Member # 1549) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by The TASM:
If this helps anyone, I saw the gas tanker leaving the AM/PM gas station at the corner of Fremont Blvd and Central. It drove straight across the street to the Shell station.

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quote:

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Originally posted by darien87:
Is there anything published or on the internet about the quality of different companies gas?

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