Is Rec-90 fuel bad for your car? check this out | rec 90 fuel
Mia Russell
Updated on July 19, 2026
The short answer is, no, ethanol-free gasoline is not bad for your car. Most cars today can run on ethanol gas blends up to E15 (15% ethanol) and on non-ethanol gasoline. And flex fuel vehicles can handle up to E85 (85% ethanol) without a problem.
Ethanol-free 90-octane gasoline is sometimes marketed as “recreational fuel” or REC-90. Many consumers prefer to use this pure gasoline that isn’t blended with ethanol for marine equipment and small engines for lawnmowers, snowblowers, chainsaws, generators, pumps, and the like.
Is Rec-90 gas premium?
Rec-90 Availability and Pricing
Because there is no cheap oxygenate in Rec-90 gasoline, Rec-90 is almost always significantly more expensive per gallon than E10 “Regular Gasoline”.
Is 90 ethanol free better than 93 octane?
It depends whether you want more power or better mileage. I’ve used 90 ethanol-free, and 93 w/ethanol in our ’08 R55S and mileage is similar, but it runs better on the 93. I had a chance to top up with 93 ethanol free once and it made a big difference in mileage and performance, even though it was just a 1/4 tank.
What is rec 90 fuel used for?
Ethanol-free 90-octane gasoline is sometimes marketed as “recreational fuel” or REC-90. Many consumers prefer to use this pure gasoline that isn’t blended with ethanol for marine equipment and small engines for lawnmowers, snowblowers, chainsaws, generators, pumps, and the like.
Can I put Rec fuel in my car?
REC-90 is an ethanol-free, 90 octane unleaded gasoline blend designed for use in recreational/marine engines which can be damaged by the ethanol found in other gasoline blends. It is also usable in some aviation engines and automotive engines, though it has not been thoroughly tested for cars and trucks.
What is Ron fuel rating?
The most common type of octane rating worldwide is the Research Octane Number (RON). RON is determined by running the fuel in a test engine with a variable compression ratio under controlled conditions, and comparing the results with those for mixtures of iso-octane and n-heptane.
What color is rec fuel?
Regular – regular gasoline is usually greenish or slightly bluish in color. Midgrade – midgrade gasoline is usually yellowish in color. Premium – premium, the one with high octane ratings, is usually pink in color.
Is 90 gas the same as 91?
Retail gasoline stations in the United States sell three main grades of gasoline based on the octane level: Regular (the lowest octane fuel–generally 87) Midgrade (the middle range octane fuel–generally 89–90) Premium (the highest octane fuel–generally 91–94)
Is 90 gas the same as 93?
“Premium” Gas Can Vary By State
One state may require a minimum octane rating of 92 to be considered premium, while another may only require 90. Gas stations in the United States generally offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane), and premium (usually 91 or 93 gas).
Do you need fuel stabilizer in ethanol free gas?
If you have a little reserve of ethanol-free gasoline to use within the next six months, you can store it safely without having to add any stabilizer. Since the fuel does not contain alcohol, it will not attract potentially dangerous water or moisture.
Is 91 octane ethanol free?
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According to Dan McTeague, a noted petroleum analyst, Shell and Esso 91 are both ethanol free. All other grades from the companies have some ethanol content, but the mid-grade blend is pure gas, which means it not only corrodes less than ethanol blends, but is less likely to deteriorate when stored.
How long is rec fuel good for?
If stored properly, ethanol-free gas can last up to six months. It is not as likely to succumb to oxidation or evaporation.
Is premium gas really worth it?
In a consumer notice, the Federal Trade Commission, notes: “In most cases, using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”
Is E10 better than 91?
E10 petrol is actually a slighter higher octane (94) than regular 91 in a lot of cases, and that can mean your engine performs better. However, ethanol lowers the energy level of the blend by 30%, which means you may experience a slight loss in fuel economy.
Does Costco gasoline contain ethanol?
Does Costco Gas Have Ethanol? According to online reports, Costco 91 unleaded gas does not have ethanol as it is a “Top Tier” gasoline. However, Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand gasoline does contain 10% ethanol in requirement with The Energy Independence.
What percent ethanol is 93 octane?
Sometimes, there is more ethanol in premium than regular, because it is used to boost octane. I depends on the state, but I have found after testing more than 100 gas stations around New England that ultra and premium at various stations 91 & 93 octane, have a range of 5–10% ethanol mixed into them.