I think any of the gas stations in the top tier gas list are fine:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

 

I disagree. Even gas stations in the top tier gas list are allowed between 8 and 10 percent ethanol in their fuels.

Not for my MINI!

0.00% ethanol

 

Do they all mark the percentage of ethanol on the pump? If so, I'll have to make sure I get pure gasoline next time.

 

I don't know about NC laws but in AL they must display it at the pump.

It's usually something like "..........contains up to 10% ethanol by volume....."

 

The "up to" part is the one that gets you.

 

You should see a decrease in mileage, but not power. You are adding an oxygen carrier to the fuel.

 

You may be right, but I just know I have to hit the throttle harder.

 

There is no percentage on the pump and I am finding there is ethanol all year round now. But you can easily tell how much there is if you have a graduated cylinder.

Fill the cylinder, 9 parts gas, 1 part water. Pour the water in slowly.VERY slowly. The gasoline will float on the top. Then shake.

The ethanol will bond with the water. Let the top settle and see how much more than one part is ethanol.

Race gas has none. The Shell station outside of the track at Summit Point WV many times has none in the summer (and is Top Tier) as well. It is also the cheapest for top tier anywhere between VA and NJ.

Rich

 

This video is a little slow, but it shows you how to test. This is also how a MINI dealer should test when they try to tell you bad gas killed your high pressure pump.

 

Great. I like that little tester rather than taking my glass graduate to the track. I found it here on eBay and snagged one. Thanks.

And I am sorry but I did correct my post to have the gas float on the water.

Rich

 

Looked all over the pump at my local Shell station (California) and could find no mention of ethanol.

I guess I'll order that glass graduate and test it. Any recommendations for what to collect the gas in without making a mess? Anyone come up with something clever?

 

Some sort of larger pipette is needed. I use a gas can and a baster. The baster I have doesn't seem to get eaten by brief contact with gasoline, but I don't know if they are all that way.

 

Ethanol in gasoline is more prealent than many people suspect since some states do not advertise its presence. Check out http://www.fuel-testers.com/state_gu...anol_laws.html

 

Oops, that is preValent, not prealent.

 

You can edit your original post to correct any errors. You don't need to make a second post.

 

The EPA just proposed tighter restrictions on some air pollutants, and many more counties will find themselves out of compliance with the new standards.

As a result, 10% ethanol will probably be required year-round in a lot more areas of the country, so enjoy that ethanol-free fuel while you can.

 

Actually, one of the requirements for "top tier" status is that the gasoline must contain *at least* 8% and no more than 10% ethanol by volume, in all of their gasoline grades at all of their retail locations.

So if you want ethanol-free gas, you want to avoid the "top-tier" retailers rather than seek them out.

 

That's interesting. Two of the ethanol free gas stations in this area are Phillips 66, which is one of the retailers listed as a top tier gas provider.

 

I can think of a couple explanations:

1) Their gasoline does in fact contain 8-10% ethanol, but it's not marked on the pump (This would violate Tennessee law, though.)

2) The retailers aren't abiding by the "top tier" requirements. (Which after all, aren't government regulations - they're just a standard put together by the oil companies themselves.)

3) The "top tier" requirements have changed and they just haven't updated their website.

 

I'm going to go a different route with this and most likely will be flamed, but here goes.
Why the ethanol hate? If for political reasons, then I have no place to question it. However, if the small % "dillution" is raising mpg concerns for you, then I have to wonder if you can truly afford your Mini ownership.
Our city got rid of ethanol for the most part on the premium gas and as a result, octane rating has dropped from 93 to 91 across the board. As a result, my other car runs shittier and the present octane for premium doesn't allow me to push it as far as I could previously when tuning it, due to detonation/knock. E85 is great too. At 110 octane rating, it is effectively cheap race gas and the price difference far offsets the ~25% energy loss when compared to a gallon of straight gasoline.
So I urge you to stop and re-think this whole hate towards ethanol. As a matter of fact it makes for a great cleaning agent for the motor.
The problem with power and response is possibly because the "base" gas that the tier uses is crappy and they "artificially" raise the octane rating by injecting ethanol. However, if the gas is good to begin with, then I am afraid that the poorer performance is placebo and imagined. Try to get out of the frame of mind that ethanol = dillution, water, whatever and start looking at it as cheap race gas.

 

Since you want to be flamed, you don't live where they grow a lot of corn, do you? Just kidding.

I mostly agreed with you up to your description of E85. E85 is not cheap race gas and should not be used in any engine not designed for it, including any MINI engine.

 

You kidding? There's nothing BUT corn around here as far as you can see.
There are 6 E85 stations in my city alone.
You are correct in the sense that you can NOT run E85 in a stock Mini. Only vehicles sold as "flex fuel" can do so. Mini is not one of them.
E85 is referred to as cheap race gas due to it's low price and high octane rating. However, 1 gallon of ethanol only has about 75% energy coefficient of 1 gallon of gas. What this means is that you have to scale fueling accordingly and this is why most cars can't run it in stock form, due to the ECU tuning, injectors and fuel pump not being high enough capacity, etc. But that is basically what it takes to be able to run E85 in most cases. Fuel pump, injectors and a tune.
What would you rather pay? $2.-something for a gallon of 110-octane E85, or 6 bucks per gallon of 100-octane Sunoco race gas

 

I don't like ethanol because it kills your gas mileage and it's not good for my Classic Mini. It attracts water into the gas tank and can cause rust inside the engine. Not good for a 34 year old car...

 

Here in this part of Tennessee the 100% premium gas is 93 AKI. Last fill up I paid $2.869/ Gal.

I haven't seen 91 AKI in Florida, Georgia, or Kentucky. Did see it in Ohio though.

 

US posts AKI at the pump, not RON like Europe. AKI is RON/MON so are you sure it was RON you were looking at? That is rather low actually, and it would not qualify as premium-grade gas in Europe, by a long shot.
That is, unfortunately, a legitimate concern. Can't you find regular gas with no ethanol? I believe only mid-grade blends it, the "bottom" 87-grade should be unblended, pure gas.
89 with 10% ethanol here ends up being cheaper than the straight 87. Of course now that I have 2 FI cars I don't even look at those 2 grades.