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Feb. 4, 2009 7:44 p.m. OFracing New Reader

Am I missing something or has the addition of 10% alcohol to most gas, at least here in the northeast, eliminated the need for Dry Gas? I thought Dry Gas was just a form of alcohol, methanol if I remember correctly. Alcohol is hygroscopic, it adsorbs water and prevents it from pooling in your gas tank and lines. Up here that used to be a big problem in the winter but doesn't the alcohol in the gas do the same thing? Are people just following their old habits and adding 8 ounces of expensive alcohol to the 1 to 2 gallons per tank that are already there or is there still some benefit?

just wondering

mike
Feb. 5, 2009 12:23 a.m. friedgreencorrado New Reader

I found this:

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl677e.htm

..which seems to confirm your suspicions about adding Dry Gas to E10.

Take my comments with as many grains of salt as you wish...I live in the Southeast (Atlanta), and we're having E10 shoved down our throats as an air quality "solution", rather than as a measure of protection against the cold, dark nights. A knee-jerk reaction from the state that allows suburban bigotry to stop our mass transit system's expansion at the city's borders.

Personally, I hate the stuff (E10, that is..). Our current week's weather excepted, we don't really have cold start problems down here, and the stuff seems to cause about a 5% reduction in fuel economy. I haven't had any alcohol related fuel system leaks yet, though.

I'm still buying new (larger) fire extinguishers for my cars just in case.
Feb. 5, 2009 7:49 a.m. jimbbski New Reader

We've had E10 here in the midwest for over 10 years thanks to the farm lobby. Other then the reduction in fuel economy; and I see more then the 5% reduction you would expect: the use of the fuel is seamless. Even in below zero temps I've never has starting problems. On older cars with carbs that may not always be true as the engine can be "flooded" with little effort.

One fuel we see here is E85. Not many cars can use it. I have read about some people with Turbo cars tuning theirs to use this fuel as the octane in much higher and the A/F ratio can be on the rich side without hurting power as the alcohol has a cooling effect.

Think back to the "Old" Indy cars. They used 100% methnol alcohol, turbos, and no innercoolers and still were able to run boost as high as 65 psi. That being the old Offy 4 cyl with one piece cylinder head & block.
Feb. 5, 2009 9:36 a.m. iceracer Reader

I came to the same conclusion. Seems to work. However, I haven't had a gas line freeze in years. I try to not let my tank go below 1/2 in the winter. supposed to help. I can't say that I have seen a decrease in mileage. Of course I don't normally check it that close.
Feb. 5, 2009 10:39 a.m. carzan New Reader

I've lived in CT for almost 15 years now and have never had a fuel line freeze. I don't take any special precautions (never worried about the tank level) and have never used any kind of "dry gas" product. Couldn't say if alcohol levels have anything to do with it or not.
Feb. 6, 2009 11:53 a.m. noisycricket Reader

OFracing wrote:

Am I missing something or has the addition of 10% alcohol to most gas, at least here in the northeast, eliminated the need for Dry Gas?

Yes.

Are people just following their old habits and adding 8 ounces of expensive alcohol to the 1 to 2 gallons per tank that are already there (,,,) ?

Yes.