Ethanol?

[Doug Zielke]

Do any of you have gas stations that use an Ethanol formulation? We have one (local) brand, and people claim using it makes the smog test a snap to pass. I don't want alcohols in my fuel on a regular basis, but can anyone comment as to the emissions issue?

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[lsolon]

There is this product here in the states made by the same co. that makes octane boost 104.I think it's called emmisions 104. My friend has a shop and runs the stuff in cars that he pre-tests and are going to fail. He claims over 90 percent of the time they pass w\it added to the tank.

[movin]

How much do you have to add, one bottle or a gallon?

[Rod Walter]

Doug, ethanol is just another oxygenate like MTBE. So it permits more complete combustion and fewer unburnt hydrocarbons to pass from the exhaust. And I can see where, if your engine is passing too many unburnt hydrocarbons in its current state of tune, ethanol may be able to reduce them and help pass emissions. Ethanol also raises octane which is related to the more complete burning of the mixture. Another advantage of ethanol is that it allows accumulated water in the fuel system to be burnt off since it (like methanol, although the regular use of methanol is something to be avoided) attaches to water molecules and carries them through the combustion process. This is something that gasoline won't do, of course.

Nearly all engines from the mid 80's on can use an ethanol blend of 10% or less (10% is the norm in the states) without harmful effects. And most engines before that period can also use ethanol blends without problems. Potential problems with very old cars stem largely from the type of lines and seals used in the fuel system and people being uncertain whether they will stand up to the regular use of ethanol. Many of these would have been replaced by now anyhow.

The down side is that a gallon of ethanol contains fewer BTU's of energy than a gallon of gasoline so your mileage would decrease. I've driven one of our university cars that is set up to run on 85% ethanol (you see, we're here in the heart of corn-based ethanol production country) and the mileage decrease was very obvious.

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Rod Walter
'88 911 coupe

[Doug Zielke]

Thanks Rod!
(What the petroleum industry lost when you went into academics, was the university's gain.)

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Rod Walter]

Doug, thanks for the kind words.

And it's good to see someone else with an interest in jazz. If you ever get the chance, visit www.kuvo.org out of Denver for its jazz programming and feed. One of the best jazz stations in the states, I believe.

Oops - had to change the .com to .org - what comes up with the .com ending on the URL wouldn't be appropriate for a family site like this!
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Rod Walter
'88 911 coupe

[This message has been edited by Rod Walter (edited 08-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Rod Walter (edited 08-12-2001).]