Carpokes

Tom wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 4:36 pm Friend sent me this today... Much cheaper than California gas, but at 87 octane I'm not sure there's much upside...


ethanol-free.jpg

Hey, that’s at a Maverik gas station! They’re super common here in Utah. I’ve always wondered about using the ethanol free fuel

BennSport wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 7:32 pm

Tom wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 4:36 pm Friend sent me this today... Much cheaper than California gas, but at 87 octane I'm not sure there's much upside...


ethanol-free.jpg

Hey, that’s at a Maverik gas station! They’re super common here in Utah. I’ve always wondered about using the ethanol free fuel

Does it come in higher octanes?

Tom wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 7:52 pm

BennSport wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 7:32 pm

Tom wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 4:36 pm Friend sent me this today... Much cheaper than California gas, but at 87 octane I'm not sure there's much upside...


ethanol-free.jpg

Hey, that’s at a Maverik gas station! They’re super common here in Utah. I’ve always wondered about using the ethanol free fuel

Does it come in higher octanes?

Everywhere I’ve seen it’s only 87-88 at a Maverik. Although there are some other stations in salt lake that have E0 at 91 octane

All that is being said about 10% or 15% Ethanol content we probably should be viewing fuel that meet today's better formulated standards( new detergents and additives ). Designed to reduce deposits, keep injectors clean, etc. TopTier designated fuels have been preferred by many automotive manufacturers and one can view them on their website. Costco happens to be one of the carriers, so running their 91-93 Octane ( usually 10% Ethanol ) will give one some additional reassurance of overall quality. It is often surprising what Stations carry TopTier fuel ( they will show on their pumps ) since it is not always who you might expect --- QT for an example. Just another item to consider and not always an option as in some areas of the US TopTier fuel carriers are not as prevalent.

WillyDaP wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 3:02 am All that is being said about 10% or 15% Ethanol content we probably should be viewing fuel that meet today's better formulated standards( new detergents and additives ). Designed to reduce deposits, keep injectors clean, etc. TopTier designated fuels have been preferred by many automotive manufacturers and one can view them on their website. Costco happens to be one of the carriers, so running their 91-93 Octane ( usually 10% Ethanol ) will give one some additional reassurance of overall quality. It is often surprising what Stations carry TopTier fuel ( they will show on their pumps ) since it is not always who you might expect --- QT for an example. Just another item to consider and not always an option as in some areas of the US TopTier fuel carriers are not as prevalent.

This piqued my interest. I searched on the “TopTier” fuel topic and found there is a website and if you dig around, there is a listing of all the brands that are TopTier “approved”. There are quite a lot. Attached is the list.

zooklm1 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 9:16 am

WillyDaP wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 3:02 am All that is being said about 10% or 15% Ethanol content we probably should be viewing fuel that meet today's better formulated standards( new detergents and additives ). Designed to reduce deposits, keep injectors clean, etc. TopTier designated fuels have been preferred by many automotive manufacturers and one can view them on their website. Costco happens to be one of the carriers, so running their 91-93 Octane ( usually 10% Ethanol ) will give one some additional reassurance of overall quality. It is often surprising what Stations carry TopTier fuel ( they will show on their pumps ) since it is not always who you might expect --- QT for an example. Just another item to consider and not always an option as in some areas of the US TopTier fuel carriers are not as prevalent.

This piqued my interest. I searched on the “TopTier” fuel topic and found there is a website and if you dig around, there is a listing of all the brands that are TopTier “approved”. There are quite a lot. Attached is the list.

I use verified Top Tier fuel always unless away from my home area and unable to find a seller. The fuel additives required by Top Tier are superior.

The Top Tier website is very helpful. However, I always try to further verify when at a listed station that's unknown to me. There should be a sticker on the pump handle or on the pump. Maybe on the storefront too.

https://www.toptiergas.com/

@Vito911 gives a very comprehensive explanation above. Let me add, as owner of a regional Sunoco distributorship serving seven states. We handle pump gas and race fuel from 87 to 120+ octane, and from 0 to 85% ethanol.

If your 2000 and newer vehicle runs fine on E10, it will be fine with E15. I tell friends: buy E15 when it costs 10+% less than regular unleaded E10. The cost per mile then becomes equal or better than using E10.

Next, we have a simple rule… anything we own that is older than 2000 and/or has a carburetor gets only non-ethanol (E0) gas. No exceptions. Collector cars, lawn care equipment, boats, SeaDoos, everything.

Ethanol is great for newer vehicles, and machinery used daily. Long Term Storage makes ethanol the enemy of your fuel system. It absorbs water and creates havoc with carbs, pumps and fuel lines not specifically designed for it.

200mph wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 10:04 am ... The cost per mile then becomes equal or better than using E10.

I agree. That's the bottom line.
I recently filled up the tank on my 944 with E85 at $3.19 per gallon. My other car takes 91 octane which is currently at $6.09 per gallon. My 944 gets 20mpg on E85, my other car gets 30mpg on 91 octane. If I travel 200 miles per week the fuel cost $31.90 per week in the 944. 200 miles per week on 91 octane cost $40.60. So I would save $8.70 per week by driving my 944.

200mph wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 10:04 am
Next, we have a simple rule… anything we own that is older than 2000 and/or has a carburetor gets only non-ethanol (E0) gas. No exceptions. Collector cars, lawn care equipment, boats, SeaDoos, everything.

Ethanol is great for newer vehicles, and machinery used daily. Long Term Storage makes ethanol the enemy of your fuel system. It absorbs water and creates havoc with carbs, pumps and fuel lines not specifically designed for it.

Agreed on the storage and small engines.

The lawn mowers, chain saw, snowblowers all get 91 ethanol free. The 98 M3 gets ethanol free (and Mobil1 15w50, very old school). The daily drivers get whatever is convenient, but the 911 gets a couple of tanks of ethanol free in the fall prior to storage.

The two pics are a month apart before all the shenanigans started. Add another dollar on these prices since pics were taken in SoCal.

It’s a strange days to fill up the 968 with a very unusual / cheap $5.69 gal for $80 and the Escalade with its 6.2L V8 for $2.79 gal for $81 on e85.

The e85 lowers the mpg to 8/13 from 10/16 in the v8 or about 50mi less mi per tank. But, oh what fun it is to ride in a 400+ e85 behemoth on cheap corn