Silvertip
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
- Messages
- 28,771
Re: octane
Ethanol is a "political" solution to a "mythical" problem. The do gooder politicians want to make us safe from the evil oil giants by adding ethanol to the fuel so we don't need to import as much oil. The previous statements about replacement of some nasty additives is also one of the reasons. It also makes the politicians and tree huggers feel good because it is a cleaner fuel. Never mind the energy it took to produce the stuff and the fossil fuel (gas and diesel) it took to transport it. Ethanol cannot be piped long distances as it is corrosive to standard pipelines. Fact is, it costs a bunch to produce, uses lots of water, and is heavily subsidized because corn is used to create the ethanol and if the corn is removed from the food supply, that makes food more expensive. It also reduces fuel economy so, in my case, the E85 for example needs to be at least 40 cents/gal cheaper than regular to make it pay. It is typically 50 - 55 cents cheaper. The issue with ethanol is older engines do not have fuel system components that are ethanol tolerant. Those parts include fuel lines and carburetor seals and gaskets. Replace them with modern components and clean the carbs and go boating. Ethanol also is an excellent fuel system cleaner so the decades of gunk that has built up in fuel tanks and carbs gets loosened up and dumped into filters and small carb passages.
Ethanol is a "political" solution to a "mythical" problem. The do gooder politicians want to make us safe from the evil oil giants by adding ethanol to the fuel so we don't need to import as much oil. The previous statements about replacement of some nasty additives is also one of the reasons. It also makes the politicians and tree huggers feel good because it is a cleaner fuel. Never mind the energy it took to produce the stuff and the fossil fuel (gas and diesel) it took to transport it. Ethanol cannot be piped long distances as it is corrosive to standard pipelines. Fact is, it costs a bunch to produce, uses lots of water, and is heavily subsidized because corn is used to create the ethanol and if the corn is removed from the food supply, that makes food more expensive. It also reduces fuel economy so, in my case, the E85 for example needs to be at least 40 cents/gal cheaper than regular to make it pay. It is typically 50 - 55 cents cheaper. The issue with ethanol is older engines do not have fuel system components that are ethanol tolerant. Those parts include fuel lines and carburetor seals and gaskets. Replace them with modern components and clean the carbs and go boating. Ethanol also is an excellent fuel system cleaner so the decades of gunk that has built up in fuel tanks and carbs gets loosened up and dumped into filters and small carb passages.