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Should I Use Unoxygenated Gas


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Oxygenated fuel is used to reduce emissions in smoggy areas.  While it does reduce emissions, it uses more gas and hurts performance,

Is oxygenated fuel another name for ethenol ?

All unleaded gas has ethenol does'nt it?

Is the only reason why they have stated on the pump

collectable ,boat,small engines ONLY Is so everybody

won't use unoxygenated gas and thus increase emissions?

Emissions aside , is unoxygenated the best fuel for my 94 LS 400

performance ?

Will it hurt my LS ?

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Oxygenated fuel is perfectly fine for your Lexus. The fuel economy reduction is very small, and the reduction in carbon monoxide is significant. Ethanol is one of the ingredients used to oxygenate fuel, MTBE is the other. Both carry extra oxygen atoms on the hydrocarbon molecule. This promotes cleaner burning, especially in the winter-time, when oxygenates are used mostly. The use of oxygenates also improves the octane rating of the fuel, and in the mid eighties MTBE was used to compensate for the reduction in octane caused by the elimination of tetraethyl lead.

There is some thought that older carburetors may be susceptible to the ethanol, in that alcohol will react with the old neoprene diaphragms and such that those fuel systems use. There is no component in a modern injected engine that will be affected by oxygenated fuel additives.

Oxygenates REDUCE emissions, so use it when you can.

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Oxygenated fuel is perfectly fine for your Lexus.  The fuel economy reduction is very small, and the reduction in carbon monoxide is significant.  Ethanol is one of the ingredients used to oxygenate fuel, MTBE is the other.  Both carry extra oxygen atoms on the hydrocarbon molecule.  This promotes cleaner burning, especially in the winter-time, when oxygenates are used mostly.  The use of oxygenates also improves the octane rating of the fuel, and in the mid eighties MTBE was used to compensate for the reduction in octane caused by the elimination of tetraethyl lead.

There is some thought that older carburetors may be susceptible to the ethanol, in that alcohol will react with the old neoprene diaphragms and such that those fuel systems use.  There is no component in a modern injected engine that will be affected by oxygenated fuel additives.

Oxygenates REDUCE emissions, so use it when you can.

I'm not sure but it seems as if everybody is confusing oxygenated gas with unoxygenated gas. I asked if unoxygenated gas was safe for my car because that is the gas that at the pump says boats,collectables, small engines, etc. ONLY

could someone please clarify? sorry for the misunderstanding

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Your owners manual says gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol can be used as well as gasoline containing no alcohol or MTBE. So you're OK using either fuel.

As SRK pointed out, oxygenates like 10% ethanol reduce emissions which means your emission system components say cleaner, longer, which in turn helps maintain optimum engine power and drivability.

The reason the pump says "for boats,collectables, small engines, etc. ONLY" is because the government regulators want the owners who own cars that can use oxygenated gasoline to use it to reduce air pollution.

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  • 9 months later...

Oxygenated fuel is perfectly fine for your Lexus. The fuel economy reduction is very small, and the reduction in carbon monoxide is significant. Ethanol is one of the ingredients used to oxygenate fuel, MTBE is the other. Both carry extra oxygen atoms on the hydrocarbon molecule. This promotes cleaner burning, especially in the winter-time, when oxygenates are used mostly. The use of oxygenates also improves the octane rating of the fuel, and in the mid eighties MTBE was used to compensate for the reduction in octane caused by the elimination of tetraethyl lead.

There is some thought that older carburetors may be susceptible to the ethanol, in that alcohol will react with the old neoprene diaphragms and such that those fuel systems use. There is no component in a modern injected engine that will be affected by oxygenated fuel additives.

Oxygenates REDUCE emissions, so use it when you can.

Here is some interesting info...

"MTBE has been used in U.S. gasoline at low levels since 1979 to replace tetra-ethyl lead to increase its octane rating and help prevent engine knocking. Since 1992, MTBE has been used at higher concentrations in some gasoline to fulfill the oxygenate requirements set by Congress in Clean Air Act amendments; however, since 1999, in California and other locations MBTE has begun to be phased out because of its health risk related to widespread groundwater contamination (California Air Resources Board, 2004). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 drops the federal requirement for oxygen content in reformulated gasoline [1].

"Oxygen helps gasoline burn more completely, reducing harmful tailpipe emissions from pre-1984 motor vehicles. In more modern vehicles, the emissions reduction is negligible. In one respect, the oxygen dilutes or displaces gasoline components such as aromatics (e.g. benzene) and sulfur. In another, oxygen optimizes the oxidation during combustion. Most refiners have chosen to use MTBE over other oxygenates primarily for its blending characteristics and for economic reasons."

...Well, from the way I read it, oxygenates (e.g. MTBE, Ethanol) may have little effect on our 'Lexi'...in other words - they run clean w/o it.

Anyone out there with a chemistry/fuel science backround???

Looking at the $$$ of crude oil, we all need to get educated fast.

-B

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