[ozcan]

Recently they started selling gas with 10% Ethanol mixed in Florida. Is it a problem? What % is a problem? I heard that ethanol kills engines. Some say it wont hurt, it is even better! Can W210 engines tolerate this mixture? (too many questions! )

 

[Matt L]

When I moved to Missouri in '82, they started selling E10. Many old cars had fuel pump problems due to rust being dislodged from the tank and lines. This probably isn't going to be a problem.

E10 gives slightly lower fuel mileage than gasoline alone, but it does have two advantages for gasoline engines. First, it increases the octane rating. Second, it absorbs water.

 

[ozcan]

Thanks for the info Matt L. I also heard that the old plastic hosing used for fuel (pre 1990's cars) will dry to a point where any small movement will crack or break them due to ethanol mixture. The plastic hose used in modern cars won't have this problem.
I wonder what the highest acceptable ethanol mixture ratio is that the modern cars can take.

 

[Kajtek1]

We, in California have 7% of ethanol for years. That's why I always enjoy filling up in Arizona and other states (Nevada gets CA gas).
My mileage always skyrocket even with those cars performance difference is rarely an issue.

 

[ohlord]

It

can handle 10% however it is oxygenated fuel and some cars with mass air sensors on the verge of a certain value in voltage will relay an out of range data set and may trip a check engine light.
ohlord:bowdown:

 

[ozcan]

I want to stick to the topic but I even heard people say "Stop feeding your monster cars.. Instead feed the needy-hungry with those corns." I am not sure if the corns for ethanol are edible.. But to a point this claim is right.

The US oil reserves must be very critically low. Otherwise they wouldn't mix ethanol which is more expensive to produce than oil. Why use ethanol at all.. They should stop producing cars under 20 MPG! (Hey, what did I just say?! My E430 17MPG City 23 MPH Highway.. Average 20MPH.. Barely saved myself!! )

 

[Benzboy210]

We've had 10% ethanol here in Ontario, Canada for a long time now. I fill my Benzes with 94 octane, 10% ethanol gas. My '89 300E ran on it for ages, as does my '98 E430 now. Zero issues.

As stated, it is used for several reasons. Main ones are that it increases octane and it burns cleaner (and cooler).

My last emissions test, my E430 scored perfect 0.00's. I thought it was a printout error when the tech gave it to me. He just laughed and said 'no, your car is just running clean'. I think the fuel is a minor factor in this case, but it probably helped to a degree.

 

[DEVOURS]

I think that the newer MB's can tolerate up to 15% ethanol without any problem.
But because it generates less heat, your fuel economy suffers a little.

 

[Kobus]

can handle 10% however it is oxygenated fuel and some cars with mass air sensors on the verge of a certain value in voltage will relay an out of range data set and may trip a check engine light.
ohlord:bowdown:

I wonder if the opposite also applies, that is a you take a CA car outside the state and fills up with non-ethanol fuel, if it could also trip the CEL until the computer re-adapts?

The reason I'm wondering, is that my SLK320 on both my last trips out of state, tripped a CEL on my 1st tank of gas in Utah. The trips were 3 years apart and the MAF replaced in the interval. Both trips it only tripped the one time and never again.

 

[ohlord]

yes

and yes.Same with driving to states that have high octane premium like 94,can trip a light.Even altitude changes
ohlord:bowdown:

 

[Musikmann]

I choose to use Chevron here in West Virginia because they never began using ethanol. I don't think it will hurt anything on your car other than your fuel economy.

 

[larces]

here in costa rica the gas has 88 octanes and 10 % of ethanol and i have no problems the only issue is that i clean my injectors every 6 months but i don't get any error on the maf or the check engine light.

the big issue for me is the mpg because is very low

 

[Quadcammer]

some interesting posts in here.

1. Matt, why would you think its a good thing that it absorbs water. Thats a pretty bad thing in my book.

2. Ohlord, what exactly does the oxygenation levels of the fuel have to do with the MAF voltage. The MAF is measuring how many volts it takes to keep the wires at a certain temperature, and from that it calculates air flow. Whether the engine runs lean or rich, ethanol or gasoline, the physical amount of air flow passing the maf is not changing. Hence it would "Peg" at the same airflow. Might it mess with the oxygen sensors, absolutely, but the Maf is far upstream from the fuel injection. Perhaps I misunderstood your post.

Bottomline, I've run it for years in every car I own including my 850bhp mustang, and it has caused no problems.

 

[Kobus]

and yes.Same with driving to states that have high octane premium like 94,can trip a light.Even altitude changes
ohlord:bowdown:

Thanks - I like it when a mystery is solved.

 

[Matt L]

some interesting posts in here.

1. Matt, why would you think its a good thing that it absorbs water. Thats a pretty bad thing in my book.

Water in the fuel is always bad, but it is much more tolerable if it is absorbed by the alcohol. When I lived in the frozen north, we routinely had to add alcohol to absorb water. Otherwise it can freeze in the lines and prevent you from going anywhere.

That was back in the carburetor days. With fuel injection, globules of water entering the fuel line will cause driveability issues.