fuel treatment?

[stockman1]

How often do you guys add a fuel treatment to compensate for the ethanol and additives? What are you adding?

[MikeFleming]

I only ever add treatments for long-term stored petrol. Nothing to pump gas in currently-driven cars. Tune the car to work with the petrol you have available.

In decades past I used to make several blends of high-energy, high-octane stuff to add to petrol but the cost more than doubled the fuel price on a per-gallon basis 2 decades ago.

[stockman1]

I only ever add treatments for long-term stored petrol. Nothing to pump gas in currently-driven cars. Tune the car to work with the petrol you have available.

In decades past I used to make several blends of high-energy, high-octane stuff to add to petrol but the cost more than doubled the fuel price on a per-gallon basis 2 decades ago.Agreed the additives are costly, seem to have lots of moisture issue here in FLA though

[MikeFleming]

Yep - moisture and ethanol will degrade the fuel quality - same for diesel. Most gasohol has stuff in it alredy to keep it from degrading too much though - if it's used all up in 6 months or stored in air-tight containers, for example.

Unfortunately, by design, our cars and their fuel tanks are not air tight.

[stockman1]

Yep - moisture and ethanol will degrade the fuel quality - same for diesel. Most gasohol has stuff in it alredy to keep it from degrading too much though - if it's used all up in 6 months or stored in air-tight containers, for example.

Unfortunately, by design, our cars and their fuel tanks are not air tight.Holiday tomorrow going to clean VAM and maybe add some fuel stabilizer?

[Ford Builder]

I added fuel treatment back in December, don't need fuel problems.

[k98dave]

Interesting info on where to get non ethanol fuel

http://pure-gas.org/

[Ford Builder]

That's why I use High Octane in all my cars, get better fuel mileage too.

[escogt]

That's why I use High Octane in all my cars, get better fuel mileage too.

X2!!! Plus I add a bottle of Chevron Techron to an empty tank right after an every oil change. I do that with all my cars including my DD.

[MikeFleming]

That's why I use High Octane in all my cars, get better fuel mileage too. Octane and heat content are two completely different things. The heat content, or stored energy, in the fuel is what determines how much power and mileage that fuel will provide.

Octane is merely a reference on the fuels' resistance to detonation and has no relation to heat or energy value.

For example diesel fuel has a VERY low octane rating with a higher than petrol energy level - so it gives better MPG.

[Raven855]

With a diesel its not the octane rating but the cetane rating. In Europe the current trend is for the cetane to be raised to about 75 while in the US it is to drive the cetane number to the low 50s. That and the new low sulfur/winter formulations as driven mpg into the toilet. If I am running on a course, I will add some toluene to the SVO.

[MikeFleming]

If I am running on a course, I will add some toluene to the SVO. In addition to having a higher octane (and cost), Toluene (and Xylene) are a high-energy fuel. About 20% more heat energy than petrol.

Some petrol additives, like alcohols, have a higher octane rating but a lower heat value so you need to burn more of it to make the same power.

I like the smell of Toluene more than petrol. I liked it more when it only was $5/gal.

Just sayin'.

[Raven855]

The Toluene prices have been dropping. Hope the trend continues.....

[stockman1]

In addition to having a higher octane (and cost), Toluene (and Xylene) are a high-energy fuel. About 20% more heat energy than petrol.

Some petrol additives, like alcohols, have a higher octane rating but a lower heat value so you need to burn more of it to make the same power.

I like the smell of Toluene more than petrol. I liked it more when it only was $5/gal.

Just sayin'.Mike is giving a valued chem lesson. What he is saying is the energy released in the burn is what is important and measured in BTU's. This would lead a logical reasoning person to realize the farce with adding ethanol to our fuel.