Fill 95 J30 with 10% ethanol, worried

[drivej30]

I have been using 87 for my 95 J30. I filled the tank yesterday, but realized that it is 10% ethanol. What should I do now? is 10% ethanol be ok for my car? I had better use premium later. Can I just use up this tank of 87 with 10% ethanol and just with premium afterward? worried........... Thanks.

[elwesso]

youll be fine... Just start using premium as soon as possible... I wouldnt drive the car especialy hard...

[drivej30]

Thanks elwesso. A little relived.

The former owner had been using 87, that is why I used it. And I am still curious why premium is required? And what is going to be the problem for not using premium?

Is that ok, I fill premium when I use up half of this tank of 10% ethanol?5

[Q45tech]

The highish compression ratio and THE FACT that the ecu software was programmed to take advantage of a higher MON rating than US fuels contain. The knock sensor circuitry advances the spark until knock is sensed then backs off and starts the process over and over again continuously..........to maximize power and fuel mileage.

Japanese spec fuels were/ARE currently higher quality than US fuels

[elwesso]

The cars have to be designed to run safely on 87 octane for incompetant owners (demonstrated in the previous owner) and also so the car can be operated in places where premium cannot be found.

The thing is that pump octane rating is so iffy than on an average day the premium on the pump (91-92-93-94 octane) might actually only be like a 89 lab octane... If you knew you were running a TRUE 87 octane you might be able to get away with it in the winter time (below 60F)... above 70 though, all bets are off because it will surely ping.

So i put premium in my Q (even when it was stock) because it is a high compression motor that should run premium. Youll spend an extra $200 per year or so by using premium, no more than a couple dollars per fillup.

So to answer your question... you probably wont feel any adverse effects, but your car surely wil not get as good fuel mileage and run as good as it should.

[Q45tech]

Eventually you won't have a choice to use Ethanol or not..........it will take time [YEARS] to produce enough to blend in all gasoline.........currently ~~30% of US gasoline has it [10%]!

Ethanol current cost more than gasoline {[$2.20] before the taxes }are added vs. [$2.70 per gallon] plus delivery and blending fees for ethanol.

Ethanol use is now subsidized ~~60 cents per gallon by Federal Government at the $2.70 price point so it is actually $3.30 per gallon.

Hopefully you can see the more Ethanol used the higher gas prices will become.

[VimyJJ]

Octane ratings are manipulated by oil co.s to perform the same during the various seasons which is why there are the change overs from winter to summer formulations, etc. The oil co.s don't want spend extra dough during the winter when lower temperatures have the effect of upping the "octane" (compressability) ratings.

I would never run my J on 87 but I do sometimes use mid grade fuel if the weather forecast during the summer months predict temps in the 60s.

Ethanol has fewer BTUs than gas or MBTE.

PS All I know about "octane ratings" I owe to Q45tech.

PPS We have been using corn alcohol crap here in the mid west for years. My J just rolled by 180k last night and is still running like a top though it is beginning to develope a list of idiosyncrasies found in high mileage vehicles.

[drivej30]

Thanks guys. Learned a lot.

I had better use premium from now on. Though the price is really high. Seems it can lead to better cafe standard. I will fill premium right now, little by little, to upper the octane level in my tank. seems funny, a mix of premium, 87, and 10% ethanol.

[Q45tech]

The 87 with 10% ethanol is actually 84 octane [table scraps] gasoline boosted to 87 by the ethanol just as it was with MTBE.

Ethanol's 114 octane is useful as long as they don't push the envelope too far. [84 x 0.9=75.6 + 114 x 0.1=11.4 = 87

[metaverse3]

I drove cross country from Delaware to Western Canada, BC. 7500+ mile round trip... 93 J30T. Filled tank with ethanol blend countless times...I could swear the car ran better..cruising at 70 mph..no issues noted..

Just drive the car..stop worrying.

[driverdriver]

We've had ethanol mixed in all grades of gas up here for a long time. The J has never had any problems.

If you get a chance and if its available try a full tank of octane 93, 94 or 95 in the tank. The engine is livelier.

[Q45tech]

After all what is 2.8 -- 5% decrease in MPG when using AC can drop it 20%.