Ethanol blend fuel

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
I've just starting using Gull Force 10 here, it's 98 octane with 10% ethanol. Until now I've been using BP 98, but having moved to an area where Gull operates I've discovered the rorts that BP in particular use. Like competing on the price of 91, but jacking up 95 and 98 prices to subsidise it.
Anyway, this seems to have added 10% more feralness. The response when overtaking is noticeably better, the butt dyno feels like another 10KW. My wife commented on the different engine sound now as well.
This shouldn't be the case because 98 is 98, but I'm wondering if BP sometimes isn't. Perhaps it's losing the effectiveness of its octane additives while in storage or transport.
Anyone else running ethanol blends?
 

Zer0

Active Member
Jun 22, 2019
522
242
I've just starting using Gull Force 10 here, it's 98 octane with 10% ethanol. Until now I've been using BP 98, but having moved to an area where Gull operates I've discovered the rorts that BP in particular use. Like competing on the price of 91, but jacking up 95 and 98 prices to subsidise it.
Anyway, this seems to have added 10% more feralness. The response when overtaking is noticeably better, the butt dyno feels like another 10KW. My wife commented on the different engine sound now as well.
This shouldn't be the case because 98 is 98, but I'm wondering if BP sometimes isn't. Perhaps it's losing the effectiveness of its octane additives while in storage or transport.
Anyone else running ethanol blends?

Yup I've used a 25% ethanol mix with 98 on my GTI with JB4 Map 6 in the past, was definitely quicker than regular 98. :)
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
No problems with 25%? I see VAG only recommend 10% max.
I used to use a 50/50 water methanol injection system in my supercharged MX5, but that was as much for charge cooling as for burning. It did make a big difference though.
 
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Zer0

Active Member
Jun 22, 2019
522
242
No problems with 25%? I see VAG only recommend 10% max.
I used to use a 50/50 water methanol injection system in my supercharged MX5, but that was a much for charge cooling as for burning. It did make a big difference though.

Yeah up to 25% (E25) is fine according to a lot of JB4 people over at golfmk7 forums and in particular George who is the VAG specialist at Burger Tuning who develop JB4.

I ran it daily for 6 months or so using E25, no issues at all and it pulled much better and allowed higher boost settings in JB4 map 6 (custom map), unfortunately E85 is no longer available locally. Bit surprised not to see a lot more people here mixing ethanol :)
 

rcwsr

Active Member
Jul 5, 2019
34
3
Just realised you're in NZ, I've never seen a blend available in the UK.
 
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LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
Just realised you're in NZ, I've never seen a blend available in the UK.
Gull are the only one's doing it. They don't belong to the cartel, they import their own fuel. From Singapore I believe.
There was a lot of negative press when they started with E10, but that was probably from the cartel.
 

The Daily Meme

Insta: @thatredcupra
Jan 3, 2018
912
466
Cambridge
Is it bioethanol? In which case I don’t know why we can’t get it in the UK.
Big truck fleets import their own biodiesel and the like which is mixed with renewable forms of fuel.
I say renewable because the process of producing it is not sustainable.
 

Owen83

Active Member
Feb 9, 2018
77
20
Yep Ethanol as an aditive in lots of UK fuels, as a way of saving on the price of Crude..... thats why in the classic car scene they advise you to change your fuel lines to modern, as old rubber lines disintegrate due to the ethanol.
 
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The Daily Meme

Insta: @thatredcupra
Jan 3, 2018
912
466
Cambridge
It's quite common to have ethanol in British petrol (look for such as E10 somewhere on the pump).
Very few fuel stations round me have it, only the usual 5% stuff. I only saw some plcaes that sell LPG up north as well. Doesn't seem to be a thing round my way.

Looks like 10% might be the standard in 2020 though with the premium fuels having 5%.
 
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