FYI: Ethanol-free 91 in Waitsfield

[kbroderick]

The Village Grocer on Rt. 100 in Waitsfield, Vt. is now selling ethanol-free 91-octane fuel. I stopped by this morning, $4.199/gal, which is not out of line with other 91- and 93-octane options in the MRV.

I'm curious as to where they're getting 91-octane, ethanol-free fuel, though—I was under the impression that none of the distributors were carrying that in Vermont anymore.

[Kurlon]

I'd be curious also... heard of places claiming to be selling Ethanol Free only to watch them get filled from the same truck that serviced the place next door...

[tonyd]

MTBE was a winter only additive but yeah I was under the impression the 10% ethanol was a fed requirement now.

[markbvt]

The Maverick station in Malletts Bay has their non-ethanol sign out again, and the Maverick station in Middlebury has a sign up that their premium gas is non-ethanol. Guess they must have found a new supplier.

FWIW, ethanol is not a federal requirement. Lots of stations in the South are selling non-ethanol gas.

--mark

[PinHead]

Speaking of ethanol. I just got a recall notice from Stihl, dated, 5-26-2011.
The ethanol in the fuel is distorting parts of the fuel cap. I need to get my leave blower down to the shop to replace the fuel cap with a newly designed one that wont distort and leak fuel.

[smokinjoe]

Did you know that leaf blowers do more to pollute the environment than cars? Even taking into account the difference in numbers. Your leaf blower for a weekend pollutes more than your car for a month. But hey knock yourself out.

[Omahastylin16]

Did you know that leaf blowers do more to pollute the environment than cars? Even taking into account the difference in numbers. Your leaf blower for a weekend pollutes more than your car for a month. But hey knock yourself out.

so? the trees keep polluting my lawn, they started it!

[PinHead]

Did you know that leaf blowers do more to pollute the environment than cars? Even taking into account the difference in numbers. Your leaf blower for a weekend pollutes more than your car for a month. But hey knock yourself out.

Mine might take 2 weekends.

BR 600 STIHL Magnum™ Caring For Nature

The STIHL Magnum™ professional backpack blower offers the standard STIHL proven fuel efficiency – up to 28% greater as compared to competitive models tested – and an impressive power-to-weight ratio, but with many unique enhancements. The improved engine delivers increased durability and longer life. The new nozzle is specially designed with an extended wear area to prolong equipment life, and the specially-designed nylon harness provides high wear resistance. Easy-to-adjust blower tubes offer versatility for a wide range of jobs. And as one of the cleanest-running backpack blowers in its class – with emissions 69% cleaner than current EPA requirements (as of information posted at www.epa.gov March 2009) – the STIHL Magnum™ is an environmentally responsible tool for heavy-duty leaf blowing and debris cleanup.

[xsiliconkid]

MTBE was a winter only additive but yeah I was under the impression the 10% ethanol was a fed requirement now.

+20 years back the Feds mandated MBTE which is an oxygenate to be added to pump gas US wide to help clean up exhaust emissions. MTBE is environmentally very hazardous. A few years ago MBTE was found in ground water and over time now banned in most states including all of New England. Ethanol is the replacement oxygenate for MBTE..

Not sure in New England stations can legally sell non 10% Ethanol gas for road use.
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_ethanol_mtbe.htm

ps Ethanol by volume has less than 50% of the energy of hydrocarbon gasoline, so MPG is going to suffer the more ethonal in fuel..






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[markbvt]

Not sure in New England stations can legally sell non 10% Ethanol gas for road use.

It depends on where they are. Apparently the EPA mandates ethanol in certain high-pollution areas (ie, around big cities), but more rural areas are not bound by that mandate. Vermont, being rural, is not affected. The only reason all the non-ethanol stations stopped carrying it last fall was because their supplier was no longer able to get it from Canada. Apparently they've found a new supplier.

--mark

[xsiliconkid]

the other amazing fact - the ethanol it dumped in the the top of the tankers by the bucket load just before delivery..... fuel depots etc don't want the water absorbing stuff sitting in their distribution system.