Ethanol - A new battle brewing?

[KennyG]

When I buy fuel that has 10% ethanol, my truck MPG actually drops by roughly 10%. Why is that??? Seems weird.

Shouldn't drop that much. Ethanol has about half the energy per gallon as gasoline, so the mileage has to drop some.

 

[KennyG]

Lonestar6, very good point. I have to use Sea Foam additive to keep my injectors clean. I remember laughing when EPA announced 25+ years ago that a University scientist had discovered ethanol which will replace petroleum as fuel. Silly me and I thought farmers had been using home made ethanol for 75+ years. I remember in HS we would buy Ethel fuel at the gas station for $.25 gallon. The cheapest I remember ever paying was 19 cents a gallon.

I don't think it was ethanol. Ethyl was the old name for Premium (high octane) gasoline. It was called that because tetraethyl lead was added to increase the knock resistance.

 

[BukitCase]

For everybody claiming they can't get ethanol-free gas, you might wanna check this out

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Just click on your state in the list -

I only buy E10 for vehicles, and don't even like doing that. Pretty much stopped fighting engine problems in ALL my small engine stuff when I stopped putting "congressional gas" in them... Steve

 

[Mitkof]

KennyG, I learn something new everyday, many thanks. My notes only showed a drop of roughly 1mpg using E10 on my 1ton which runs from 9-15mpg depending on load and speed.
I see Fiat New Holland Ag is building H2 fueled tractors and I'm glad to see it. H2 is the future especially in remote locations and for fleet uses like farms. Honda is selling third gen H2 cars in EU and Asia. Many locomotives especially switch engines burn H2. City bus fleets are going to H2. Ferries in the north sea are using H2. Germany even built a H2 freighter to test long-haul uses. Floats in it's own fuel, uses solar power to generate H2 and has backup diesel generator for when the sun isn't shining.

 

[TomSeller]

Ethanol has about half the energy per gallon as gasoline, .

Even more reason farmer's welfare should be discontinued.

 

[Copperhead]

Actually, here are the numbers:

Gasoline (base) 114,000 BTU/G

Gasoline (E10) 111.836 BTU/G

Ethanol (E85) 81,800 BTU/G

Ethanol (100%) 76,100 BTU/G (66% BTU of base gasoline)

Winter blend gasoline (E0) 112,500 BTU/G

But when the engine is designed primarily for something like E85, BTU has little to do with anything. Cummins has developed a 2.8L inline engine that primarily uses E85. Results? As much power as the 5.7L Hemi V8 and better fuel economy. Ricardo has done similar. Took a small block GM V6 (3.4L I think) and redone to use E85 primarily. Beefed up guts. Result? As much power as the 6.6L Dmax diesel and similar fuel economy.

The BTU content of a fuel is not that big of a deal except in the same motor. And our gas motors out here on the road were designed primarily for gasoline, even the flex fuel ones. When a motor is designed around it's primary fuel is E85, then the full capability of the fuel can be realized.

 

[KennyG]

When a motor is designed around it's primary fuel is E85, then the full capability of the fuel can be realized.

You can get the same power. You will use more fuel to do it. You can't get away from the energy content. The BTU released translates directly into pressure which becomes torque which becomes horsepower.

 

[two_bit_score]

I recently noticed quite a few television ads by Is the ethanol mandate the most broken policy in America? | Smarter Fuel Future
I checked them out briefly and noticed their backers are many of the poultry, cattle, or other food producers. I thought most farmers were in favor of ethanol, but maybe it's just the grain producers. Maybe this is all old news. I have varying opinions on ethanol, and I don't intend this thread as a bickering match. I'm really just curious if this is a new development regarding ethanol.

I am fully in favor of getting ethanol out of gasoline.

.

 

[houstonscott]

I think you all will be surprised to find the EPA is just about ready to put more ethanol in gas and they don't care if your cars engine will be damaged, or isn't designed to run percentages above 9.7. HS

 

[DarkBlack]

I loose about 5% mialage with ethanol diluting my gasoline.