I'm wondering if anyone has noticed any difference regarding the performances using different brands of fuel? Here in Canada I was running Premium Shell Fuel. Being the only on not using any Ethanol blending. Now that too is gone and Shell is producing 90 / 10 Gasoline Ethanol in all their products. Seems no matter which brand I use there is no advantage or disadvantage over using any brand of fuel. What are your impressions?
I've replaced all gaskets and seals in all my cars in order to have them ethanol compliant. I quite like ethanol actually and even use e85 in one of my vintage cars: fumes are less toxic and it helped solving an annoying knocking issue. After 10 years and 65.000km, I've drooped the head: no horror stories. So the Ferrari gets E10 now (I've only clocked 1037km since engine rebuild, so no feedback for now). My real concern is to use a "clean" gas station: I just hate it when my tank is filled with crude that clogs filters and jets. For the same reason I also try to avoid refilling the car when I see the petrol station is just being delivered (the delivery stirs the crude that sits at the bottom of the petrol station tanks).
I just have to add that E0 is not legal any-more here, so there is a minimum of 5% ethanol. As I had to replace all gaskets and hose, and adjust mixture, while I was there I made the switch to E10. E10 being cheaper (taxes are different), people do buy it instead of E5. So, if you buy E5, you are more likely to buy fuel that is not as fresh as E10.
Depends on the car. Ferrari prior to good detonation control in modern engine management systems was very conservative in the North American market with compression and ignition timing. So in most cases they'll run OK on regular. From about 355, 550 and up we have the same compression and Ferrari has gotten pretty aggressive with compression world wide because mordern detonation prevention is really good and we can get away with high compression ratios. But if the detonation protection is constantly intervening (you'll never know) you are just losing horsepower. Did you buy a Ferrari to lose horsepower because you want to buy cheap gas? Buy the best pump gas you can get without getting crazy and the rest will take care if itself.
Manufacturers will get in trouble from the govt if the actual octane number of the fuel is below that stated on the pump label. Not so much if the fuel is full of rust, water and other contamination. Also, not all deposit control additive (DCA) is the same. In the U.S. the EPA requires a minimum performance spec. Some brands use this minimum spec DCA, while others, like Chevron for example, use a better performing DCA. It’s part of their brand positioning. The top brands pay attention to product quality issues such as water, rust and other muck throughout the supply chain that many of the independents do not put as much focus on.
Last year I am in Toronto also the pump always said no Ethanol but now it says it may contain up to 10% ethanol I asked the Attendant the Government made them change
Enquiry: Ethanol content in V-Power gasoline Response: Good morning, Starting in 2022, all gasoline grades sold in Canada will be blended with ethanol, including premium gasoline (V-Power 91 and 93) according to proposed regulations (10% ethanol Federal Clean Fuel Regulation for 2022, Low Carbon Fuel Requirements and need to reduce the carbon intensity of fossil fuels, which ethanol is one mechanism to reduce carbon intensity). All the provinces are switching slowly, and If you see the label at the pump, “Gasoline may contain up to 10% Ethanol” is already happening. Regards, Sylvie Martin Shell Canada, Technical Support Email: [email protected]
If any of you store a car for prolonged amount of time, winter storage, etc.... do yourself a favor, drain out the E10, fill it with ethanol free fuel, VP, Sunoco among other brands sell them in 5gal pails. If the car's regularly driven once or twice a monthly keep feeding pump gas, you'll be ok.
