Re: Ethanol and outboard motors ... Can I run my force 50 on 100LL avgas?
In Minnesota, where I'm from, all passenger vehicle gasoline now contains 10% ethanol. The ethanol is to oxygenate the gas, so it burns cleaner. Prior to ethanol, they used another additive, I believe MTBE, which was determined to harm the environment so it was replaced with ethanol some years ago.
We can purchase non-oxygenated (ethanol free) gas but it's not supposed to be used in passenger vehicles, just small engines, boats, classic cars, etc......It's not sold everywhere, but it's pretty easy to find if you look for it, and there are many websites that list places that sell the stuff. In my location, it's all premium grade as well, and it costs about 15% or so more than the regular grade oxygenated gas.
Not sure if the ethanol mandate is in all 50 states, I suspect by now it may be. At one time we only needed oxygenated gas in Minnesota during the winter and only in the larger populated areas (Minneapolis, St.Paul, Rochester). Now its mandated year around statewide.
In Minnesota, where I'm from, all passenger vehicle gasoline now contains 10% ethanol. The ethanol is to oxygenate the gas, so it burns cleaner. Prior to ethanol, they used another additive, I believe MTBE, which was determined to harm the environment so it was replaced with ethanol some years ago.
We can purchase non-oxygenated (ethanol free) gas but it's not supposed to be used in passenger vehicles, just small engines, boats, classic cars, etc......It's not sold everywhere, but it's pretty easy to find if you look for it, and there are many websites that list places that sell the stuff. In my location, it's all premium grade as well, and it costs about 15% or so more than the regular grade oxygenated gas.
Not sure if the ethanol mandate is in all 50 states, I suspect by now it may be. At one time we only needed oxygenated gas in Minnesota during the winter and only in the larger populated areas (Minneapolis, St.Paul, Rochester). Now its mandated year around statewide.