EPA proposes 30% ethanol fuel?

[tadink]

Hey all -

just ran across this - the EPA is proposing to increase the level of ethanol to 30%, and has the topic open for comment at present. This is one of those things that we should all comment on and share our views with the nutcases we have elected to 'represent' our interests....the corn lobby is certainly active behind the scenes apparently.

Here's the article: EPA proposes increasing ethanol content in fuel to 30 percent | Hemmings Blog

td

[javadog]

I thought ethanol will separate from gasoline at concentrations of 17% and higher...

One of you guys with spoons needs to solve this problem once and for all.

JR

[wdfifteen]

I didn't read the article yet, but we shouldn't be mandating an increase in ethanol until we have a reasonable source for it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The Farm Lobby is alive and well. I like how the ethanol industry is apparently touting it as an optimal blend for fuel economy. The specific energy of ethanol is significantly less than that of gasoline, therefore the greater the percentage of ethanol in your fuel the worse your MPG. Hence why there is separate fuel economy labeling for E85, the MPG is significantly worse. My S8 gets approximately 10% better MPG when I fill up at the no-ethanol gas station, though I would use their product regardless based simply on principle. Yet another example of our government forcing an agenda on the people that is in no way beneficial to us.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

The Farm Lobby is alive and well. I like how the ethanol industry is apparently touting it as an optimal blend for fuel economy. The specific energy of ethanol is significantly less than that of gasoline, therefore the greater the percentage of ethanol in your fuel the worse your MPG. Hence why there is separate fuel economy labeling for E85, the MPG is significantly worse. My S8 gets approximately 10% better MPG when I fill up at the no-ethanol gas station, though I would use their product regardless based simply on principle. Yet another example of our government forcing an agenda on the people that is in no way beneficial to us.

From an energy standpoint G90/E10 should have only a tiny, almost undetectable, decrease in fuel economy on a MPG basis. I too noticed a 10-15% difference when I went from California (G90/E10) to Arizona (G95/MTBE 5). My mileage on my Jeep Cherokee would go from around 15MPG highway to 17MPG highway.

The only explanation that works is that the mixture is actually closer to 3-5% water. This would reduce the mileage 10-15%, since the water absorbs the latent heat of vaporization.

[widebody911]

You guys like to rant about welfare queens? Here's the biggest welfare queen of them all: Archer Daniels Midland: A Case Study In Corporate Welfare

[BE911SC]

Thank you iPhone "Pure Gas" app:

[GH85Carrera]

That is insane.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by widebody911

You guys like to rant about welfare queens? Here's the biggest welfare queen of them all: Archer Daniels Midland: A Case Study In Corporate Welfare

Who are you expecting to disagree with you on this?

[Jim Bremner]

I've always wondered what the smog ramification is if with real gas a car gets 30 mpg but with 90% gas gets 17 and this new 70% gas gets 15?


Someone will be getting rich off of us buying more.

[friendly]

Where do you get "alcohol free premium", other than at an airport. What is the octane??

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

Thank you iPhone "Pure Gas" app:

Absolutely. I'm lucky to have a station right next door to work. They have big signs that proclaim "our gas contains no ethanol".

[RWebb]

George Bush promised us ethanol - gas in his State of the Union speech some years ago. We got it.

We are not going to get rid of it until you find a better way for ADM et al. to make money - no matter who you elect.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by RWebb

We are not going to get rid of it until you find a better way for ADM et al. to make money - no matter who you elect.

At the risk of repeating myself:

Originally Posted by javadog

One of you guys with spoons needs to solve this problem once and for all.

JR

[gamin]

I know of at least 4 gas stations within 15 miles of me that pump 93 octane ethanol free gas. About a 10% increase over the ethanol stuff. 2 of them have 87 octane ethanol free gas which is what I use in all the small engine stuff. Ethanol sucks. Locals call it a waste of good shine.

[VINMAN]

I wonder if the EPA and the corn lobby will reimburse us for the billions in fuel system repairs, that this crap has cost us ?

[RWebb]

oh, sure, of course they will

[VINMAN]

I know, I should have put that in green .

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I didn't read the article yet, but we shouldn't be mandating an increase in ethanol until we have a reasonable source for it.

This.

Methanol (M100) would be a much better fuel. It can be easily made from natural gas, or even biomass. It is almost free because you can convert flare gas that would have been wasted to methanol. Sure we would need to modify fuel systems (not that hard) but it makes both fewer emissions and more power. MOAR BOOST!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Even more interesting from a lobbying standpoint, going to E15 or E30 would make many brand new cars incapable of running the available fuel. Unless your brand new car is E85 flex fuel capable, the manual very likely contains a blurb prohibiting the use of a greater than 10% ethanol blend. Suddenly thanks to the government, millions of people need new cars. I think a few companies might have some motivation to that end.......