I want to get away from ethanol gasoline, but I can find no 91+ ethanol-free fuel within about 50 miles. There is a station with 90 octane ethanol-free around the corner. Expert opinions on which gasoline is better for my 2006 S2000 - 93 octane ethanol fuel, or 90 octane ethanol-free? Thanks!

 

Why? What's your beef with Ethanol? You worried about water in the fuel?

Ethanol is an octane booster. Minimum octane for my 2006 is 91 (ninety one). 93 octane ethanol fuel meets that requirement, 90 does not. I do run ethanol-free fuel in my lawn equipment and Honda (of course) generator mainly because they sit out in my shed sometimes for months at a time and always start promptly as the fuel doesn't absorb water. I use even in this ethanol free fuel (belt and suspenders). You can so the same.

When I lived on the south shore of Lake Erie and my boats and S2000 hibernated from November to April I put Ethanol Shield in the fuel tank and filled it completely to minimize water absorption in the tank. Only the lawn equipment here in Virginia.

-- Chuck

 

Alcohol is a solvent, not great for older cars. And also yes, an alcohol fuel mixture absorbs more water molecules and I live in a warm/hot, humid area, and am often out of state (with fuel sitting in the fuel tank) for extended periods of time.

"A 2012 study by Auto Alliance showed that some cars (model years 2001 to 2009) showed internal engine damage as the result of using an ethanol fuel blend. Damage to the valves and valve seats was evident in some of the cars tested." This is from: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-...age-engine.htm

My S2000 also requires at least 91 octane according to the door label and manual. So that's why the question -- does that recommendation include a safety margin, so that 90 octane is close enough, or is 91 a hard limit, below which damage can/will occur?

 

10% ethenol has no negative effects on our cars.

I am flex fuel and only run one tank a year below 40% e. I usually run 85% for several months straight. Fuel pump and injectors are the only things not OEM. 171k miles... flex fuel for the last 30k including 30+hrs on track

I am also in Arizona and run any pump flex fuel that is near me.

 

Honda says no more than 10% ethanol.

 

Safety margin? The caution seems to regard 87 and lower octane. Back to your owner's manual:I ain't worried about E10 at all and recall gasoline is a solvent as well... The S2000 has been around long enough for the fuel lines, etc., to handle E10 fuel without consequences.

-- Chuck

 

 

I am not an ethanol fan, but mostly because it is a complete scam when derived from corn, by that I mean it is not any better for the environment (could argue it is worse actually) and provides worse fuel economy.

But in general I would not stress too much about using it in your car. I do avoid it for small engines as others have mentioned. I also do use non ethanol when it is available at the pump but also do not stress if I cant find it. Most all of the 93 octane I find at the pump (my s2k is tuned on 93) has ethanol in it so it is what it is.

 

I've been running E85 for almost ten years now, it's race gas for cheap!

 

I would recommend against 100 octane, but that assumes you have 91 octane as an option.