More gas stations to offer ethanol-free gas

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Okla. -- When you see gas stations that have different fuel prices, you probably choose the cheapest. By doing so, you could be compromising your car's gas mileage.

Paying less now could cost you later. Some cheaper fuel is not pure gasoline, but rather an ethanol blend.

Jenny Hochstatter doesn't stop and fill up these days unless the signs are right.

"Well, honestly, I'm driving down the road and we need gas, and I saw the sign and I thought, ‘That's exactly what I've been hearing about, and I want to make sure that my engine is taken care of and I get better gas mileage for my money'," Hochstatter said.

The signs at the E-Express at Danforth Road and Boulevard in Edmond make it clear their gas doesn't contain ethanol; something other customers say they appreciate as well.

"A lot of stations still do not advertise that they carry ethanol and my car is not supposed to take ethanol," E-Express customer Janet Seifried said.

Station owner Neal Do feels strongly that consumers lose money when they buy cheaper ethanol blends, which is why he decided to go ethanol-free at his stations.

"We want to make their money count," E-Express owner Neal Do said. "We have a very positive response from our customers, and really that's what encouraged me to go out there and raise the awareness."

Do says, after an initial drop, business is up, indicating more and more people feel like Hochstatter does.

"I put my foot down," Hochstatter said. "I'm defiantly going to be stopping at places that are true to what they say they're selling."

As of July 1, more accurate labeling will be the law. Corporation commission inspectors will be checking for compliance, and will shut down pumps if they're not properly labeled.

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