Fuel Advice

[Rhubarb]

Does anyone know what impact the Ethanol blend fuel has on LS focus?

The local servo here always has the 95 RON E10 at 2 or 3 cents less than stnd 91 RON and typically 8 to 10 cents per litre cheaper than normal 95 RON.

Now the handbook says its ok to use E10 but will use more fuel.

So the question is how much more ??? Its roughly 8% cheaper but does it use more than 8% more fuel ? (compared to stnd 95 RON)

Does anyone have any data - scientific or anecdotal, to support an opinion on this ?

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

Does anyone know what impact the Ethanol blend fuel has on LS focus?

The local servo here always has the 95 RON E10 at 2 or 3 cents less than stnd 91 RON and typically 8 to 10 cents per litre cheaper than normal 95 RON.

Now the handbook says its ok to use E10 but will use more fuel.

So the question is how much more ??? Its roughly 8% cheaper but does it use more than 8% more fuel ? (compared to stnd 95 RON)

Does anyone have any data - scientific or anecdotal, to support an opinion on this ?

I've done 2 tanks on 95RON E10 with advanced engine timing and no probs. The car is able to run on E10

[melbzetec]

General scientific view is that fuel efficiency drops by 2-3% for E10 compared with regular ULP

How did you calculate 8-10% cheaper? If it's 8 to 10c cheaper than 95RON, you'd need to be paying only $1 per litre to get 8-10%. If you calculate it at $1.50 a litre, you are looking at more like about 6% cheaper.

Plus some of the high octane fuels are More fuel efficient.

I couldn't be bothered frankly. I stick with BP Ultimate. The extra cents are cheap maintenance of my car I reckon

[XR5-Boy]

yah, i agree. i was running ethanol blend in my Cougar but not now. I run standard premium in it now and it's being great. Ethanol was inefficient (only 450 to a tank!) chuck in standard premium and i get 550 now :| Depends on the car really. My old car which my sis has now (1991 TR Magna SE) runs ethanol blend no problem!

[Rhubarb]

Originally Posted by melbzetec

General scientific view is that fuel efficiency drops by 2-3% for E10 compared with regular ULP

How did you calculate 8-10% cheaper? If it's 8 to 10c cheaper than 95RON, you'd need to be paying only $1 per litre to get 8-10%. If you calculate it at $1.50 a litre, you are looking at more like about 6% cheaper.

Plus some of the high octane fuels are More fuel efficient.

I couldn't be bothered frankly. I stick with BP Ultimate. The extra cents are cheap maintenance of my car I reckon

I live in Qld (SOO series winner .... again) and have filled up with the 95 RON E10 the last two tanks at $1.11 so nowhere near $1.50.

A 2-3% drop in fuel consumption with savings of 8% is still worth it in terms of economy, albeit insignificant in light of wife's recent spending. Focus on what I can control though hey .....

[melbzetec]

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

I live in Qld (SOO series winner .... again) and have filled up with the 95 RON E10 the last two tanks at $1.11 so nowhere near $1.50.

A 2-3% drop in fuel consumption with savings of 8% is still worth it in terms of economy, albeit insignificant in light of wife's recent spending. Focus on what I can control though hey .....

Yes, but when you say 8% cheaper, 8% cheaper than what? 8% cheaper than 95RON premium. So therefore you have to base it on the cost of 95RON.

And that 2-3 % drop is compared to standard ULP 91 RON. The ultra premium supposedly have a higher calorific value than standard ULP, so gives you even more kms per litre.

Your maths is a bit wonky, and you are sort of comparing apples with pineapples.

[Rhubarb]

The question was ....

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

So the question is how much more ??? Its roughly 8% cheaper but does it use more than 8% more fuel ? (compared to stnd 95 RON)

My maths is fine. Perhaps its my english ... or maybe your reading - who cares.

Either way, I was comparing E10 95 to stnd 95 RON.

So what represents better value?
- E10 95 Ron at $1.11/litre
OR
- Stnd 95 Ron at $1.20/litre

[More revs]

Not sure how the numbers stack up but I have tried both and the E10 95 goes the same as E0 95 in mine, but the E10 is cheaper so it wins the non scientific test by more revs.

Two things I noted was standard 91 RON my Focus ran like it had my two sister inlaws in the back seat... +200 Kg. Also when I use 98 RON either ethanol or not it runs slightly better than 95 with more bottom end and about 50 Km more per tank.

Once again not a scientific test but seat of the pants (where I keep my wallet) the E10 95 wind every time.

[Rhubarb]

Interesting.

I'm going to try 98 E10 next time but hard to make a real comparison as my mix of hwy to city varies so much, depending on where I'm working that day.

People with a more consistant driving pattern should be able to give a better comparison than me.

[melbzetec]

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

The question was ....



My maths is fine. Perhaps its my english ... or maybe your reading - who cares.

Drop the attitude. I was only trying to help. Go and save your few cents and be happy

[Rhubarb]

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Drop the attitude. I was only trying to help. Go and save your few cents and be happy

No attitude intended. I do appreciate the assistance.

Cheers.