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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > USA - Rockies / Midwest > Ethanol Free Gas in Colorado Springs?



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      10-24-2011, 10:48 PM   #1
richpike
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Ethanol Free Gas in Colorado Springs?

Does anyone know where to get ethanol free premium gas in Colorado Springs? It seems like every pump I've pulled up to lately has 10% ethanol. I found this website:

http://pure-gas.org/

But it doesn't show any for the Springs, and I'm not sure how up-to-date it is.

-Rich
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      11-02-2011, 07:40 PM   #2
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Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? :-)

-Rich
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      11-12-2011, 04:21 PM   #3
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try any shell station in town. there are a bunch around. I'm pretty sure their 91 is ethanoyl free, but not 100% sure...
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      11-12-2011, 04:28 PM   #4
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Thanks! I typically fill up at Shell, but the one I go to has a 10% ethanol listed on the side. Perhaps that doesn't apply to their premium though - I'll have to ask.

-Rich
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      11-12-2011, 09:02 PM   #5
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I don't think so. Here is something to think about. I live in Parker, not too far away. On Parker road, just north of main for you, there is a place where you can get a half tank of 91 with eth, and fill the rest of the way up with E85. You will feel a diff, no doubt!
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      11-12-2011, 09:25 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.kodra View Post
I don't think so. Here is something to think about. I live in Parker, not too far away. On Parker road, just north of main for you, there is a place where you can get a half tank of 91 with eth, and fill the rest of the way up with E85. You will feel a diff, no doubt!
The E85 doesn't cause problems with your hoses, etc?

-Rich
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      11-14-2011, 12:57 PM   #7
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I am not running E85 solo. I blend it and don't seem to have any issues.
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      11-14-2011, 02:30 PM   #8
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Interesting - do you have a tune to take advantage of the additional octane (e.g. Advancing the timing)? Or do you see a difference even stock? If so, what blend are you running?

If you do half a tank of E85 and half a tank of E10 (regular gasoline) that means you'd be running around E48 or so? Almost 50% ethanol? I've never thought of doing that to increase the octane - intriguing.

-Rich
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      11-14-2011, 10:16 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richpike View Post
Interesting - do you have a tune to take advantage of the additional octane (e.g. Advancing the timing)? Or do you see a difference even stock? If so, what blend are you running?

If you do half a tank of E85 and half a tank of E10 (regular gasoline) that means you'd be running around E48 or so? Almost 50% ethanol? I've never thought of doing that to increase the octane - intriguing.

-Rich
You only need a few gallons of E85 ~3gal per tank in order to get the equivelent of 93-94oct. E85 is minimally 104oct, so a simple wieghted ratio will help you figure out other mixes (when mixed with 91oct)
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      11-15-2011, 10:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richpike View Post
The E85 doesn't cause problems with your hoses, etc?

-Rich
That is a common misconception...I have been running it in my bike for over a year with no problems, the only real time that it will cause any problems is if it sits for a long time it can clog up injectors.

Watch out with running it without a tune, E85 requires about 30% more fuel than 91 at the same power levels so you can run lean without properly tuning for it, running just a little you should be ok but seems a little sketchy to me personally..During the winter most gas stations that sell E85 actually switch to E70 for easier startup on cold days...just my $.02
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      11-15-2011, 01:36 PM   #11
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The true octane raiting of E85 is about 94-96 according to "If a retailer chooses to post octane, they should be aware that the often cited 105 octane is incorrect. This number was derived by using ethanol’s blending octane value in gasoline. This is not the proper way to calculate the octane of E85. Ethanol’s true octane value should be used to calculate E85’s octane value. This results in an octane range of 94-96 (R+M)/2. These calculations have been confirmed by actual-octane engine tests." You can read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85.

I usually run 50/50 ish of a blend. The mods I have are as follows: JB4, Meth, ETS FMIC, AR C@tless DP's, BMS DCI, CDV delete. I run Map 3 all the time with a max boost of 17psi.

Let me know if you need to know where to buy meth and 101, 105 unleaded in Denver.
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      11-17-2011, 12:41 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.kodra View Post
The true octane raiting of E85 is about 94-96 according to "If a retailer chooses to post octane, they should be aware that the often cited 105 octane is incorrect. This number was derived by using ethanol’s blending octane value in gasoline. This is not the proper way to calculate the octane of E85. Ethanol’s true octane value should be used to calculate E85’s octane value. This results in an octane range of 94-96 (R+M)/2. These calculations have been confirmed by actual-octane engine tests." You can read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85.

