Ethanol Free Gas? (Bristol: credit, transfer, go bankrupt)

[Rocinante56]

Unfortunately, my personal experience with ethanol was a bad one. In June '08, I traded my beloved 1998 Subaru Forester (which I swear would run on cow plops), in for my now '05 Pontiac G6. The day I picked it up, the dealership filled it with what I now call "good gas". I then, of course, filled it with the same old cheap stuff I used in my Subaru...the problems were immediate.....difficult start-ups, bad mileage. Talked to some co-workers, stopped at my mechanics (before the warranty ran out!)......and got the same response...try the "good gas". So.....I did that and took my weeks vacation to Elizabethon, a 589 mile(one way) trip....then, drove up Roan Mountain, over to Watauga Lake, toured Bristol Caverns, had lunch at Ridgewood Barbeque....all this and more with ethanol-free gas and not one single car-related problem.
This thread has held my interest because I will be visiting again the third week of May along with my ethanol-free gas tank, granddaughter and the non-hunting (afraid of the gunshot) family beagle Nellie. Roan Mountain should be stunning in the spring......now just to find the "good gas"!
Oh, and I did purchase a bottle of Heet at Tinman's suggestion.......thanks for that! So far, our northeast winter has been pretty harsh, so better safe and all that.....

[marmac]

Sooner or later TN will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by marmac

Sooner or later TN will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Huh? Can you please explain what you mean here pertaining to ethanol gas?
Ethanol in gas is an issue all over the country not just TN and we buy the same cars here that everyone else buys so I am really confused by your statement as I am sure others are as well.

[BuzzCam]

I always heard it takes more energy to create ethanol than the energy ethanol releases. But, like other things I hear, I am probably off base here.

We, in Nashville and surrounding counties, have to take our cars to be inspected once a year for emissions, in order to receive our new tags. I will be interested to see if my car does better or worse this year than last.

Last year, the emissions from my car were less than they were when I first bought it. I am not sure if the emission testers compensate the measurements for the age of the car, which is 15. But, I never had a problem with this Saturn passing emission standards.

I did have a Pontiac Fiero that flunked all the time. Many trips to the shop and buying the most expensive gas (93 octane) would get it through emissions. That and driving around the downtown loop of Nashville several times to get the car up to operating temperature before taking it to an emissions testing station.

I always had an anxiety attack when that time of year rolled around.

[mbmouse]

Interesting article on ethanol.
Wheels.ca - Is ethanol the true magic elixir? - Canada's Most Trusted Auto Resource

[marmac]

my "kicking and dragging" probably should be aimed at the fuel suppliers in TN

Why is it that during a -20 cold spell in Minnesota, the topic is the weather but it is EXTREMELY rare to hear people complain of car troubles and blaming ethanol ?
(ethanol has been mandated in MN for quite some time)



Why not ask your fuel supplier why YOU folks in TN are having so darn much trouble with ethanol when people in MN ( A MUCH harsher climate) are not

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by marmac

my "kicking and dragging" probably should be aimed at the fuel suppliers in TN

Why is it that during a -20 cold spell in Minnesota, the topic is the weather but it is EXTREMELY rare to hear people complain of car troubles and blaming ethanol ?
(ethanol has been mandated in MN for quite some time)



Why not ask your fuel supplier why YOU folks in TN are having so darn much trouble with ethanol when people in MN ( A MUCH harsher climate) are not

Hmm....interesting question and perspective. I guess it may be that here in TN -20 degree weather is not an issue for us to be concerned about and we have the time to notice that our vehicles do not perform as well with the ethanol gas?
Are you suggesting that no one in MN has noticed any change at all in their cars performance or MPG with the forced switch to ethanol gas? I bet if you talk with several owners/managers of some local to you Auto Zones or Advance Auto parts stores, they too will have seen an increase in gas treatment sales.
Exxon in TN is the same as Exxon in MN. Same with BP and others. If all gas suppliers are putting ethanol in their gas, doesn't really matter what state they are delivering to.

[marmac]

mbmouse------ever wonder why there are no threads complaining about ethanol problems in cars on MN threads or on MN chats?

"and we have the time to notice "

I hate to break it to you------------but it ain't -20 here year around and we have the ability to --"notice"-- any time of the year.

mbmouse-------perhaps the reason we don't have problems is we have the ethanol plants located right here and the ethanol is made out of a product grown here---corn


Maybe the TN ethanol is made out of tree bark and rocks ( homegrown)

That would explain wht Tennessians have soooo much problems with ethanol and we don't.

[mbmouse]

marmac, I am glad you have no issues with ethanol in your car however I and others do, it isn't just a TN thing but this thread started with where one here, in the Tri cites area of TN, could find gas with out ethanol. Ethanol is mixed into the gas before it is transported TO the different stations in different states, this subject really has nothing to do with different states. Ethanol gas is ethanol gas.
Sorry if you took it personal because your city or town is close to an ethanol plant, or what ever the reason. But suggesting TN is not in the 21st century due to this conversation...well....not very cool.

[marmac]

mnmouse----------did you folks have a lot of trouble with your cars when catalytic converters came out and when unleaded gas came out also ?

We didn't.