Choices - Octane vs Ethanol

[ChrisInNashville]

I found a gas station near my house on the west side of Nashville that sold ethanol free 90 octane. 

I know we are supposed to use premium 93 octane

Is it worth the trade off to use ethanol free gas?

[BaronYoungman]

I would make that trade if it was available to me. Just my two cents Bob

[badali]

I have been using the 90 non ethanol gas for several years and my car runs much better.  It starts easier and doesn't seem to have a lack of power.

[MikeSimon]

I think what you are looking at is the choice of additive. Do you want a gasoline stabilizer that neutralizes ethanol, like "Startron" or do you want an octane booster.
The non-ethanol gasoline we have in our area is premium.
Also, be aware of the fact that the octane numbers associated with the Pagoda is based on a different octane rating than the one that is available at the pump.

[ChrisInNashville]

My recollection is that the current octane formula is different than when the car went in to service and that the current 93 is the equivalent of 98 as originally recommended by Mercedes?

[MikeSimon]

The Octane rating at the pump is commonly shown (and identified) as (R+M)/2. R=Research Octane, M=Motor Octane. Because of this, it is usually 4-6 Octane points lower than in the rest of the world for the same fuel. If you are pumping 90 (R+M)/2, you are getting what MB would have called 94-96 octane in the 70s

[zak]

Does everyone agree that the non- ethanol , 90 octane gas is better for our cars ?

jz   

[MikeSimon]

I would.
Just because there is more than octane to ethanol vs non-ethanol gas. I don't think we really know what kind of damage ethanol does on the long run to components in the fuel conveying system. I had some weird failures in both cars and motorcycles which can be blamed on continuous ethanol gas usage.