EPA delays action on more ethanol in gasoline

[DainBramaged]

Newer American cars will likely be able to handle higher ethanol blends in their gasoline but the decision to approve an industry request to change the fuel mix will have to await final testing next year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday.

The EPA was supposed to decide by December 1 on a petition from Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers to let gasoline contain up to 15 percent ethanol.

While farmers who provide the corn to make ethanol also support the initiative, automakers asked the EPA during the summer not to approve higher blends until the agency had test results showing the fuel would not damage vehicles.

The EPA said it needs more time to review test data on the effects a higher ethanol ratio would have on vehicles. U.S. gasoline is now approved to contain up to 10 percent ethanol, which is made mostly from corn.

The EPA expects to have final vehicle testing data on the effects of higher-blended ethanol by mid-June, according to a letter to Growth Energy that the EPA posted on its website.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5B032K20091201


More pressure from the corn lobby, more problems for owners of older cars.


Ethanol is alcohol and will attract/absorb water into gas resulting in phase separation of fuel.
Due to the instability of gas containing alcohol, shelf life is less than 3 months.
Older engines (prior to 1998) and several luxury vehicles do not permit the use of alcohol fuels. Many lower-priced and high mileage automobiles experience performance problems and part damage from the use of E10 gas.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/ethanol_engine_precautions.html

[BlueFog]

1. '92 Saturn

My experience is that E10 drops my '92 Saturn's mileage from 33 to 27mpg.
And I really hate to think of having to replace that car; 82k miles, in excellent condition, and I love driving it.

[madokie]

2. It should make another 80 thousand miles before any major problems

So I say keep it.
I figure my mileage as miles per dollar rather than miles per gallon and I like that much better. It gives me a much better sense of what it's costing me to go wherever.

[DainBramaged]

3. Another 5% ethanol may decrease mileage 2-3 MPG

horsepower will go up a bit. But the 5% increase may cause problems with the fuel system. The corn farmers and the ethanol lobby don't give a shit about YOUR problems, their suggestion is buy a new car.