January 1st 2023, and the “Clean Fuel Standard”

[Steve G.]

   They said this day would happen, conspiracy theorists they call them. As of January 1st, , other than stockpiles of 0% ethanol, there will soon be no retail ethanol fuel available in Canada , except, I’ve been told, at marinas. I’ve spent this morning contacting directly Chevron Canada, Co-op BC, Imperial Oil (Esso).
 So, regarding vintage and classic machines with carburetor fuel delivery, long term storage, and new investigations into fuel additives designed to offset the known negative effects of ethanol should be the new theme of this situation.
 So, Chevron 94 is no longer the holy grail of gasolines, now it is a guarantee only of lower fuel mileage because of its octane rating, it’s formula is designed to slow the flame speed, which equals lower BTU.

[hardrockminer]

At first I had a hard time understanding what you wrote.  I think you're saying there is no longer any ethanol free fuel for sale in BC.  All fuel, including Chevron 94 will contain ethanol.  Is that correct?

[Steve G.]

  Yes that is correct. I called the regional distribution office, and the local source for 94 octane in BC, Parkland Refinery in Burnaby, July 17th, and yes, 0% ethanol is no longer made in Canada.

[Steve G.]

  Ok,,,, latest info on this today, confirmed by Chevron and Co-oP, July 17, 2023, 2 days ago, was the implementation of this regulation. There may be some pumps with 0% ethanol fuel around for a week or 2.

[Steve G.]

  Parkland Refinery in Burnaby delivered their first ethanol enriched 94 yesterday to all SWBC Chevron stations.
  Two fellows I know are going to be testing the 94 the next few weeks to determine the %.

[hardrockminer]

One of the better points about ethanol is that it improves octane ratings. 

I probably used E5 or E10 about half the time, when I couldn't find ethanol free fuel.

[Steve G.]

    I could never “square that circle” when you consider that up until the last week or so, for the last 25 yrs of ethanol use, the highest octane fuels have always been the fuels with the lowest % of ethanol. For example, Chevrons 94 octane , their highest octane, didn’t have ethanol.

[hardrockminer]

Higher octane ratings are generally not required in older bikes because the bikes have lower compression ratios.  (A Z1 is 8.5/1). So when 0E isn't available I've just gone with 87 octane rating fuel.  If the engine has a higher compression ratio, greater than 10/1 I would probably go with a 90 octane rating or greater.

[Steve G.]

   Yes for sure. There are also relevant factors of "pre-ignition" other than compression ratio, namely older inefficient combustion chambers that require a 'slow flame speed front' in the combustion.

  However, my original query, why did 94 Chevron, the highest octane fuel that is available in Canada,  have 0% ethanol, noting that ethanol is an octane booster?

[hardrockminer]

My guess would be to satisfy a demand for non ethanol gas.  As for why 94 octane rather than 87...I don't know.