E15 fuel

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Kizmet, Jan 19, 2013.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    A friend of mine just urged me to be mindful of the potential hazards of using E15 fuel in my car (now a Dodge Avenger). I haven't even seen any offered in my little town but I guess it's appearing all over the country. Does anyone have any knowledge of this issue aside from what is being printed in the media?

    Will E15 fuel damage your car? | Fox News
     
  2. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I have not seen this fuel yet for sale but will try it if price lower than other options (I usually use Costco gas about which I have seen similar claims).
     
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Let's also consider the pressure burning food in our cars puts on the food system.

    The additional level of ethanol shouldn't cause too much trouble, especially in newer cars. Those cars are already designed for 10% ethanol. In fact, fitting a car for 85% ethanol requires just a small amount of retro-fitting, mostly soft parts like hoses.

    If you really want to burn food to drive a car, biodiesel is a possible alternative, but not for a car you already own.

    I wouldn't use it to save money because I'm philosophically opposed to ethanol in any form, even though it is unavoidable in most cases--if you use gas.
     
  4. KariS

    KariS New Member

    E15, being made from a combination of ethal alcohol and gasoline can have a negative effect on rubber components in the fuel system. This is most noticable on cars and light trucks that are over 10 years old (pre 2001). Newer vehicals are supposed to be designed to handle this. As Rich said, this is an agricultureal byproduct, and as such tends to be more expensive than straight gasoline, but cleaner burning. It is not being used to lower prices, but lower emmissions.
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Really, it's not being used for either of those things. It's being used to enrich executives and other major shareholders of big agricultural corporations.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I agree with Steve. Except....

    If this was only about politics, we'd see a lot more E85 action going on. But we're not. Still....

    I agree with Steve. If you want another example, look at the high fructose corn syrup issue. Taxpayer-subsidized obesity. Not because we didn't have a sweet tooth before that stuff, and not because it has more calories than other forms of sugar--it doesn't. But instead, because of the insidious nature of the stuff. Because it's cheap--artificially cheap--it shows up in a bunch of foods where you wouldn't expect it, much of that targeting kids and their too-busy parents. Even something supposedly healthy like Special K cereal or yogurt. It's everywhere, and Big Ag rakes it in. Stopping corn subsidies would go a long way in cutting down on that.
     
  7. perrymk

    perrymk Member

    I've only seen the 10% ethanol in gasoline and what is locally called "marine gas', which is 100% gasoline with no added ethanol. Of course the marine gas costs more per gallon. So over several tanks I calculated my gas mileage and cost per mile. It was about the same. Being that my car is a 1999 model, I opt to stay with marine gas.

    10% EtOH: 38-39 mpg
    100% gas: 44mpg

    The main reason I stay with the marine gas is that psychologically I like to get over 40mpg and have done so since 1994.
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    "Contains 10% Ethanol" belongs on t-shirts, not gas pumps.
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    So freaking funny.

    I'm holding out for "Methynol."
     
  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Only for your dragster, I hope, Rich! Nitro-methanol, that is. "Contains 10% methanol" on a T-shirt would surely mean the wearer was dead. Wood alcohol = bad beverage choice!

    Methanol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Johann

    BTW - They make a lot of ethanol fuel in South America - but they don't burn food to do it - use other vegetation. Many cars burn ethanol-only. Still controversial - depletes soil, land not used for food-growing etc.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 22, 2013
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

  12. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    My mistake in that I thought the spelling would indicate it was a joke, consistent with those who might drink wood alcohol. Or snort meth.
     

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