Ethanol Test Update

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 09:46

ThreadID: 27717 Views:2484 Replies:6 FollowUps:13

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Member - MrBitchi (QLD)

Said I'd post the results of Ethanol in my Pajero. Here's the results over a month or so.

Odo Klms Litres Km/ Ltr Litres/ 100 Klms
95103
95593 490 72 6.81 14.69
96068 475 76.5 6.21 16.11
96506 438 64.5 6.79 14.73
96819 313 53.4 5.86 17.06

Average of 15.6 L/100K.
This compare to standard PULP mileage of 15.7 L/100K.

All the mileage has been done as a daily commuter (freeway running) and general running around.

First thing that stands out is the inconsistent mileage I'm getting. This correlates to varying performance noted. When I'm getting poor mileage the Paj is running like a hairy goat; rough running, no power...
When the mileage is good it's running like a dream.
Would appear that the E10 I'm getting is of very inconsistent quality, and yes it's all from the same outlet (Freedom at Eight Mile Plains).

Conclusion so far is when it's good it's about 1 L/100K better then PULP for roughly equivalent performance.
When it's bad though, it sucks......

Will I keep using it? Probably give it a go for a while longer and hope the quality becomes more consistent, cause when it's running well I get good mileage and the car runs really well, smoother and slightly more power.

Hope this is of value to someone......

Cheers...........

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Reply By: Shaker - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 11:02

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 11:02

Maybe the ethanol isn't the problem, there have been many reported cases of petrol contaminated with paint thinners. My repairer has drained several tanks due to vehicles running badly, or not at all after filling at a particular service station in our area, I assume this is not an isolated problem.

AnswerID: 137277

Follow Up By: robak (QLD) - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:46

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:46

I used to occasionally buy diesel from that Freedom at eight mile plains and it often resulted in poor perfomance.

If I were you, I'd switch to another fuel outlet and continue your test.

R.

FollowupID: 391000

Follow Up By: Member - Pezza (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 02, 2005 at 20:56

Wednesday, Nov 02, 2005 at 20:56

Shaker may be on to something there John, bikes are more sensitive to crappy fuel than cars, when I took a full tank of 'ultimate' in the XTZ that I use to travel to work and back a couple of weeks ago from the bp at Mt lindsay hwy and old greenbank rd, it ran like a bag of shyte till I'd used near all of it and filled again, this time from the bp truck stop rocklea, where I usually go, ran like a dream again.
It was coughing and spluttering the same way as it was a couple of months ago when I put in that optimax crap.
Don't know what was in the fuel, but there was something wrong with it, and I'd be suprised if that was the only place that had the 'dud' fuel.

Avagoodn
Pezza

FollowupID: 391181

Reply By: flappa - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:54

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:54

Whats the cost difference between , E10, ULP, and PULP ?

AnswerID: 137296

Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:57

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 13:57

I'm paying the same for E10 as ULP. I believe most other states are up to 5c/Lt cheaper....

Limited availability at the moment but as it gets more popular I hope that changes.....

FollowupID: 391001

Follow Up By: flappa - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:01

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:01

I would hope so , or why would you bother.

I dont know what Nissans stance is on E10

FollowupID: 391002

Follow Up By: Sky Pilot - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:11

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:11

The whole idea of alcohol in the petrol was to spin out the remaining petrol resources for longer by only using 90% or in some cases 80% as much with up to 20% of renewable alcohol substituting for that petrol. The downside is that you dont get the same performance from alcohol diluted petrol as you do from ULP as alcohol has far less energy per unit volume than petrol. Another potential problem is that many manufacturers won't warranty their engines with alcohol in the fuel - you need to check with your dealer if yours is under warranty. In order to wear the disadvantages, the general idea is to make E10 and E20 much cheaper than ULP or as flappa has stated "Why would you bother?"

FollowupID: 391003

Follow Up By: flappa - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:19

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:19

In all honesty I haven't really bothered checking what E10 is all about , other then following various bits and pieces about it not being good for engines etc , however , all the Aussie vehicle makers have recently confirmed that warranties ARE covered using E10. Nissan of course , doesn't build locally.

Again, AFAIK , E10 was a lower level the ULP . . . so you would expect that pricing should be substantially lower.

FollowupID: 391004

Follow Up By: Sky Pilot - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:57

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 14:57

I would suggest they were "coerced" by the commonwealth government who are hell bent on getting alcohol into our petrol.

FollowupID: 391009

Follow Up By: Member - David 0- Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:14

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:14

Six months ago they were hell bent on keeping it out

FollowupID: 391021

Reply By: Member - DOZER- Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 15:00

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 15:00

One thing i dont understand about this e10. How does the mix of e10 stay mixed in the servo tank.
After a few days, the petrol and ethanol would start to seperate wouldnt they???
Depending on how full the servo tank is, you may get 10% you may get 30.
Andrew

AnswerID: 137304

Follow Up By: Member - David 0- Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:20

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:20

Petrol and Ethanol are miscible ie they stay mixed.
Whats more, any water in the tank becomes dissolved in the ethanol and can pass filters, njectors and carburetors- this is a good thing, becasue it cleans out your system and your motor is happy to burn water (in small quantities).

FollowupID: 391022

Reply By: Member - David 0- Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:23

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 18:23

When you have ll the data from more trials, I'd be happy to analyse it to determine if the difference is statistically significant ie due to natural variation or due to different fuel.
I will be happy to post data here.

A quick look at the data suggests it isn't significant, and I haven't determined the number of trials you would need to do to make this a valid test, but it would still be worth analysing.

AnswerID: 137323

Reply By: dave d - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 22:30

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 22:30

hi i here you have to change your plugs for e10 fuel and older cars tune your motor to it but i had to sell ford 2.6 courier got some ethanol in it never ran the same went down to 200 to 250 kms to a tank of fuel normaly 450km all mechanics i took it to said there was nothing wrong so thumbs down to ethanol

AnswerID: 137358

Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 02, 2005 at 09:43

Wednesday, Nov 02, 2005 at 09:43

Newer cars run fine with no changes.

Cheers..........

FollowupID: 391087

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 23:01

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 23:01

John,

I am also trialing an Ethanol mix.
The price is the same as standard unleaded but the "BIO Unleaded" is a 10% ethanol mix with an octane rating of 95 RON against 91 RON for the standard.

A slight gain in power but too early to tell on fuel economy yet. I have only filled twice with the BIO Unleaded which is available from SAFF Outlets down south.

Stay tuned!