Liquid performance boost: Premium gas

[Douglas]

All gas in Alaska is "Ethanol" free thanks to an exemption obtained by our Senator. Alaska has one of the highest concentrations of small aircraft flying about the state in the world and its not unusual, particularly in small villages, to see a plane fueling up from a gas station. For obvious reasons it is considerably more critical that the power plant on a plane; as opposed to a ground based engine not stop operating!

First time I became aware of this ethanol business was riding with my sister in NH this summer. -Doug

 

[FTL40]

When I rode Vt. this year they had Stewart's gas stations, their high grade was free of corn, the people called it real gas, I fueled up the bike a number of times and noticed it ran cooler and got more miles out of the tank. I was told they get their gas out of Canada, ya it was a few cents more but I think it was worth it.

 

[albertaduke]

It's true, it works, I've been running it in all my bikes (4) and of course my lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. etc. My Bro in law hauls the stuff for a gas company. He was the first to tell me how he got better mileage in his P/U truck. So I tried it in the Rocket. WOW! Smells nice too! Kinda like the old Amaco high test used to. (you have to be old to understand that). It's right at 90 octane. Just filled 2, 5 gallon cans yesterday for $30 here in Labelle. $3.09 per/gal. Drug one of my Hardleys out a few weeks ago, that had been sitting for a year or so, (since I got the Rocket, Ha!), and had been on the ethanol crap. Had to use ether to get it started, and it wouldn't idle. Took the carb off (Mikuni flat slide), all gooped up, idle jet completely stopped up, and residue in the bottom of the float bowl. Got that all cleaned out, had to drill the idle jet out with a micro drill bit. Filled it up with the "REAL" gas, and it runs like a scalded ape! Corn is for eatin, not runnin in your machine!

so what is this magic fuel you use??

 

[albertaduke]

All gas in Alaska is "Ethanol" free thanks to an exemption obtained by our Senator. Alaska has one of the highest concentrations of small aircraft flying about the state in the world and its not unusual, particularly in small villages, to see a plane fueling up from a gas station. For obvious reasons it is considerably more critical that the power plant on a plane; as opposed to a ground based engine not stop operating!

First time I became aware of this ethanol business was riding with my sister in NH this summer. -Doug

most small plane with continental and lycoming engines use 100 low lead found at airports how does it compare to what alaskan gas station have in their tanks ?

 

[GPMAZ]

To locate ethanol free gas in your area:

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Unfortunately for me, the only real options around here are 100 octane or more and something like $9 to $12/gal or more.

 

[Old N' Grumpy]

To locate ethanol free gas in your area:

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Unfortunately for me, the only real options around here are 100 octane or more and something like $9 to $12/gal or more.

Have that program on the iphone and use it to find ethanol free for my small engines. Works pretty good.

 

[cootertwo]

Being the conspiracy nut that I am, (some friends call me Mel) I think it looks like the old bait and switch game. The gas industry rules the world. More powerful than any King, Queen, or potus. Feed us crap gas, until all the reports of it messing up our vehicles, then make the same ole regular "real" gas available at an inflated price. Non-ethanol costs more to produce, but they want more money for the cheaper straight gas? Go figger???

 

[tdragger]

most small plane with continental and lycoming engines use 100 low lead found at airports how does it compare to what alaskan gas station have in their tanks ?

Remember the 100LL avgas still has much higher amounts of lead than auto gas. Prolonged use of autogas in a Conti can lead to a valve sticking as the lead is the lubricant. It would be interesting to know if the Alaska autogas meets the same standard regarding lead content as the lower 48.

 

[DJ]

Being the conspiracy nut that I am, (some friends call me Mel) I think it looks like the old bait and switch game. The gas industry rules the world. More powerful than any King, Queen, or potus. Feed us crap gas, until all the reports of it messing up our vehicles, then make the same ole regular "real" gas available at an inflated price. Non-ethanol costs more to produce, but they want more money for the cheaper straight gas? Go figger???

Reminds me of a few years ago when Coke came up with "new" coke. After that flopped, they came up with original coke.

 

[MarvinM]

Being the conspiracy nut that I am, (some friends call me Mel) I think it looks like the old bait and switch game. The gas industry rules the world. More powerful than any King, Queen, or potus. Feed us crap gas, until all the reports of it messing up our vehicles, then make the same ole regular "real" gas available at an inflated price. Non-ethanol costs more to produce, but they want more money for the cheaper straight gas? Go figger???

A few clarifications...

Exxon, the largest publicly traded oil company by a wide margin.... is the 9th largest oil company in the world. The 8 above it on the list are all government-owned. (Saudi, Russia, Venezuela, etc). The oil companies that most people see every day, have nearly zero influence on oil prices, and their impact on gasoline prices is in the pennies.

The non-ethanol gas that is available at a normal pump is exclusive to small towns, with exception of the $8/gallon stuff. Our federal government, to support the midwest states, have decided that if you live anywhere near a large city, you are obligated to subsidize corn farmers. Non-Ethanol pump gas is more expensive simply due to supply and demand. The refineries don't put much out, because the ability to sell it is so limited. Being from Houston, I'd have to drive 3 counties away to find real pump gas.

MarvinM