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Non-Tech : $2 or higher gas - Can ethanol make a comeback?
DAR 36.61-0.5%Dec 12 9:30 AM EST
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To: Ish who wrote (1417)7/14/2006 10:02:47 AM
From: Think4Yourself  Read Replies (1) of 2801
 
re: "The 10% got around 2% better mileage than the straight gas did."

That contradicts nearly every other study. Burning ethanol changes the optimal timing. To compensate and recover the lost power requires a fuel sensor and computers calibrated to handle it. Very few vehicles have those, virtually none, unless they are E85 capable (not even all of those have them). I can tell when I have that 10% fuel in my vehicles because my mileage, which I calculate on every tank, is about 10% lower on each vehicle. That's how I know which stations to avoid. When I go through Iowa, which mandates ethanol, I buy outside the state at each border and if I need to fill up in Iowa I only buy enough to get to the border.

It does burn cleaner due to it's oxygenate properties, and burns more of the gas but, the idea of a fuel with lower energy content getting higher mileage is absolutely preposterous. GM, Ford, and Chrysler all agree with me.

The only way ethanol can compensate for it's low energy content is by taking advantage of its high octane to burn it in engines with higher compression ratios, which is what diesels do and why they are so efficient. That's not happening.

Ethanol is also highly corrosive and will destroy the fuel systems of all current vehicles. Put E85 in your tank and you have a massive repair bill. The automakers even had serious problems with E10 attacking fuel system seals. For all practical purposes current vehicles can't be retrofitted.
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