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I have never - in any of my vehicles - had a problem with ethanol-blend gas. Ever. And that includes everything from push mowers to my trucks.
E85 is a different story. Vehicles' computers have to be calibrated to burn that stuff. All its properties are considerably different than straight gasoline.
Oh I know. I was commenting on ethanol production on the whole. There was a trend of flex fuel vehicles and the promise of more e85 fueling stations, which never really materialized.
We just got a new Tacoma for use at work. There is a warning in the owners manual, as well as one printed on the gas cap, to not use anything over 10% ethanol blend.
Oh I know. I was commenting on ethanol production on the whole. There was a trend of flex fuel vehicles and the promise of more e85 fueling stations, which never really materialized.
E10 was supposed to be just the start.
What's odd about this - considering its relatively unpopular standing - is that in the last 2 years, I've seen more gas stations offering E85 than ever before. I don't know if they're trying to push it, or if there's some mandate, or what.
What's odd about this - considering its relatively unpopular standing - is that in the last 2 years, I've seen more gas stations offering E85 than ever before. I don't know if they're trying to push it, or if there's some mandate, or what.
Where do you live? They are few and far between in the east. I think there are maybe 2 or 3 stations in the entire state of MD that have it. I've found it at a few stations in NY. Zero in NJ and DE to my knowledge.
Where do you live? They are few and far between in the east. I think there are maybe 2 or 3 stations in the entire state of MD that have it. I've found it at a few stations in NY. Zero in NJ and DE to my knowledge.
Minneapolis. Corn-based Midwest, versus Big Oil Owned East Coast.
I'm perhaps one of the 13 Americans who has a car that can run on e85. I've encountered it about 4 times in two years. I don't think it's the answer. I did get it for a full dollar less than 87 octane in NY after sandy though.
My Grand Cherokee is flex fuel. I've yet to see E85 in Virginia to buy it though!
Actually, that is not correct. I did lawn care - as a sideline business - for a lot of years. I'm in a state where 10% ethanol is mandated. I never rebuilt a carb on any of my mowers. I cleaned them constantly, yes, but never rebuilt them. There aren't any "soft seals" inside small engine carbs. There will be the occasional rubber o-ring, a nylon bushing or two, and typical hard gasket material. Small engine shops are making a killing by telling customers they need to have their carbs rebuilt, when in reality they just need them cleaned.
Now, regarding cars & trucks... The jury is out. Of all the vehicles I've run on ethanol, only one of them has shown different mileage because of running ethanol versus non-ethanol gas. My '93 Chevy 4x4 truck will get 16mpg on the road with ethanol blend, and 18mpg with non-ethanol. My Volvo runs the exact same mileage regardless, as does my wife's CRV. In all the years I've run ethanol blend through my cars & trucks, I have NEVER had a fuel problem that had ANYTHING to do with the ethanol.
My bike gets 165 miles per tank on regular gas (3.something gal.) E-10 drops that to 135, and on E-15 it's down to 83. That just purely sucks, it burns more gasoline *with* the alcohol than without it. My wife's bike has started blowing gas out from somewhere but I haven't torn it apart to see if it is something caused by the alcohol.
My trimmer/brush cutter got harder and harder to start with the E-blend, then quit altogether after only a year of use. My garden tractor is now showing signs of carb problems on the E-10 and last month my chainsaw started spewing gas, seal gone, and very nearly caught fire.
This stuff sucks.
And how do you get alcohol from corn/grain? You have to mash, which requires fuel burned for heat, ferment, then distill, which requires additional fuel burned for heat. Then there is the fuel burned for planting, spraying, weed control, and harvesting.
Ethanol isn't saving anything, it's costing *more* and more fuel burned (wasted). It's completely ridiculous, the public has been sold a bill of goods.
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