Bill Dearborn

Several years ago the EPA said that the oil companies could no longer use MTBE in the fuel to cut exhaust emissions. MTBE was mandated for use in quite a few areas around the country but not all. The mandated substitute for MTBE is Ethanol at 10% of the fuel. 10% Ethanol cuts down on polution. All of the other Ethanol mixes have something to do with cutting down on carbon emissions. When they made the switch we had several months of gasoline shortages in my area because the Ethanol manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand.

Bill

SCM_Crash

I'm not sure why anyone would thing Ethanol was a bad thing. The truth is that it's cleaner and naturally has a higher octane rating.

E85 alone has a 105-106 octane rating. F.I. race cars use E85 because it's cheaper than C16 and works extremely well for racing.

Some will argue that you get worse mileage with the added 10-15% added to standard pump gas (which is true) but not by much. My Z06 ran 91 (with 15% Ethanol) and still got between 28-30MPG on the highway at 70MPH. But I've heard from many sources that they got 1-2 MPG less overall with 10-15% ethanol. HOWEVER, the good thing about that percentage is that it actually is quite GOOD for your car. Most fuel injection cleaners are actually just alcohol with a couple additives. Ethanol additives actually help clean your fuel system. It also burns longer and cooler than gasoline.

Technically, if you use 10% ethanol blended gasoline, you shouldn't ever need a fuel injection cleaner. I use 91 octane Chevron gas. Here it has a 10% mix. I didn't ever need injector cleaner. I did however try it once and didn't see a single benefit from it.

waunavet

I drive out of my way to buy non ethanol gasoline. Although much of what you say is true, what hasn't been addressed is the political side of ethanol production in the U.S. However, let's not ruin this thread with that discussion and instead keep it educational for those who have just learned that not all gasoline is still their father's gasoline.

SCM_Crash

I agree with what you said. And yeah, I'd say that the politics behind Ethanol suck. But here in Cali, we don't have a choice either way. ALL gasoline options here in California are Ethanol blends except for 100+ octane which can be had at certain Union 76 stations for twice the price of 91.

waunavet

Up here in the 'frozen tundra' (oxymoron) of Wisconsin you can still find real gas which is 91 octane. Many of the marinas stock only non ethanol fuel too. Of course everything good comes with a price and 100% gasoline is usually 10 cents more than premium with corn-derived fuel. The UW Madison received a $250 million grant to find a low energy intensive way of extracting sugars from plants other than ag feed stocks. If/when successful, our buddies in the land of oil and sand may have to adjust to a slightly lower standard of living.

Silverbullet00

Oh lets' good ahead and ruin it but not before a few facts. Ethanol is highly corrosive to aluminum, rubber, etc. I also has a limited shelf life when compared to pure gasoline. Gas mileage is less for sure.


Your tax dollars prop up the ethanol business. It actually costs more to produce that gasoline and the diff is made up for political reasons with you tax dollars. Say Thank you corn farmers. I'll quit there for now!

waunavet

Now, now.........put down your keyboard and take a couple deep breaths. Yes, what you say is true. But as stated earlier, let's keep the thread a basic educational lesson that affirms all gas is not equal. All the why's and how's are for another day.

Silverbullet00

Well spoken retort! Facts shouldn't clutter up BS fuel type discussions!

waunavet

That's better.

tsts

I'll ditto that!

Rupert

I think you meant ethanol is to replace MTBE. I believe PTFE is teflon.

Vetteman Jack

I've seen one station around here that advertises no alcohol in their premium gas.