I usually run 50/50 ish of a blend. The mods I have are as follows: JB4, Meth, ETS FMIC, AR C@tless DP's, BMS DCI, CDV delete. I run Map 3 all the time with a max boost of 17psi.

Let me know if you need to know where to buy meth and 101, 105 unleaded in Denver.
Not saying that this wiki data is incorrect, but a few questions come up in reading it for sure...

Supposedly the octane calculations are incorrect becasue they were "incorrectly" done for ethanal mixed with gasoline instead of just pure ethanol... Isn't E85 a mix and not pure ethanol???
Also, the Wiki data points to a report that claims "backed up by octane tests"... I followed these links and found no evidence of any tests only the same summary claims repeated...

Again not saying any of this says the wiki report is false, but the N54 performance results seen to date seem to indicate the possibiliyt of the lower octane claims being incorrect
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      11-17-2011, 12:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sear View Post
Not saying that this wiki data is incorrect, but a few questions come up in reading it for sure...

Supposedly the octane calculations are incorrect becasue they were "incorrectly" done for ethanal mixed with gasoline instead of just pure ethanol... Isn't E85 a mix and not pure ethanol???
Also, the Wiki data points to a report that claims "backed up by octane tests"... I followed these links and found no evidence of any tests only the same summary claims repeated...

Again not saying any of this says the wiki report is false, but the N54 performance results seen to date seem to indicate the possibiliyt of the lower octane claims being incorrect
E85 is a mix typical gas is 10% ethanol where as E85 is usually 85% ethanol the rest is gas...From all the true "tests" I have seen it is the equlivent of 104ish octane...From running it in my bike that is turbo and non intercooled I have noticed that the bike runs much much cooler on E85 than on 91 or even 110...
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      11-17-2011, 01:09 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 8URV8 View Post
E85 is a mix typical gas is 10% ethanol where as E85 is usually 85% ethanol the rest is gas...From all the true "tests" I have seen it is the equlivent of 104ish octane...From running it in my bike that is turbo and non intercooled I have noticed that the bike runs much much cooler on E85 than on 91 or even 110...
Understood and agree, but read the Wiki report... it claims E85 at only 94-96 octane.

The general consensus on numerous car performance mod forums is that E85 is really in the 104oct realm, yet this report which on the surface looks professional and genuie seems to boldly contradict the higher octane claims.

My post was meant to point out some obvious questions with the reports findings... Not saying which is right or wrong, but am motivated to continue to look into this topic for sure
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      11-17-2011, 04:32 PM   #15
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My point was that people should just be careful if they think they are running (x) octane values and they aren't. Could end up doing worse damage to the motor rather than the concerns of E85 messing up the fuel system. JMO
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      11-18-2011, 08:33 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.kodra View Post
My point was that people should just be careful if they think they are running (x) octane values and they aren't. Could end up doing worse damage to the motor rather than the concerns of E85 messing up the fuel system. JMO
Agreed slowing ramping up boost while taking logs (timing advance) and noting ambient temps is a must to be on the safe side when making a fuel change like this

It will take some effort, but can prevent catestrophic failure and give you piece of mind with your exact setup
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      02-27-2012, 12:11 PM   #17
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One of the tuners here in the Springs (Revolutions Performance) posted this article on E85 today and I thought it was very interesting:

http://www.injectordynamics.com/AlcoholArticle.html

Good overview of the benefits and potential drawbacks of E85.

-Rich
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      03-22-2012, 02:31 AM   #18
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Where in the 'Springs area can you get 100 unleaded? How about 93?
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      07-11-2012, 07:30 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by j. cooper View Post
Where in the 'Springs area can you get 100 unleaded? How about 93?
Hi j. cooper - sorry for just now seeing this. I don't know of anywhere you can get 93 anymore (you used to be able to get it at the Farmcrest at Centennial and 30th on the NW side but they moved to E85). You can get 100 octane unleaded at Chief Petroleum down off of Cimarron.

-Rich
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