Hi.
I am following Scotty Kilmer since a while ago and I remember I watches a video where he explain that Ethanol was made of corn residues that used to be trash but not anymore since the factories are using it to produce gasoline in theses days.
So my question is: Do you recommend to full my tank with 0% Ethanol on my new Camry 2023 even when it does not says Top Tier gas?
I realize Rutter in my area has Top Tier and Ethanol free but the Octane is 90 and it's too expensive. Meanwhile I saw a gas station but without Top Tier but 87 Ethanol free and unexpensier than Rutters. So I got totally confused and dissapointed since the one without ethanol and with Top tier is 99 and too expensive. The Owner's Manual for my car recommend to use Top Tier, no more than 15% with Ethanol but. You know... If I can fill it up without Ethanol, why not? Or if you recommendme other thin it's more than welcome.
The "top tier" designation is not a general specification for "really good gas". It refers to gas that has a certified minimum of detergent additives. Yes, it generally is pretty good gas, although theoretically you could have bad "top tier" gas as well as great "not top tier" gas.
Octane ratings and ethanol content are separate metrics. For those, as long as you follow your owners manual you'll be fine.
PS: If your preferred gas station is not a "top tier" vendor, you can add your own detergent additives. Chevron "Techron" is a common example.
If I can fill it up without Ethanol, why not?
You've bought a new car and in was designed to run on what is recommended in the owner's manual. Use the recommended fuel. A modern car's computer can compensate for a fuel's octane rating. But if the car doesn't require the use of premium or ethanol-free, you're just wasting money.
Top tier refers to the quality of gas used by a gas vendor, not the type of fuel.
If your car is designed to run on ethanol-contaminated gas there's no problem in using it. There is a drop in gas mileage versus pure gasoline, but the increased cost of the pure stuff more than wipes out that savings.
About the only reason for using the pure gasolne in a stock modern car might be if the car is going to be stored for more than a few weeks. Pure gas doesn't deteriorate as quickly as the ethanol-laced stuff. (Gas stabilizer is a good idea if a car is to be stored for months at a time in any event.)
https://thrivingyard.com/does-ethanol-free-gas-go-bad/
