What Is Recreational Fuel? REC-90 Explained
REC-90 is ethanol-free, 90-octane unleaded gasoline blended for recreational and marine engines that ethanol can damage. The name tells you everything: “REC” for recreational, “90” for the octane. It is pure gasoline with no ethanol, sold at marinas and a growing number of gas stations, and it is the fuel of choice for boats, mowers, chainsaws, generators, snowmobiles, and classic cars.
Why Ethanol and Small Engines Don’t Mix
Ethanol attracts water from the air. In a car you drive every day, that never becomes a problem. But in a boat that sits at the dock for weeks, or a mower that sleeps all winter, the absorbed water can cause phase separation: the ethanol and water drop to the bottom of the tank, octane plummets, and the engine may not start or may be damaged.
Ethanol is also a solvent. In older fuel systems it can soften rubber hoses, swell gaskets, and loosen years of deposits that then clog carburetors and filters. Small-engine repair shops report that a large share of their work, some say the majority, traces back to ethanol fuel problems. REC-90 sidesteps all of it by containing no ethanol at all.
What REC-90 Is (and Isn’t)
REC-90 is a specific product: 90 octane, unleaded, zero ethanol. It is designed for recreational and marine engines, and it is also usable in some aviation engines. It can legally be used in cars and trucks, and some stations label it safe for automotive use, but it has not been as thoroughly tested for modern passenger cars as standard pump blends, so check your owner’s manual if you plan to run it in a daily driver.
Do not confuse REC-90 with premium. Premium is higher octane (91 to 93) but still contains ethanol at most stations. REC-90 is about ethanol content, not octane. See our ethanol-free gas guide for the full breakdown of no-ethanol options, and our Top Tier guide to understand how detergents fit in.
What Does REC-90 Cost?
Expect to pay significantly more than regular E10, often 50 cents to $1 or more per gallon extra. REC-90 has no cheap ethanol oxygenate in the blend, so it costs more to make, and it is sold in smaller volumes to a niche market. In one observed example, a station priced REC-90 about $1 per gallon above regular E10.
Is it worth it? For equipment that sits, yes. One carburetor rebuild or fuel-system repair costs far more than the per-gallon premium across a season. For a daily-driven car, the math rarely works: you gain about 3% mileage for a much larger price increase.
Where to Buy REC-90
Availability varies by region. In many states, especially near lakes and coasts, REC-90 is sold at marinas, where in some areas it is the only gasoline offered at fuel docks. On land, it shows up at stations that cater to boaters and small-engine owners, often on a dedicated pump labeled “recreational fuel,” “REC-90,” “ethanol-free,” or “pure gas.”
In the plains states you are more likely to find ethanol-free 87 octane instead of REC-90; the product is the same idea at a different octane. Crowd-sourced directories like pure-gas.org list ethanol-free stations nationwide, and our ethanol-free station guide covers how to find them near you.
REC-90 vs E10 at a Glance
| REC-90 | Regular E10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanol | 0% | Up to 10% |
| Octane | 90 | 87 |
| Energy per gallon | About 3% more | Baseline |
| Storage life | Up to about 6 months, stored properly | About 3 months |
| Price | Often 50 cents to $1+ more | Baseline |
| Best for | Boats, mowers, classics, generators | Daily-driven cars |
FAQs
Is REC-90 the same as ethanol-free gas?
REC-90 is a type of ethanol-free gas: specifically 90-octane unleaded with zero ethanol. Other ethanol-free fuels exist at different octanes, such as ethanol-free 87 or 91, but REC-90 is the most widely marketed version.
Can I put REC-90 in my car?
Yes, it is legal for automotive use and will not harm a modern engine. But it has not been as thoroughly tested in cars as standard blends, and it costs much more than regular, so there is little reason to use it in a daily driver. Check your owner’s manual.
Is REC-90 better than premium gas?
For storage and small engines, yes, because it has no ethanol. For knock resistance, premium wins with its higher octane. They solve different problems, so match the fuel to the engine, not to the price sign.
How long does REC-90 last in storage?
Stored properly in a sealed container in a cool place, ethanol-free gasoline like REC-90 lasts up to about 6 months, roughly double the practical storage life of E10. A fuel stabilizer extends it further.
Facts verified October 2026. Station counts and prices vary by state and change over time.