The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Fuel Labeling

Hey folks. I've been in contact with my state senator about getting a labeling law passed in Kansas. It would require all commercial fuel pumps to be labeled with the amount of ethanol in the gasoline being dispensed. My senator is interested in writing and carrying the bill but he want to know who would be interested in coming to Topeka to testify. He's assuming the ethanol industry will show up against it as well as some of the fuel vending chains so he's wanting to know how much support the bill will have from the "grass roots". Those of you living in Kansas and interested to supporting the bill contact Senator Steve Abrams at [email protected]. If you don't live in Kansas but have the email address of a Kansas car enthusiast you might ask them if they'll support the bill as well. Tell him you heard about it from Richard Thomas. He's one of the few folks on the planet who doesn't know me as Tiny.

over half the states already require labeling, that should make it easier - might also point out there's also a federal requirement for it

Bill

Great info Bill. Here in Al. Ms. & Tn. All the pumps I have seen are labeled saying " May contain up to 10% ethanol" and it all runs (terrible). We do have a few places you can get ethanol free, if you want to make the drive and pay the price.....

We were in Tennessee last fall on a VCCA tour and the labeling there sucks because it doesn't tell you anything useful.

In Kentucky there still some places away for metro citys we can get some good gas But I get mine from grandpas still it runs great

there has been "up to 10% ethanol" here in Washington for at least 10 years, I found a place that sells ethanol free gas, I have noticed no difference in the way it runs, so for the extra price and the inconvenience of having to go into the store twice, once to pay and once to get the change, as well as the inconvenience of actually getting to the place. I'll just stick with the 10% stuff. Mileage suffers a little bit. It is a little ridiculous that they do all this in the name of environmental protection or whatever excuse they are using. But I'm pretty sure I don't have the political horsepower to change any of it.

Wait... For that to work, our congress would have to do something....... anything. Don't see that happening in the near millenium.

Same thing here, been alcoholics in northern Illinois for better
than a decade at least. I've never noticed any difference in
the way the newer or older vehicles run.
Since I lived at an airport up until last year, I tried
87 octane leaded fuel sold for aircraft that were STC'ed for it
in my stock '50, 216 and noticed no difference in the performance
or mileage.

In newer vehicles I don't think there is a quality of running difference.
In anything there is a difference in how far you can go on a tank. The alcohol doesn't have as much energy in it as gasoline does by volume. So gas with alcohol in it is in effect diluted, you need to burn more of it to do the same job than if running pure gas.

Grigg

That's true Grigg and is a real factor when burning straight
alcohol as we did when we were running the midgets and sprint
car. But so far they are only doping the gasoline to bring the
octane up to par.

We have the "May contain up to 10% ethanol" labeling up here in
northern Illinois also. The EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency) calculates the E10 lowers mileage approximately
3 percent. Which means that our Stovebolts, which get roughly
12 to 15 mpg, under controlled conditions, might get
approximately 11.64 to 14.55, mind you, I did say under
controlled conditions. Doubt seriously if any of us can control
the conditions that close or close enough to see the difference
unless we're running a fleet.

Denny G

D

Years back when I was involved with dirt track racing a motor running alcohol would always run much cooler than running gasoline. It was also a nightly deal to drain the alcohol out of the carburetor because of the corrosion problem leaving the alcohol in when the car sat.

The problem we have here is that we still have non alcohol gas available. All we're looking for is pump labeling so we can make an educated decision about what we're buying.

Right on Tiny. That is one thing the SEMA organization is working on.... arguing over a simple label.....and you can bet that those who don't want labeling has a reason for it....I don't know what it is yet but there is "something behind it". Maybe its just ole boy politicking.

I have switched to Shell V-Power which clearly states on the pump that it has zero ethanol. With the many differences in opinion about its effect, I thought I would simply go back to the way it sort-of-use-to-be and eliminate it. Who knows what else is in the gas but, at least it's mostly gas.

I did have a cab driver tell me once that he got 40 miles less per tank using the 10% ethanol.

I know when hauling stuff or pulling a trailer where mileage is already poor it drops to lousy when filling up with 10% ethanol.

Grigg