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Thread: What do y'all run? Ethanol vs. Ethanol-free vs. Ethanol-free + Octane Booster

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    North Carolina
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    10,579
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    '86 M635/'10 Clubman

    What do y'all run? Ethanol vs. Ethanol-free vs. Ethanol-free + Octane Booster

    There's gas station pretty close to my house that sells ethanol-free gas, but it is 89 or 90 octane, which isn't ideal for the M635. I usually put octane booster, but now reading about the orange deposits on the plugs etc. Not a fan of that, but not sure if it's a problem. (lots of folks with expensive cars seem to love Boostane and Torco).

    What do y'all run?

    (the search function is temporarily borked, so I couldn't search)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Silver Spring, MD
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    877
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    Too many
    Unfortunately there are no nearby sources of ethanol free fuel here in MD. I've used octane booster in the past but not regularly or recently. I didnt really see and change.
    I have used 100 octane fuel but it's expensive (about $6 or $7 a gallon the last time I got some) and the reasonably close sources of that have dried up. That fuel made a difference. The euro loved it!

    Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk
    00 740iS
    84 635 (euro)
    88 M6
    84 745i
    88 325iX
    92 850i (6 spd)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Kuna, Idaho
    Posts
    736
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    Too Many Cars (NOT!)
    Because ethanol-free gas is HUGELY expensive here in Idaho, I use Shell 91 octane (highest I can find), with the addition of a product called Ethanol Defense by Bell Performance.

    https://shop.bellperformance.com/pro...thanol-defense

    If you look at the product to fuel ratio, it's 1oz for every 10 gallons, which makes it inexpensive compared to other products. It will increase your mileage and does make the car run better. It even has a top-end lubricant for my '67 Riviera which does not have hardened valve seats. I run it in all 16 of my cars and their diesel products in my dually.

    No relationship to this product other than happy user.

    Mike
    Mike Drives:
    BMW's
    E24 - 635CSiA - (1) 1985 (US)
    E24 - 635CSi - (1) 1985 (EC)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Black)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Calypso Red)

    E32 - 740iA - (1) 1994
    E32 - 750iA - (1) 1990 (Not an "L") (EC German National)
    E32 - 735iL - (2) 1990
    E32 - 750iL - (1) 1990

    E38 - 740iLA - (2) (1) 1997 & (1) 1998
    E38 - 750iLA - (1) 1998
    E38 - 740iA - (1) 2000 "Short Sport"
    E39 - 528iA - (2) - 2000 & (1) 1997
    Also:
    2015 Ram 3500 Dually, Cumins 6.7, Std.Cab. Long box 4x4 (To haul all this junk when necessary)
    2014 Dodge Dart Rallye (Daily Driver)
    2007 Mercedes Benz CL600 (Brabus SV12S)
    Mercedes Benz SL's - (1) (2002) & (1) 1999 500 - (1) 1999 600
    1967 Buick Riviera (2)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    North Carolina
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    '86 M635/'10 Clubman
    The loss of power was one thing, but having what is essentially corn whiskey sitting in my fuel lines etc isn't ideal...

    My motor definitely appreciated higher octane
    Last edited by e24mpwr; 05-12-2018 at 11:05 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    North Central Florida
    Posts
    1,282
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    88m5,2015 Silverado
    get near a large lake, most boat owners want non ethanol fuel, no they demand it

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    North Carolina
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    Quote Originally Posted by 88m53453 View Post
    get near a large lake, most boat owners want non ethanol fuel, no they demand it
    I'm lucky - a non-ethanol station is only a couple miles away, but 89 octane - not ideal. It costs about as much as 93.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    North Central Florida
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    88m5,2015 Silverado
    Quote Originally Posted by e24mpwr View Post
    I'm lucky - a non-ethanol station is only a couple miles away, but 89 octane - not ideal. It costs about as much as 93.
    We are lucky here , we have a Pure station that sells 93 octane non ethanol , last time I got some, it was around 3.39 I think. I'll send you a couple of hundred gallons

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    1,903
    My Cars
    E24, E34 x2, E36
    I have replaced fuel lines and run a 50/50 blend of e85 and aki93. Gives me an aki if 102 octane. Mixtures are perfect on this blend on the wide band
    BMW’s
    90 E34 M5
    84 E24 M635csi standalone ecu with coil on plug
    94 E34 540i/6 SC 5-17psi Flex fuel/standalone ecu
    97 Z3 2.8
    97 E36 M3 euro SC still u/c


    OTHERS
    11 Audi S5 APR stg2
    19 Volkswagen Amarok V6


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    North Carolina
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    '86 M635/'10 Clubman
    Quote Originally Posted by 88m53453 View Post
    We are lucky here , we have a Pure station that sells 93 octane non ethanol , last time I got some, it was around 3.39 I think. I'll send you a couple of hundred gallons
    Hmmm... I'll look for a station with more options. We have a giant lake just a few miles away (Jordan Lake)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    North Carolina
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    '86 M635/'10 Clubman
    This site is incredibly useful: https://www.pure-gas.org

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    orange county
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    29
    My Cars
    1970 2800CS
    Good site...Thanks!

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