We want to provide high-quality fuel for your machine. While ethanol helps reduce exhaust emissions and boost octane, the drawbacks outweigh those benefits. To name a few disadvantages of ethanol gasoline, it has lower BTU content than pure gasoline, which means less performance and lower fuel economy. Ethanol absorbs water and carries that water throughout the fuel system and engine; steel and iron gas tanks are prone to rust from water. Ethanol softens and cracks rubber, plastic, and fiberglass parts; engines used for marine applications are most vulnerable to deterioration. Ethanol causes petroleum gasoline to turn to varnish more quickly, meaning less shelf life. Old ethanol gasoline clogs carburetor jets, fuel injectors, fuel injection distributors, fuel pumps, and fuel filters; once varnished, it also sticks to intake valves and ruins the engine.

All of them. The gasoline and race fuels are ethanol-free.

Congress has been subsidizing ethanol since the early 1980's, so retailers who sold ethanol gasoline did so at a lower cost. The most common product sold was E-10 (10% ethanol) 87-octane gasoline, which is similar to 89-octane gasoline because of the octane boost from ethanol. Some retailers advertised E-10 87-octane gasoline as 89-octane gasoline while others kept the 87-octane sticker and added the E-10 label. Since the 30-year ethanol subsidy expiration in 2012, many retailers have switched to E-10 85-octane gasoline, which is advertised as 87-octane gasoline. In short, most retailers sell a mixture of 90% 85-octane gasoline and 10% ethanol that is rated as 87-octane. On the other hand, we sell 100% 87-octane petroleum gasoline. To make an fair comparison, purchasing one gallon of E-10 85-octane gasoline is equivalent to buying 0.90 gallons of 87-octane gasoline; the 10% of ethanol adds 2 octane points to the 85-octane gasoline. The price of E-10 85-octane gasoline is 11% more than advertised when compared to pure 87-octane gasoline. For example, if E-10 85-octane gasoline is priced at $3.69 per gallon, then the equivalent cost is $3.69 per 0.90 gallons of 87-octane gasoline, or $4.09 per gallon.

Yes. The higher the octane, the cooler the engine will run.

Most gasoline retailers sell grades of petroleum gasoline of 87, 89, and 91-octane. Low-octane gasoline can result in pre-detonation and higher wear of an engine. Another disadvantage with conventional gasoline is carbon buildup. Conventional gasoline, especially regular 87-octane, does not burn cleanly. Most unleaded street vehicles require a minimum of 87 octane.

Sunoco race fuel vaporizes more readily, thus burning more completely and leaving no carbon behind. This leads to greater efficiency and power. Another advantage is that our fuel contains a propriertary additive that cleans fuel injectors, reduces carbon buildup in cylinders, and prevents fuel-line freezing by driving out water.

No. The octane stated in your owner's manual is the minimum octane rating required by your vehicle. In fact, as your vehicle becomes older, your vehicle will need a higher octane fuel due to carbon buildup.

Yes. Sunoco race fuel blends linearly. For example, if five gallons of 98-octane fuel is mixed with five gallons of 93-octane fuel, then the result will be ten gallons of 96-octane fuel.