(Article) The Feds Plan To Start Diluting Gasoline (E15)This May

[Busa789]

take care of your stuff is a great idea. for all my small engine equipment i do as you are. the local small engine place that sells and works on yard care equipment use me as an example of how long stuff can last when properly taken care of.
in our vehicles that burn through a tank every 4-7 days, i am fine with 10% ethanol.

i always wondered why, when the fuel crisis of the 70’s started, the government didn’t get the big three to build engines optimized for ethanol ?

Ethanol really wasn't around then. There was an ethanol facility building boom in the late 90's and early 2000's.

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[dlivry7]

Ethanol really wasn't around then. There was an ethanol facility building boom in the late 90's and early 2000's.

Ethanol really wasn't around then. There was an ethanol facility building boom in the late 90's and early 2000's.

ethanol as bicycle and other engine fuel has been around forever, hundreds of years.

 

[Busa789]

ethanol as bicycle and other engine fuel has been around forever, hundreds of years.

Ethanol wasn't produced in quantity in the 70's. Mandating compliance to something that isn't available doesn't make sense. It's like mandating no more gasoline engines in 2030 when we don't have the electrical generation or distribution capacity to support it.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

i always wondered why, when the fuel crisis of the 70’s started, the government didn’t get the big three to build engines optimized for ethanol ?

Back in the 70's no one was making ethanol except in small batches with low proof and hundreds of flavors.

Did you know you cannot distill 200 proof ethanol? You have to dehydrate 180 or 190 proof. Something a little difficult and a little technical to do.

160 proof will run your engine.
But people in the USA are scared stupid about the 199.9 proof in their E10 as it is.

160 Proof could be made for $1 a gallon.
Today. But no one in the USA would buy it except alcoholics.

 

[kevinmccune]

take care of your stuff is a great idea. for all my small engine equipment i do as you are. the local small engine place that sells and works on yard care equipment use me as an example of how long stuff can last when properly taken care of.
in our vehicles that burn through a tank every 4-7 days, i am fine with 10% ethanol.

i always wondered why, when the fuel crisis of the 70’s started, the government didn’t get the big three to build engines optimized for ethanol ?

yes they did-Ford-"FFV",Gm- "flex fuel" on a heavy lead sled,Suburban E85 really knocked mpg down

 

[kevinmccune]

Ethanol wasn't produced in quantity in the 70's. Mandating compliance to something that isn't available doesn't make sense. It's like mandating no more gasoline engines in 2030 when we don't have the electrical generation or distribution capacity to support it.

not trust,sorry!

 

[kevinmccune]

Ethanol really wasn't around then. There was an ethanol facility building boom in the late 90's and early 2000's.

true,but it was coming in the 90s I used to seek e10 out,only I could find was "raceway" for awhile

 

[dochawk]

If my gas engine chainsaw and string trimmer were stolen (again) I would go with a Stihl battery saw and trimmer.

Greenworks had the simple advantage of being sold and returnable at Lowes. A secondary reason was that on checking prices, they seemed to be lower than some of the other 80v options. (OK, once you exclude Kobalt & Harbor Freight, there are only three 80v left!)

 

[Busa789]

Greenworks had the simple advantage of being sold and returnable at Lowes. A secondary reason was that on checking prices, they seemed to be lower than some of the other 80v options. (OK, once you exclude Kobalt & Harbor Freight, there are only three 80v left!)

Yeah, it's certainly a good option. I purchased an Ego electric mower with the same logic. Stihl is the top brand in my opinion, but you pay for it. I've had their trimmer and chainsaw in gas for years.

 

[ScottyC]

I have a Craftsman V20 weed whacker and debris blower. Next mower will be electric as well...

 

[kevinmccune]

I have a Craftsman V20 weed whacker and debris blower. Next mower will be electric as well...

I have a 40 volt Ryobi blower and string trimmer,would not trade them for gas power,people do not realize the harm from sucking all that oil and gas fumes in,if I could afford it I would have an electric rider.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

E85 (85% ethanol) is currently selling for half price in California.

You should not use E85 in any Maverick.

But in "flex fuel" vehicles, the cost is now 50% less, for a 30% drop in MPG.

Thanks to world conditions it is a prime time for domestically made ethanol.

 

[dlivry7]

Ethanol wasn't produced in quantity in the 70's. Mandating compliance to something that isn't available doesn't make sense. It's like mandating no more gasoline engines in 2030 when we don't have the electrical generation or distribution capacity to support it.

i didn’t say mandate. there is plenty of corn, or other fuels to make alcohol here, and could have ramped up production. just wondered why they didn’t make an engine optimized to run on it. lack of oil, ok here is a home grown option. the never have, clearly appears never will.

 

[kevink]

I have a 40 volt Ryobi blower and string trimmer,would not trade them for gas power,people do not realize the harm from sucking all that oil and gas fumes in,if I could afford it I would have an electric rider.

I also didn't want to go through the extra hassle of maintaining the gas engine for a trimmer, etc. And it seems that something else stops working properly at some point with a trimmer, so I want to limit my overall up front cost.

Though I've gone through a lot of batteries through the years. Before Lithium, seemed to have a short lifespan.

After moving on from B&D, my Greenworks battery lasts the whole yard. Not perfect with feed, but better than the B&Ds for me.

 

[Busa789]

i didn’t say mandate. there is plenty of corn, or other fuels to make alcohol here, and could have ramped up production. just wondered why they didn’t make an engine optimized to run on it. lack of oil, ok here is a home grown option. the never have, clearly appears never will.

The 70's the automakers had more than enough going on. With the new emissions regulations, engine performance (power, economy, and drivability) all took a hit at the big three. They were also dealing with the pressure from loss of market share to Japanese manufacturers. They did not need another thing on their plate.

The US did not have much ethanol production capacity in the 70's. It takes a couple years to build an ethanol facility. Corn is the best commonly grown commodity for ethanol production in the US and we've never had a shortage of it. Brazil has the advantage of using sugar cane for their domestic alcohol production.

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