Hi all,

Oregon state law, beginning yesterday Jan 15, now requires all gasoline retailers in Oregon to pump fuel with 10 percent Ethanol, or E10.

I'm hearing different cautions regarding this biofuel mix, expecially that it could potentially be harmful to "older" cars....
for example: Decreased mileage-Decreased spark plug life (due to pre-ignition) Rubber and Plastic compontents in older cars may not be compatable with alcohol. (fuel lines, diaphrams, coated needles and seats, o-rings...etc) may need replacement.
Many floats will absorb alcohol making them too heavy to float.

I have a 1983 Camaro (5-Liter, V8, 305, 5-Speed).
(I've ALWAYS used Premium of course-typically I've used Arco and for the past six years Chevron)

This has me greatly concerned since I've never had any engine problems with this car.
Since I now have NO CHOICE, what affect can I expect this biofuel to have on this car...good and adverse?

Thanks

 

None....

"Gasohol" has been around for years. Works fine. Expect your mileage to go down a bit, that's about the only difference you'll notice.

Your car will produce more power and use less fuel if you use regular. Regular fuel actually contains more energy tha premium; the only benefit to premium is resistance to "pinging" in higher compression engines... which these aren't. Beyond that, it's a marketing gimmick to pry the uninformed away from EVEN MORE of their cash.

 

Yea, winter gas is usually 10% ethanol. There's a microscopic difference in mileage, other then that you'd never know it.

 

.
Thanks guys, your replies are certainly reassuring.
Gasohol may have been "around for years" but (as far as I know) this will be the first time I'll be introducing it into my fuel system.
I'd like nothing more than to switch to Regular just to be able to offset the rising gas prices...
BUT, I'm gonna really need to think about that one. I'll take under consideration your recommendation sofakingdom but (with all due respect) will check around these forums for "second opinions" on the subject (point me the way to pertinent threads if you like).

Thanks again, more posts on the subject welcome.

 

Octane (premium is 91/93 and regular is 87) is the fuels ability to resist detonation.

Lower octane means the gas burns easier and at lower compressions.

If it doesnt knock, run regular.

 

Screw the forums. Your car doesn't read forums.

Put regular in your car. If it doesn't ping, you don't need premium. It's a double waste of money (extra price, and worse mileage), and the oil companies' marketing plan to get more of your money has been working as intended. That's all you need to know.

 

lower octane gas is said to burn cleaner as well, i.e. less emisions, which also means cleaner and easier burning fuel. 91/93 is great...but why not just throw a $1 of octane booster in there to your entire tank instead of paying $.50-$1 more a gallon?? Just a thought, but that is why regular motors unless you drive a mercedes benz suggest hum drum 87, while turbo/supercharged motors with the higher compression need the 91+ for the pinging issue. Completely up to you, but gas is gas, and your car will not implode if you switched back to 87. just my from the research i've done on my own.