I suppose I should start with a little introduction. I've been talking with a friend who made me aware that Ethanol can do damage to a car's engine when it isn't designed to handle it. I had no idea it was harmful, and still do not know how much damage it can cause, but that is just one of the negatives with Ethanol. The other thing I wasn't aware of was that ethanol gives 0 energy, and possibly even reduces the efficiency of the entire fuel mix when used in vehicles that are not designed to run on it. My friend's car actually gets 2-3 mpg less when he runs E-10 (10% ethanol, 90% gas) instead of 100% gas. The scary thing is that his car only gets about 15-17 miles per gallon normally, so that 10% of ethanol mixed in with his 90% gas is causing his car to get at least 12% fewer miles per gallon. To quote him: "I would be able to drive further if I filled my tank 90% full with 100% gas than 100% full with 10% ethanol + 90% gas."
After hearing his experience with this stuff that we've all been nearly forced to use in our vehicles for the last few years, I decided I would do a test myself. My car was already full on E-10, and I managed to drive 330 miles before the light came on. That works out to 21.33 miles per gallon (it took 15.47 gallons to fill it back up with 100% gasoline). This time I planned to calculate my MPG on pure gasoline, and after filling up my tank I just happened to think about going inside to talk to the people working there at the BP on Callahan Rd (off of the I-75 exit). I asked them how long they had been selling 100% gasoline and they said that they have never sold E-10, but that on September 16th (just 5 days from now) they will be forced by law to convert to E-10.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So I scoured the web and could not find any mention of it. My only hope is that I can spread the word about what is happening and that enough of us will complain to the appropriate people in time for us to put a stop to this.
This has already happened in Missouri if I understand this article: Missouri E-10 Mandate
Some other articles about the problems with Ethanol:
- Small engines (lawnmowers, boat motors) are being damaged
- E-20 coming in the near future, and what it means for all of us
- Disadvantages and potential problems
- Evinrude's recommended steps to prevent your engine from being damaged by Ethanol
- Another article discussing the problems with E-10 in Minnesota where it was mandated last year.
- Conservatively Speaking - Blog about Ethanol, mandates, etc.
What can we do? Something I hope... My first thought is to contact our Senator here:
Contact Senator Lamar Alexander
Contact Senator Bob Corker
If I think of other potential ways for us to take action, I will update this post and if anyone has any suggestions, I will gladly take them.
Update:
Some more information that might point to this being true, if you can understand it. They made up so many terms in this thing I can't follow it without having to look up every other phrase to see what it refers to. It is pretty old though, so it may be completely unrelated.
EPA Document
This seems to be related and more recent:
2004 Article about Ethanol and Non-attainment regions
This letter to the EPA from Senator Bob Corker is also very relevant:
Bob Corker Urges EPA to Consider Ethanol Mandate Relief
2 comments:
Just a little update. I've still not been able to find any official word on this law. I wish I knew who to contact to ask questions about things like this.
Tennessee is NOT a mandatory E10 state, if it was you would know about it and there would be exceptions for marine, aviation, public safety and antique / classic cars. If you want to know why this is happening: www.e0pc.com
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