Ethanol Complaints (emission, gasoline, fuel , octane)

[Eastender67]

"Gallon for gallon, pure ethanol contains one-third less energy than gasoline, and the ethanol industry acknowledges that E10 reduces mileage by about 2 percent."

"ethanol increases emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are components of smog. As a result, some cities that achieved compliance for CO levels could violate the EPA's VOC and ozone standards if ethanol use is mandated nationwide."

I don't know about the rest of you folks but I believe corn should be used for corn bread (or substitute your choice of food), not to dilute my gasoline. What was meant to be a good thing is not working out that way. The ethanol industry wants to increase the amount from 10 to 20%. Knowing our Congress, things will go from really bad to worse as they surely don't have a clue.

Maybe there's hope is sight as a lot of people are beginning to speak up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/bu...thanol.html?hp

[DanBev]

As I posted in automotive thread my mileage has dropped from 250-260 to 230-240 on 10 gallons,held true in CT. Do get intermittent ck engine light and would not be surprised if ethanol was problem.The gov't pays them over $3 per gal subsidy.

[brently54]

Ethanol is a waste! I am a big supporter of Algae Oil though.

[loves2read]

ethanol is not the problem if the car and the mixture are formatted correctly--it does require MORE ethanol vs gasoline because there is less octane/energy that comes when it is used in an engine--but if it were CHEAPER than it is now, then you could burn more and still not spend as much money--but corn is too expensive to use as the ethanol source

CORN is not the best crop to make ethanol--there are many other plants that do make a better crop to turn into ethanol--less expensive to grow, less water to irrigate, can use all the plant not just the grain like corn, replenishes the soil vs leeches the soil like corn does---and those plants are not ones that people eat as a food source so they don't compete and raise the price of corn as a commodity

but people who are making ethanol oftendon't give a flip about those issues and they did not get very educated about the choices before they jumped whole hog into the ethanol business--corn was the red-flag crop because people made corn liquor--and it is just one step up from that to alcohol that will burn in a carburator==it was easy to find, already available in silos...because initially there was more of a surplus and farmers wanted to sell it at a competitive price...

[texdav]

Consumer reports test showed 27% less milage from a tank in the same vehicles with E85.Using it as a additive in gasoline also gives less fuel from a barrel and it takes alot of other energy to make enthnol.Also with teh flex-fuel vehicles there are alot of mechanic reports of carbon buildup on valves.

[tstone]

Y'all need to read about the real problems with MTBE before making some conclusions.

[wade_word]

Originally Posted by tstone

Y'all need to read about the real problems with MTBE before making some conclusions.

Agreed. They need to come up with a much better plan. But we seriously need an alternative fuel source right now, not later.

[catman]

I agree with brently54. Corn is better used as food (and feed), not as a starting point for ethanol. We've been sold a bill of goods, folks, right up there with deregulation making utilities cheaper.

[loves2read]

article in the FTW paper today about the waining love affair with ethanol and adding it in even limited amounts to gasoline

[Bowie]

It's easy to sit here in an oil-producing state where corn is not a major crop and rail about the evils of converting corn to ethanol. Corn farmers, who are getting record prices for their crops, would disagree mightily with the notion that their crop shouldn't be used for fuel. The ethanol industry has been a real boon for communities in the midwest that grow a lot of corn. If you've ever wondered why "the plight of the farmer" has disappeared from the list of national issues and why John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson are no longer performing benefit concerts for the farming industry, this would be the reason.