What gas do you use?

[Mark's M]

V-Power Shell. No ethanol, much better.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by CalgaryX3

I've always stayed away from Petro Can, and Husky due to their Ethanol content. I noticed the other day while filling up my DD CRV, that Costco has the "Husky" logo on their pumps too. Would keep the M away from there too.

My 335i and other performance cars I've owned in the past were only ever filled up at Shell or Esso.

Cheers
Asif

Petro Canada Superclean 91 (premium) and Supeclean 94 (super premium: Available in Montreal only) has no ethanol anywhere in the country. The Plusclean (mid-grade) and Reqularclean (regular) does contain 5 and 10% ethanol respectively. I can attest to this since I am a Petro Canada/Suncor Employee.

Petro Canada Ultra 94 (Previously Sunoco Ultra 94) in Ontario has up to 15% ethanol.

[Gearhead999s]

[QUOTE=BMRLVR;9013155.

Petro Canada Ultra 94 (Previously Sunoco Ultra 94) in Ontario has up to 15% ethanol.[/QUOTE]

The pumps still say 10% for 94 around here.My car runs poorly on 94 when it is cold as it surges at low throttle openings.My e46 M3 also did the same on Sunoco 94.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

The pumps still say 10% for 94 around here.My car runs poorly on 94 when it is cold as it surges at low throttle openings.My e46 M3 also did the same on Sunoco 94.

The pumps may say 10% and that is probably the level the refinery wants to have it at. On some batches it will actually exceed it by a few percentage points. Since the Ultra 94 is a 94 octane and the ethanol is the component in it that gives you the extra AKI rating, it is always at at least 10% to meet it's criteria for AKI of 94. It is really hard to control ethanol content exactly when you are making hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel a day, there is probably a +/- 1 or 2% variance on the ethanol content. This is going to be true for for any refiner that ethanol blends fuel.

[CalgaryX3]

BMRLVR,

Interesting insight. The station in Crowfoot was advertising Ethanol the last time I drove through their lot. Granted, that was three years ago, and haven't been there since for that very reason.

As I say, my S2000, X3, and 335i were all treated to Shell/Esso, and I'll follow the same for my M.

A

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by CalgaryX3

BMRLVR,

Interesting insight. The station in Crowfoot was advertising Ethanol the last time I drove through their lot. Granted, that was three years ago, and haven't been there since for that very reason.

As I say, my S2000, X3, and 335i were all treated to Shell/Esso, and I'll follow the same for my M.

A

Nothing wrong with V-Power or Esso Supreme, I buy Petro Canada because I believe one should support who they work for, that and the fact that the Superclean is ethanol free. If Petro Canada didn't have an ethanol free fuel I would buy my fuel elsewhere regardless of where I work.

Shell and Esso does use ethanol in their regular and mid grade fuels in some Canadian provinces but like Petro Canada their premium fuels are indeed ethanol free. The refinery where the fuel comes from and the local legislations is what determines where the ethanol blended fuels (regular and midgrade) are sold. Almost all fuel in AB regardless of grade is ethanol free with the exception of Husky-Mohawk.

Husky and Mohawk is the only one that uses ethanol in all of their grades and in all provinces and they use it as a selling point in their "Mother Nature's Gas Station" motto.

Don't worry, if you fuel up at either of the big three (Shell, Esso, Petro Canada) Canadian gas stations in any Province you will be getting ethanol free fuel as long as you are buying premium!

Originally Posted by pmeloche

Unless you think that the U.S. of A is only California, octane 93 is readily available on the entire eastern seaboard. BMW recommends octane 93 so I use octane 94 from Petro-Canada.

You are lucky to have that wonderful ethanol free 94 Octane available to you...... you guys in Montreal are the only people that get the 94 Octane Petro Canada fuel sans ethanol. It is not the same fuel as Petro Canada Ultra 94 available in Ontario, it is much better!!!

[CalgaryX3]

Agreed on supporting ones's employer-especially in these economic times. They did help pay for the M after all *grin*

Did you happen to see the article on Global yesterday? It was interesting to see how many people would consider switching to a lower grade fuel in light of the recent price hikes, despite what the vehicle actually needs. Better to pay now at the pump or pay later (dearly) is the way I see it!

Hope I get to see your car in person this summer. Looks phenomenal!

Asif

[Prince_of_Persia]

BMRLVR, Thanks for detailed information about different gases!
Do you know why only Montreal has super premium??!!

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

BMRLVR, Thanks for detailed information about different gases!
Do you know why only Montreal has super premium??!!

The reason only Montreal has the Superclean 94 (super premium) is because they only refine that particular grade at the Suncor Montreal Refinery and do not refine it at any of the other two Suncor refineries in Canada.

