I want to get to the bottom of this ethanol killing my mpg

[TomEV]

Originally Posted by Nerys

I found ethanol free gas up in allentown.

How are the results? I'd love to try some plain gas for a routine tank. I found it one time on a drive through Utah, (with significantly better mpg) but because of the long drive at a fixed speed it is hard to make a good comparison to my typical highway/city mix.

I generally go to one gas station with my Prius (my gas guzzler) and get about 48 to 51 in the summer, and about 45 to 48 in the winter. Not as good as many here, but I tend to 'just drive it'. Ethanol at this station was about 8% (two random tests).

On occasion I have gone to the gas station across the street. With gas from that station the mileage seems to be variable, usually worse. I've never been able to get the ethanol test kit to work consistently at this station. Not sure why. Sometimes the line looks like about 10% ethanol, sometimes significantly more. But it isn't as clear and the result changes rapidly. Perhaps there is a technique in using the test kit that I am doing incorrectly... Perhaps a different additive mix that makes the tester inaccurate?

[Nerys]

The first round of tests were encouraging. alas most of them were census tanks IE virtually city driving :-) I am not working for the census anymore but lack the time or funds to go get more ethanol free gas. On the way home from geopalooza I will get some more if I have the cash since I will pass right by it but 3 days after geopoo I have Naram and that is an expensive trip.

you can go over my fuel log to see the tank by tank.

I got some joe gas and my FE dropped to 43mpg that tank. (not in the log yet) I am not able to get upwards of 50-52 on ethanol (I never did have this car in the summer till now) so I am itching to go to ethanol free and see if I can crack 60mpg.

the project as a whole is largely dead though I think. Come September it will be illegal for any gas station in PA to sell Ethanol Free gas and I had no volunteers and no data. No one is going to take the word of one person no matter how solid the data is.

I might get some interesting data from my Clubwagon though. 1680 miles each way to colorado and back. I should be able to get some E0 out in the midwest so we shall see what the tank to tank results net me.

[Dust]

If you will have an excess of ethanol and water, maybe you should look into water injection, or selling you leftover mix to someone who uses it. IF you used distilled water, it shouldn't be bad to inject back in. You can find wideband sensors online for $150up in price. It will tell you how the car is really running.