My dad did some research about ethanol fuel. Around here (nebraska) it is subsidized so it is .10 per gallon cheaper. He found that in my moms volvo, it is more financially economical to use regular fuel because it gets better gas mileage that makes up for the price difference.

Does anyone know the environmental impacts of ethanol vs. reg.?

Has anyone tried using both for extended periods to see if there is a difference in fuel economy?

By the way, I am talking about E15 not E85.

Thanks,

Ryan

 

I use it in my Colt because it's less toxic and a bit cheaper, plus it supports local business rather than US oil companies. But the only gas that has the blend is 89 (5%) and 94 (10%) and since my Colt needs 92+ then it's okay, but we don't use it on the Prius because it doesn't need anything over 87. I don't drive enough to track mileage, so I have no data one way or another, but my car is not a gas sipper, so it makes less of a difference % wise.

 

All gasoline in Phoenix is E10, regardless of grade. Other than slightly lower energy content, it's pretty similar, although slightly cleaner than regular gasoline. Personally I'm a big ethanol supporter because it helps reduce the amount of oil we have to import. I'd love to see the 87/89/91 pumps phased out in favor of 87/91/E85.

 

but if it has less energy content, then in the end dont we end up using just as much oil and polluting just as much because you need more of it to go the same distance as regular?

 

Hi WWJdrv:

___E10 as we have around the Chicago area and most Midwestern states drops FE by 2 - 3% vs. straight up Regular unleaded but it is 10% content. With regular unleaded touching $2.80 per here in Illinois and E100 costing $25.00 per BBl out of Brazil (made from Sugar Cane), I would be glad to run Ethanol at $1.10 - $1.20 per and see my FE drop by 20% for a renewable fuel. The #’s and reasons for the switch makes this is such a no-brainer as to make me want to scream! This is Brazilian Ethanol, not our own home grown made from the wrong crop (Corn) that costs similar to what oil pulled out of the ground and refined does today

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

I am fairly certain that my FE suffered by at least 10% when I foolishly bought two tanks in the Dakotas on our recent cross-country trip. I think it was E10 but I really only know that the pump said "contains ethanol". Look at my tank record for Pokey - the two tanks with the lowest average are the culprits. 10% hit with 10% ethanol says that the ethanol contributed NOTHING toward moving my car. Lower pollution is nice but is it more than 10% lower?

Dave

 

Hi Solecondad:

___I do not doubt the FE you actually experienced by an means as we all have had those random “WTF” tanks every now and again. As to the why however, E10 will not drop your FE by 10%.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

Actually, my mom is using reg. in her volvo instead of e10 (not 15 like I first mentioned) because she noticed a 10% increase in FE after switching. Right now reg. is .10 more expensive, but it would have to go over .26 more expensive to financially not make sense (fuel is currently 2.59 here) if my calculations are correct.

I am still interested if anyone knows what the emissions differences are. Does e10 just reduce all emissions by 10%, I kind of doubt it.

 

Like Wayne said, E10 does NOT drop your fuel economy 10%, or anything close. Although it only has about 96.5% of the BTU count of straight gasoline, BTU count isn't everything. Ethanol is more thermally efficient than gasoline and will still yeild about 97-98% of the fuel economy depending on the car's ECU tuning. If you saw a 10% drop, it's because the driving conditions or driving style was not the same.

 

Beyond the lower energy content of ethanol, readers should also consider the use of oil in creating and transporting the ethanol (almost equaling what is being "saved") in addition to the financial ramifications - ethanol is artificially driving up the cost of corn (good for corn farmers, bad for anyone with livestock to feed - and bad for a good portion of the third world who relies on corn as a major food staple). Increased ethanol use had increased US and global food prices about 3-5% in the last year alone (per the EPA) - not great for inflation in our already precarious economic position.

Ethanol is less efficient, more costly in the long run (you might save a few cents at the pump, but you should since you won't get as far; plus, the rising price of food), and doesn't really get us anywhere in our energy crisis.

I urge you to boycott gas stations that use ethanol - if you can find any that don't (many states have mandated the use of ethanol and are seeking to increase its use).

In addition, please support your community leaders and politicians who are seeking real answers to our energy crisis - new sources of energy, and new ways to use "old" energy sources more efficiently!