Grade 95 Petrol

[corkscrew]

Twice in the past month one petrol station that I went to was out of 95. But, another one nearby had it. Has anyone seen any shortages of 95 or heard any news about it?

[jumnien]

It's getting a little harder to find, but it appears to be here to stay. My little airplane with a Rotax engine won't run on anything else. Gasohol would be the end of it, and possibly me!

[corkscrew]

It's getting a little harder to find, but it appears to be here to stay. My little airplane with a Rotax engine won't run on anything else. Gasohol would be the end of it, and possibly me!

An American friend of mine who lives in Thailand also keeps his plane here. His name is Tom Claytor. Do you know him? There can't be too many farangs with planes in Thailand.

[jumnien]

Everybody knows Tom Claytor! Bush pilot extraordinaire and appearing in the soon to be released "First Flight" Thai feature film currently screening in Cannes.

[Gary A]

I stopped in three gas stations between Jomtien and Loei before I found one that had 95 octane gasoline. Today in Loei I found it at the second station I stopped at. Another Caltex had the 95 octane price blocked out so I assumed that they were out too.

[corkscrew]

Everybody knows Tom Claytor! Bush pilot extraordinaire and appearing in the soon to be released "First Flight" Thai feature film currently screening in Cannes.

We met Tom in Nepal about 8 years ago when we played elephant polo together. After that we played elephant polo together in Hua Hin for a couple of years. He is a great guy.

[PeaceBlondie]

Got it yesterday at two out of two places, but I wasn't sure the first place was 95 straight benzine, without gasohol.

[corkscrew]

Everybody knows Tom Claytor! Bush pilot extraordinaire and appearing in the soon to be released "First Flight" Thai feature film currently screening in Cannes.

I 'spoke' with Tom this afternoon. He is leaving for Cannes on Thursday.

http://www.firstflightmovie.com/

[lotus eater]

I thought most modern cars are perfectly happy (ie without suffering any damage) running on lower octane petrol - even if they may have more vim when fed the 95. And even though, for whatever reason, the manuals may recommend 95. Am I wrong - because I believe I got this from an authoritative source.

[jumnien]

Gasohol will absolutely destroy an aircraft engine such as a 100hp Rotax 912S. I'm sure other engines are at risk as well. Why take the risk to make a few corn barons wealthier?

[IvanLaw]

We met Tom in Nepal about 8 years ago when we played elephant polo together. After that we played elephant polo together in Hua Hin for a couple of years. He is a great guy.

Is that the Royal WE?

2 year Polo Match, Must of been a hel_l of a game, Bet you very tired

How much 95 octane consumed in the 2 years?

To be Serious, your vehicle ok only on 95, Or can it be “Adjusted” ?

Edited May 13, 2007 by IvanLaw

[PeaceBlondie]

An engine that only needs 91 octane will supposedly do no better on 95 or 99. An engine that needs 95 will not do well on 91 or 85 octane. Some high compression engines, with a c.r. of more than 10.0:1, can supposedly run on 91 without pinging (or knocking or predetonating).

95 octane gasohol that contains ethanol made from corn is not the same as 95 octane gasoline/benzene. It's been previously discussed at length here, with links.

[jumnien]

Exactly, the problem for many of us is not the 95 octane is disappearing. The problem is that they are increasingly corrupting the available 95 octane with gasohol which is devastating to many engines. There are also many engines that can use it safely.

[JimsKnight]

It'd be handy if the petrol stations that use gasohol state that they use it so folks can pick and choose wisely.

[lotus eater]

How can I simply and reliably verify if my car (mazda3, 1 yr old) is as happy to run on gazohol as much as 95 octane petrol - though of course giving lower mileage?

Asking the dealer?

Have been using them interchangeably, but won't if it's harming the engine.

[Gary A]

How can I simply and reliably verify if my car (mazda3, 1 yr old) is as happy to run on gazohol as much as 95 octane petrol - though of course giving lower mileage?

Asking the dealer?

Have been using them interchangeably, but won't if it's harming the engine.

My Ford Focus may have the same 1.8 liter engine as your Mazda. I think Ford's is what they call a versa fuel engine that runs equally well on 95 octane gasohol. I did email Ford regarding 91 octane gasohol and was told that ONLY 95 octane gasoline or gasohol was suitable for that engine. I have only driven it 6,000 kilometers so far and have used both. If there is a difference in economy, it must be a VERY small difference.

[lotus eater]

How can I simply and reliably verify if my car (mazda3, 1 yr old) is as happy to run on gazohol as much as 95 octane petrol - though of course giving lower mileage?

Asking the dealer?

Have been using them interchangeably, but won't if it's harming the engine.

My Ford Focus may have the same 1.8 liter engine as your Mazda. I think Ford's is what they call a versa fuel engine that runs equally well on 95 octane gasohol. I did email Ford regarding 91 octane gasohol and was told that ONLY 95 octane gasoline or gasohol was suitable for that engine. I have only driven it 6,000 kilometers so far and have used both. If there is a difference in economy, it must be a VERY small difference.

Well, thanks very much for your very pertinent response. Do the thai petrol stations sell both 91 and 95 octane gazohol? Usually I just drive up to the - only - gazohol pump. Will verify the situation at the pumps next time.

And as to mileage, I think the difference is there, though of course I won't be able to do an accurate comparison driving on each but with identical other conditions.

[lotus eater]

My partner just told me that we do take the 95 octane in gazohol too - and that they do indeed have 91 & 95 octane gazohol. Obviously I'm more ignorant of practicalities than I thought.

[PeaceBlondie]

That's news to me. I thought all the 91 octane was no gasohol, and the 95 octane could either be with or without gasohol.

