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Ethanol in gasoline: What impact on cars, consumers?

KSL News -- SALT LAKE CITY — It was originally added to help the environment. Today, though, ethanol is one of the most controversial components of gasoline, and there have been numerous unintended consequences. Still, some see it as the future of fuel.

Suck ethanol-laden gas into your car and mechanics say you'll pay for it later.

"If it goes in and sits, then it rusts," said Greg Scott of GS Auto in Orem. He said he regularly sees the damage, especially in older model cars.

Fuel pumps used to come with lifetime guarantees. "Since everybody's putting ethanol in the fuel, they will only guarantee them one year," he said.

Utah Department of Agriculture spokesman Larry Lewis said, "I think ethanol plays a bigger role in our daily lives than most of us realize."

Ethanol is largely made from corn, wh

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Submitted Mar 09, 2013 By: tspaldi

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2013 5:56:18 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse we know it's bad for small engines, like lawn mowers. And it's bad for my food and feed bill.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 5:52:22 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse EtOH never was the answer, never will be the answer either.
twingom4g Rookie Author New Jersey Posts:23 Points:170,895 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 12:20:40 AM Ignore twingom4g Report Abuse Our sustainable agriculture (or continuing lack thereof) will be the ultimate force that all the world will need to reckon with well before a violence, weather, or cosmo related annihilation would happen ( in my opinion)
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2013 6:00:51 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse it never was about environment (that was the pretext). Always been about the money (subsidies).
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,999 Points:1,639,950 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 11:56:13 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Pgerassi has drunk the Koolaid laced with copious amounts of ethanol — a member of the one percent who love ethanol in their gas tanks as well as their drinking glasses. Go on your way with your wishful thinking, P, oblivious to the world.
Zing20 All-Star Author Fresno Posts:771 Points:196,640 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 9:39:09 PM Ignore Zing20 Report Abuse Ethanol damages your engine it needs to be removed from gasoline.
slicerette Champion Author South Bend Posts:3,673 Points:560,510 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:26:40 PM Ignore slicerette Report Abuse I have to pay $4.00 a quart ($16 a gallon) to buy Ethanol-free pre-mixed 50:1 gasoline to get my little 2-cycle roto-tiller to start and run.
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,201 Points:1,653,850 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:08:49 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse ban lobbyists
Felicia1112 Rookie Author Los Angeles Posts:4 Points:247,905 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 11:53:49 AM Ignore Felicia1112 Report Abuse We need more research on the effects of it on cars.
dr047 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,726 Points:542,445 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 9:26:30 AM Ignore dr047 Report Abuse It's OUR cars and equipment that this crap is going into so we should have a choice. Who pays for the repairs?
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,374 Points:1,009,305 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 9:04:52 AM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Let consumers decide.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,690 Points:774,770 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 8:53:20 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse no changes in fuel price, lowered mileage negating any pollution reduction, using food for fuel and more damage to vehicles. Don't want.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,850 Points:758,660 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 3:27:07 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse All are being stubborb and ignoring each other. Gov pushed ethanol and car makers ignore and don't build car for it
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,547 Points:558,250 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 3:19:40 AM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse Old 'news'.
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,813 Points:888,060 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 3:01:39 AM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Should change the last word in the Larry Lewis quote from realize to want.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,921 Points:1,892,760 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:38:37 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse BAN ETHANOL
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:6,107 Points:1,303,700 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:31:36 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse One thing is for certain...Less mileage per gallon with ethanol.
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:27,145 Points:3,126,955 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:26:18 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse none for me thanks...
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,980 Points:1,458,450 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:21:02 AM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Alcohol in gas used to be called "drygas". It absorbed water in the tank and removed it from the system.