Suncor Edmonton's highest octane gasoline produced is the Superclean 91. Unfortunately at this point there is no plan of refining the Superclean 94 at any other refinery besides Montreal. Even the Ontario folks are going to have to settle for Superclean 91 as their ethanol free Petro Canada choice. Ultra 94 is always going to be ethanol blended, especially considering the increased ethanol capacity plans at our St. Clair ethanol plant which is close to the Suncor's Sarnia Refinery.

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

The reason only Montreal has the Superclean 94 (super premium) is because they only refine that particular grade at the Suncor Montreal Refinery and do not refine it at any of the other two Suncor refineries in Canada.

Suncor Edmonton's highest octane gasoline produced is the Superclean 91. Unfortunately at this point there is no plan of refining the Superclean 94 at any other refinery besides Montreal. Even the Ontario folks are going to have to settle for Superclean 91 as their ethanol free Petro Canada choice. Ultra 94 is always going to be ethanol blended, especially considering the increased ethanol capacity plans at our St. Clair ethanol plant which is close to the Suncor's Sarnia Refinery.

Cool info Jamie! So if you were not affiliated with Petro-Can, what would you gas up with?

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Chowster

Cool info Jamie! So if you were not affiliated with Petro-Can, what would you gas up with?

Before I hired on with Suncor I used to use mostly Shell V-Power (or Gold as it used to be called). That being said, I never had a problem buying gas from Esso, or Petro-Canada when I needed fuel and I was out of town.

[danlauz]

I am in drummondville quebec and, when i request information 2years ago about ethanol, they told me the 94 had 10+% of ethanol so i switch to esso supreme.

Anybody know if it changed ?

Shell v power is better than esso supreme ?

[STALKER]

Shell V power here.
While I was living down south, I was able to get ethanol free 93 octane gas pretty much everywhere.

[BBCar]

anyone know what brand to get when traveling to the US (i.e. Washington state) for ethanol free gas?

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by BBCar

anyone know what brand to get when traveling to the US (i.e. Washington state) for ethanol free gas?

There are lots of choices in the US. Mobil, Shell, Amoco, Chevron. When in Washington state I always bought Chevron 94 Octane (ethanol free).

[BBCar]

Cool thanks! Glad to know that chevron 94 in WA is also ethanol free

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

There are lots of choices in the US. Mobil, Shell, Amoco, Chevron. When in Washington state I always bought Chevron 94 Octane (ethanol free).

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

There are lots of choices in the US. Mobil, Shell, Amoco, Chevron. When in Washington state I always bought Chevron 94 Octane (ethanol free).

Most of the Shell and Chevron that I have frequented in WA state (between the border and Seattle) have 91 with 10% ethanol as their top grade fuel. I have not seen Chevron 94 in WA. Maybe I'm going to the wrong stations.

Check this website for ethanol-free station listings. Not sure how accurate it is.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA

W.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Chowster

Most of the Shell and Chevron that I have frequented in WA state (between the border and Seattle) have 91 with 10% ethanol as their top grade fuel. I have not seen Chevron 94 in WA. Maybe I'm going to the wrong stations.

Check this website for ethanol-free station listings. Not sure how accurate it is.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA

W.

That is a good website but it appears to be very incomplete and there is no guarantee of the validity of the information. It appears anyone can put a station on the site without verifying the fuel is indeed ethanol free.

[Jon@Bimmersport Automotive]

Originally Posted by 2thdr

Petro Canada Supreme from a dedicated Supreme pump. Two stations in Edmonton offer dedicated Supreme pumps. If I am not near them, then Shell V-Power, but I circle like a vulture, waiting for a vehicle to use the V-Power 91 Oct fuel and then pounce on it when they leave.

Yeah, I am that anal about it.

If I had my choice, Chevron 94 Octane. When I visit my inlaws in Golden, BC, I put that in the M3. Love that stuff.

I am not sure on how the pumps work at the station or how valid your method is..

Anyone care to chime in? Seems like an interesting technicality to me. As far as I know aren't the different grades in separate tanks or is there a chem lab in each pump??

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by Jon@Bimmersport Automotive

I am not sure on how the pumps work at the station or how valid your method is..

Anyone care to chime in? Seems like an interesting technicality to me. As far as I know aren't the different grades in separate tanks or is there a chem lab in each pump??

I think he is saying that if it is not a dedicated pump, on a shared pump there could still be some residual gas in the hose of the other grade. So he is suggesting that he is that anal!

[Jon@Bimmersport Automotive]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

I think he is saying that if it is not a dedicated pump, on a shared pump there could still be some residual gas in the hose of the other grade. So he is suggesting that he is that anal!

Ah I see, that is anal...but hey, I'm not one to talk lol

[Prince_of_Persia]

Just saw Petro Canada in Calgary started to carry Ultra 94, anyone uses it? Do you guys recommend it over Shell V Power 91?