[barryofthailand]

I have a 2006 Toyota corolla Altis 1.6 G. This car can only use 95 or 95 gasahol. Exon Mobile does not sell 95 any more. the best stations to find 95 is Caltex and PTT. PTT is owned by the Thai government. Thailand grades their petrol differently then the west. their 95 is actually a true 91 premium gasoline. I would not use gasahol in any car. yes a little cheaper, but you travel 10% less distance, so your not saving anything.

Barry

[Gary A]

I have a 2006 Toyota corolla Altis 1.6 G. This car can only use 95 or 95 gasahol. Exon Mobile does not sell 95 any more. the best stations to find 95 is Caltex and PTT. PTT is owned by the Thai government. Thailand grades their petrol differently then the west. their 95 is actually a true 91 premium gasoline. I would not use gasahol in any car. yes a little cheaper, but you travel 10% less distance, so your not saving anything.

Barry

The problem is that very soon we will have no choice between gasohol or gasoline. 95 octane gasoline is increasingly hard to find. It's not a matter of saving money. It's what is available. As I mentioned previously, I certainly don't see much if any difference in fuel economy. I normally don't drive to car to get the best efficiency but I do look at the car's computer and the liters per 100 kilometers on either is using about 7.6 liters per hundred km and with all local driving increasing to about 9.5 liters per hundred. When driving the car my normal speed is between 100 and 120 kmh. Maybe the fuel economy will improve when it has more kilometers on it. As it is, I'm not impressed at all and can tell no difference between gasohol or gasoline.

[pete_r]

My partner just told me that we do take the 95 octane in gazohol too - and that they do indeed have 91 & 95 octane gazohol. Obviously I'm more ignorant of practicalities than I thought.

In Bangkok, gasohol 95 was introduced about a year ago. I started to notice gasohol 91 at some pumps since January this year (Shell first, and more recently PTT).

Gasohol 91 is only 30 satangs cheaper per liter than gasohol 95.

[Bung]

Buy a diesel.

[Etrigan]

Certainly no expert at this, however, my understanding is that fuel-injection engines can run on gasohol, and the problem is with older vehicles that still use carburetors, as these older motors suffer from corrosion caused by the gasohol mixture.

So it could be a question of the age of your car!

[PeaceBlondie]

I just stopped at the big Shell station, where they must have 5 different grades, including diesel. I wanted the 95 no gasohol, for the princely sum of 31.14 baht/liter. I'm afraid I'll get the 95 gasohol, though. I finally learned to say "gow-sip-et" for 95; do I say "mai gasohol"? Or is it "Oh me, oh my, mai mee gasohol"?

[lingling]

I finally learned to say "gow-sip-et" for 95

That's 91...

mai gasohol

"gao ha tammada, mai ao gasohol"... Have someone write it down in Thai for you and just show the gas station attendant the note. In some areas you may need a burmese version of the same note ...and put a "ham chai gasohol" (meaning "do not use gasohol") sticker on the inside of the tank lid...

[borracho]

Gasohol will absolutely destroy an aircraft engine such as a 100hp Rotax 912S. I'm sure other engines are at risk as well. Why take the risk to make a few corn barons wealthier?

This isn't entirely true.

Rotax does allow a 5% ethanol mix. And mixes up to 10% appear to have been used safely.

Other factors to consider is what you fuel tank is made of and how the ethanol might affect it.

But the engine will run.

Fuel storage of an ethanol mix seems to be the primary issue. Ethanol absorbs water. Once saturation is reached the water can separate which caused problems.

I would avoid using an ethanol fuel myself but in a pinch it would work.

I did much flying of reciprocating aircraft in wintertime in the Arctic. We routinely added isopropyl alcohol to our fuel to disperse the ice crystals which would form in the fuel tanks and clog the screens.

[DrFisher]

I was running 91 up until 3 weeks ago and I switched to gasohol 95 not to save a few stang but to screw the oil producers out of 10% of my money and put less pollutants into the air we all have to breath. I have found not only does my car run better, faster, smoother and cleaner but I am averaging 50 to 70 Km per tank more.

[pete_r]

One issue with gasohol and older cars (and possibly aircrafts) is that some parts of the motor that get in contact with the fuel are made of rubber or plastic that ethanol can dissolve (seals for example). If gasohol is used regularly, these plastic parts get damaged and fuel starts to leak.

The rule of thumb is that cars less than 10 years old are designed to withstand up to 15-20% ethanol in the fuel without trouble, but it's better to check with the manufacturer.

[DrFisher]

One issue with gasohol and older cars (and possibly aircrafts) is that some parts of the motor that get in contact with the fuel are made of rubber or plastic that ethanol can dissolve (seals for example). If gasohol is used regularly, these plastic parts get damaged and fuel starts to leak.

The rule of thumb is that cars less than 10 years old are designed to withstand up to 15-20% ethanol in the fuel without trouble, but it's better to check with the manufacturer.

That is good to know thank you. I have found the Honda dealers to be less than helpful. I went to buy new spark plug wires the other day and they looked at me strange and asked me why I wanted to replace them and I told them because they were old and looking kind of shoddy it is normal to change them in my country, needless to say I got a few eye rolls. I inquired as to how many Km per liter I should be getting with my car and I got the eye roll again and the service man told me no one ever asks. I explained to him that I wanted to be sure the car was running at manufactures specifications and burning efficiency so as not to put out more emissions than necessary and of course to maximize my fuel economy. The service man then pointed out to me again no one ever asks that, he said if you can afford to own a car in Thailand you shouldn't care how much fuel it uses and a friendly foreigner chimed in and said yeah no one ever reads the MPG stickers when they buy a car and there is no regulation on what they say anyway. Well my next car will be a hybrid and I hope the friendly foreigner is wrong about the MPG stickers.