Cosco's gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

[Ken Lally]

Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Ive heard ethanol is higher octane and seems good overall for the environment, but is it safe for our high performance engines?

 

[Finally got it !]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

We have had it in our gas in CT for awhile now. No difference in performance and no harm to any of my cars...

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Won't ethanol eat the seals in the fuel system? Maybe only above a certain % ? At what point does it become unacceptable?

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Absolutely no problem in your Snakes. Have run it in all my Vipers, and seal issues were addressed decades ago - no problems. Alot of the 92 Octane is 10% Ethanol around here ( Nebraska ).

 

[Camfab]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

It's been in CA for years. It does reduce mileage however.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

I guess we don't grow enough corn in the Carolinas. Our main farm products are tobacco, soy beans and peaches. I don't think we'll even see a tobacco-gas blend, although chain smokers would love it. Peach-gas would smell nice.

Still the question: At what point does it become a problem for a non-E85 certified car? GM charges $1000! for a yellow gas cap and a few seals? and maybe a sensor to determine the % of ethanol? At least thats what was on the window sticker of a new Silverado.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

No Vipers are E85 vehicles ( this is 85% ethanol , and yes it would caused havoc to seals, etc. ) . Ethanol blends, on the other hand, are no more than 10% ethanol, and the seals from the Manufacturer have been changed for so many years I can not remember when --- I actually believe it was clear back in the 80s. Rock and roll with 10% blends and you have no worries. There are only 700 E85 stations in the US and there is a big push for more, but at present there are very few E85 vehicles on the roads. The big move towards more clean burn fuel vehicles will see things change in the future,but that is a long time off. We may even see an E85 Viper in future years, but fill er up with 10% high octane and have no worries.

 

[Marv S]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Ethanol is higher octane than gasoline but way less energy so your milage and power will be less.

Prety much every major city has some "special blend"(MTBE or ethanol.) of fuel and even that changes depending on the season.


1 gallon of gasoline ... 125,000 Btu
1 gallon of ethanol ... 84,400 Btu
1 gallon of methanol ... 62,800 Btu
1 gallon of MTBE ...93,500 btu

1 gallon gasohol
(10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) ... 120,900 Btu



I remember when gasohol came out years ago. We all thought "ethanol"! Race fuel!. What we found with our carb, pre FI, high compression cars was that we got worse milage, less power, and vapor lock in the summer.

 

[EllowViper]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Right on Marv S !! Perfect analysis. Also, great for a "winter blend" fuel since it has it's "de-icer" built right in. Since it does attract moisture, make sure you get fuel at a station that pumps a lot of gas...not the old corner station that looks like no one has visited in years. Same rule of thumb for diesel fuel too (I mean the atraction to water).

 

[Racer Robbie]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

We in Ct have no choice in the matter. I spoke with a fuel tank manufacture, which does not want me to release their name, and thet said E10, 10% is ok but CT is looking at E15, 15% which they say will be causing some real problems with our cars. All they would tell me is that anything in contact with raw fuel will not stand up.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Let us realize what is involved in going beyond a previously certified amount of "substantially similar" fuel components. The OEMs, who are responsible for meeting on-road emissions durability, would have to provide data to the EPA that 11% or more ethanol would meet all the existing requirements. I doubt anyone company did any testing because they all thought 10% would be the max. This means fleet testing, long term emissions testing, compatibility testing, etc, and not with just new cars, but old models also. A state government can't mandate a long term performance requirement like that unless they want to excuse the OEMs from meeting the 120,000 mile emissions levels.

And if I'm wrong, I'll eat the extra ethanol!

 

[Bonkers]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

It's been in CA for years. It does reduce mileage however.

I was going to say I've witnessed a significant drop (~3mpg) in MPG in my ram and a slight (0.5mpg) in the viper. I'd like to know what the exact cost savings per gallon is on using this crap and do an analysis on the long-term wallet hit.

 

[Shelby3]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

I used it during a recent trip to the upper midwest. The only thing I noticed was the faint smell of Post Toasties in my exhaust.

 

[Racer Robbie]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

QUOTE:

A state government can't mandate a long term performance requirement like that unless they want to excuse the OEMs from meeting the 120,000 mile emissions levels.

Connecticut does what ever they feel like. Hell they give out tickets for things that are not even on the books. If all you can buy is E15 then what are we do dop but buy it and have DC tell us our warranty is voided by running it. I have a suite going right now with the town and state as they gave me a ticket for loud pipes on my Honda bike which has the factory pipes on it. There is no state or town noise ordance. They said if it sounds loud to the officer, then it is. So much for Big brother watching over all of us. In Ct they just installed cameras and radar along all of I-95 with I-91 to follow. They said it is for Home Security. Sure, that is why some of my friends got speeding tickets when there was not a cop in site.

 

[GR8_ASP]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Robbie there is a big difference between some local noise issue and fuel. A community has the right to impose limits on noise that are more stringent (like hospital zones, late hoursan etc). But they cannot override federal laws and regulations. If the did each city and state would impose unique emissions and other vehicle requirements. Then it would be impossible to produce vehicles.

 

[YELLOH]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Just beware I have a 05 Infiniti and a viper. I fiiled my Inifiniti 2 weeks ago. My vehicle started to skip like a miss fire .The dealer told me the Corn Oil alcohol was acting like a solvent and removes rust or any other particals in your tank as well as there tank. That crap clogged my fuel injectors and now it is a $3,000.00 bill not covered by any warranty because I put the gas in my car .Becarefull on where you fill up .
RICK

 

[bigerc]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

I would think that that should be covered by warranty. While im not an expert on the subject I thought all major car companies made it so gasohol doesnt void any warranties in the late 70s or early 80s. Now if you used E85 thats a different story.

As far as ethanol in general I'm a huge supporter. Being from Iowa I have used gasohol in my car for years and I have heard of people mixing E85 and E10 so they have up to a 30% without it hurting the car.

 

[bigerc]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Actually that warranty thing bugged me to the point I had to look it up and to quote http://www.ethanol.org/warrantystatements.html

"
Auto Warranties
Up to a ten-percent blend of ethanol is covered under warranty by every auto manufacturer that sells vehicles in the U.S. (listed below) for every make and every model of vehicle.

Many of these manufacturers recommend ethanol’s use because of its clean-burning and high-octane characteristics.

BMW
DaimlerChrysler
Ferrari
Ford
General Motors
Honda / Acura
Hyundai
Isuzu
Jaguar
Kia
Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Nissan / Infiniti
Porsche
Saab
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota
Volkswagen / Audi
Volvo
"

So infiniti should be cover by warranty if you used E10. Also that site is extremely informitive if anyone else has any more questions about ethanol.

 

[Viper Specialty]

Re: Cosco\'s gas now as 10% ethanol, is this OK to run in the Viper?

Just beware I have a 05 Infiniti and a viper. I fiiled my Inifiniti 2 weeks ago. My vehicle started to skip like a miss fire .The dealer told me the Corn Oil alcohol was acting like a solvent and removes rust or any other particals in your tank as well as there tank. That crap clogged my fuel injectors and now it is a $3,000.00 bill not covered by any warranty because I put the gas in my car .Becarefull on where you fill up .
RICK

It sounds like you have been taken by your dealer... What you desribe sounds like water in your gas tank, nothing more- and certainly go after the gas station about it. virtually all newer cars have plastic gas tanks and can run 15% ethanol with ZERO problems.