Ethanol

[The_Logans]

Well, just got back from Florida, and discovered some interesting thins about ethanol in the fuel. I ran through 3 states where they were selling ethanol free fuel, and gas seemed to be cheaper without ethanol, and beter yet, I got 2.2 MPG increase in my milage without ethanol.

Good grief, why do they put that stuff in the fuel if it costs more, and kills your milage? :@

[diazr2]

valhalla360 wrote:
First, I seriously doubt you got 2.2mpg better towing because of non-ethonal fuel.

Ethonal has roughly 80% of the BTU content of gasoline. So a 10% blend should only result in a 2% reduction in MPG. Unless you typically get 100+ mpg towing, it wasn't likely because of the different fuel.

When you jump states, the cost differences are mostly about the state fuel taxes but ethonal is a bit more expensive to produce.

They did it originally to reduce emissions. Then it became a political game related to supporting corn prices...I'll leave you to dig around on the internet and sort out fact from tin foil hats once it gets into the political aspects.

Look Mike don't go mucking up this discussion with facts dammit:@

[Sharps45120]

It is also corrosive and in the long term will cause shorter engine life.

[wildtoad]

Last year while making a trip to Michigan I had several opportunities to get real gas and noticed improved mileage. Hard to say if it cost more.

My take as to why Ethanol in gas is all political. Someone's brother-in-law owned an ethanol refinery and made a phone call and made a donation. It makes no sense to use a food source to power automobiles. If you're not going to eat the corn, at least turn it into liquor.

[The_Logans]

Over three tanks of Non-Ethanol fuel, we went from 8.8 MPG to 11 MPG, drove just the same, the fuel was the only difference. We also noticed a much smoother idle. When we went "back north" and back to ethanol, the MPG went back down again.

In researching the issue, I found out that the "Corn States" lobby is responsible for ethanol in the gas, and that has driven up the price of corn, which has driven up the price of everything that is fed on corn... good grief!

[Big_Katuna]

I live in Floriduh and I detest Ethanol gas.

I saw about a 10% reduction in MPG when we switched.

I thought it was a Federal mandate. Florida passed a law last year
To undo it but the papers said we would still have it die the the Fed
Law.

[valhalla360]

First, I seriously doubt you got 2.2mpg better towing because of non-ethonal fuel.

Ethonal has roughly 80% of the BTU content of gasoline. So a 10% blend should only result in a 2% reduction in MPG. Unless you typically get 100+ mpg towing, it wasn't likely because of the different fuel.

When you jump states, the cost differences are mostly about the state fuel taxes but ethonal is a bit more expensive to produce.

They did it originally to reduce emissions. Then it became a political game related to supporting corn prices...I'll leave you to dig around on the internet and sort out fact from tin foil hats once it gets into the political aspects.

[tpi]

I'm not all that fond of the ethanol in the fuel. It does serve as an octane booster-at least one way to boost octane.

But... ethanol contains about 30 percent less energy per gallon than gasoline. The fuel generally contains 10% ethanol. So the total energy content of the ethanol treated gasoline is about 3% less than pure gasoline. You report a 22% plus loss of fuel economy-which is far beyond the scope of the ethanol. I suspect headwinds/tailwinds are a big factor here.

[2oldman]

I don't know, google 'why ethanol'