I just got off the phone with BP fuels

Turbo Kyle · Sep 9, 2008, 01:37 PM

I sent and Email to BP fuel asking them if 10% Ethanol was in all of the 93 octane fuel in Missouri. BP then sent me an Email saying to call a fuel specialist at Global Fuels (a company with BP) to get my questions answered. My main questions were as follows.

Does all of the 93 octane fuel have 10% Ethanol? He said, yes in Missouri all of the fuel should have 10% ethanol. He also stated that Missouri has RFG (reformulated gasoline) and all of the fuel in Missouri should have ethanol.

Can a shady gas station owner fill all of his pumps with 87 octane and shaft everyone buying midgrade a premium? He said, yes it is possible. However, gas stations in Missouri are tested a lot to make sure this doesn’t happen. I told him I try to buy my fuel from BP stations in the nice area of town. Its kinda like buying a Big Mac in Clayton (a rich, high line area of St. Louis), the cheese is on perfect, the bun is straight and the burger is hot ,V.S. buying a Big Mac in the ghetto down town (the burger has poor craftsmanship). Well this could also ring true with gas stations whos owners are shady.

So…what about getting some E85 at the BP stations? He said they are looking to have E85 at stations in 6-9 months. He said there is some government deal where they have to sell a certain amount of Ethanol. BP is not close and Uncle Sam is up BP’s rear to start moving E85. BP is having UL (underwriters laboratories ) certify BPs new pumps to handle E85. E85 pumps are different than gas pumps because they have to be able to handle the ethanol content of E85.

He also stated only Flex-Fuel cars can run E85

If you want to contact Global Fuels (BP) about gas questions the number is 800-841-5255

dsmfan95 · Sep 11, 2008, 07:14 AM

This is good news! I hope to see more and more E85 stations throughout the US.

I read online that they are opening an ethanol plant in NC by next June. Expected to produce 60 million gallons in the first year.

Turbo Kyle · Sep 12, 2008, 07:10 PM

Yea, the guy was smart as hell.

awdboosted · Sep 13, 2008, 07:02 AM

I wonder if there is any way we could test octane in gas with color strips? Just like when you test pool water.

MalibuJack · Sep 13, 2008, 08:12 AM

Thats actually been the major hurdle for all fuel stations.. The issue is corrosion and being certain that E85 is safe to pump on current (or modified) hardware without being a safety concern.

This was the same issue I saw in NY when one of the first E85 stations wanted to open up, he spent most of the year waiting on UL approval of pump hardware (and he was a new station with new hardware)

Retrofitting or adding new pumps and compliant storage is expensive, and its likely individually owned places are reluctant to spend the money unless their certain it will be a return on their investment pretty quickly.

Since there are only a handful of major players, you will see corporate owned stations all over the US fitting pumps as required. Its just too bad the early adopters suffered because of it, especially the gas stations that were getting the impression that people weren't interested, when the issue was simply accessibility for those who wanted it.

Cost per mile, and not cost per GALLON is the real economic measure, and fuel prices these days make cost per mile roughly equivalent between E85 and Regular (89 or 87) so its a good time to get everything out there, the more expensive gasoline gets, the more desirable it will be to get E85 out there.

For us, E85 is a great thing if we have the proper hardware for it, as the Evo 8 and 9 are not Flex fuel capable from the factory. And I am not sure if the X is flex fuel capable, but again, its not hard to convert a car that is already know to be mostly compatible besides a tune and some misc parts.

Its nice to know that a particular area is planning on getting it, and you got a somewhat honest (though I do think it was a political answer and not necessarily the real timeframe)

MalibuJack · Sep 13, 2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awdboosted

I wonder if there is any way we could test octane in gas with color strips? Just like when you test pool water.

You can test Ethanol content, they make handheld products for that (Specific gravity and fuel density tools will work too) Or you can equip your car with a Fuel Composition sensor used in Flex fuel vehicles and eventually use it to alter your tune to accomodate Ethanol content as our tuning tools get more refined.

awdboosted · Sep 13, 2008, 10:37 AM

I was thinking of something more cut and dry.. Gravity of fuel has nothing to do with octane levels, but it will give you an idea how much fuel you will need to use thou.

eitan · Oct 14, 2008, 07:19 PM

Has anyone heard more about BP adding E85 pumps?

Gas City in IL has a pretty tight grip on the E85 market, having it at all of the normal pumps in most locations I've been to. In some cases they have older pumps and just an extra E85 pump near the special diesel pumps.

mx4life85 · Oct 14, 2008, 07:40 PM

I wish they would add some more E85 stations in Charlotte...and maybee ONE in greensboro.

evovin · Oct 14, 2008, 07:54 PM

Why just in MO?

Turbo Kyle · Oct 15, 2008, 07:47 AM

^ this is the info I asked for....call and ask about FL. Im sure they will tell you what ever you want about E85 in your area.

sprytsi · Oct 15, 2008, 12:03 PM

I really want E-85 to be widely available, this sounds like promissing news