csnvcas All-Star Author Illinois Posts:837 Points:194,640 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:17:38 AM Ignore csnvcas Report Abuse Get rid of Ethanol
rrtr Champion Author San Jose Posts:16,389 Points:2,820,680 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:16:49 AM Ignore rrtr Report Abuse I have to drain all my small motors every time I use them unless I am going to use them in 2 weeks or so because of ethanol
savannahoaks Champion Author Rockford Posts:2,832 Points:661,960 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:15:20 AM Ignore savannahoaks Report Abuse Why would they be concerned about the effects of ethanol now? How about a decade ago?
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:9,480 Points:1,850,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:14:40 AM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Ethanol is not good in the long run for the engines, so its time to get rid of the subsidies to that industry.
rrtr Champion Author San Jose Posts:16,389 Points:2,820,680 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:14:04 AM Ignore rrtr Report Abuse agreed UGH
Tigrelily All-Star Author Illinois Posts:626 Points:218,935 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:12:05 AM Ignore Tigrelily Report Abuse Let's get rid of it.
Ron77095 Champion Author Houston Posts:3,200 Points:630,375 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:06:27 AM Ignore Ron77095 Report Abuse ugh.
bowler360 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,105 Points:526,275 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 1:05:09 AM Ignore bowler360 Report Abuse hmmm.
DrGasPain Veteran Author Dallas Posts:362 Points:477,800 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:57:32 AM Ignore DrGasPain Report Abuse Battle cry used to be "get the lead out", now its "get the ethanol out"
VikingWoman Champion Author Washington Posts:1,445 Points:278,555 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:56:33 AM Ignore VikingWoman Report Abuse Ethanol could be made from sugar cane which would be good for Hawaiian fuel prices - that is if they want to buy ethanol. I haven't met anyone who wants to put ethanol in their car yet.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,681 Points:689,900 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:55:50 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Abolish ethanol and the EPA
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,293 Points:1,653,910 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:55:08 AM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse We haven't phased out those older vehicles yet.
Tigercat88 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,337 Points:644,565 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:54:41 AM Ignore Tigercat88 Report Abuse Corn belongs on our dinner plates not in our tanks.
pa79th Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,922 Points:1,243,050 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:51:23 AM Ignore pa79th Report Abuse Get corn out of the gas tank and onto the table where it belongs!
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,925 Points:682,795 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:47:13 AM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse Ethanol in gas was design for use on specific newer engines not the old. Engineers has calculated that by now those old engine are phase out. Time to move on.
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,668 Points:2,799,765 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:45:15 AM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse corn don't burn it
probedude2 Champion Author Akron Posts:12,693 Points:2,407,905 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:42:58 AM Ignore probedude2 Report Abuse Corn-based ethanol is another scam
mrselfdestruct Champion Author Arkansas Posts:1,082 Points:184,635 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:42:12 AM Ignore mrselfdestruct Report Abuse Drink whiskey, don't drive on it.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,922 Points:2,400,630 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:41:05 AM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse No thanks!
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,147 Points:2,497,420 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:37:45 AM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Still not a fan!
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:11,036 Points:2,159,245 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:37:30 AM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Another article full of myths and FUD. Typical anti-ethanol blurb without proof. Fact is gasoline sits in tanks and gums up the works. Funny how my fuel pump in my Ford has run for 10 years without any problem even when some of the time its pumping E85. Maybe it runs only 1 year when running on shit gasoline without any ethanol in it. Also in the old days fuel pumps were not in the tank, but in the engine and pumped fuel at low pressures (1-3PSI) after it passed through the fuel filter on its way to the carburetor, plus cars only lasted 4-6 years back then in the northern sea salt climes. Its far harder to build the pump to pump fuel at much higher pressures (180-3,600PSI) needed for fuel injection directly in the tank prior to the fuel filter in cars that now last 16-20 years before rusting out. As for older model cars, the only parts available are ones produced from original specs at ordinary machine shops, but they do not always use the best grade of materials, processes, nor workmanship. Funny also is that Model Ts could run on pure ethanol without rust or problems and that is one of the oldest models around in large numbers. Plus many pre 1975 cars needed tetra-ethyl lead in the fuel to coat valves which doesn't exist in any current non aviation fuel. So these claims are misdirection as even pure unleaded gasoline would cause problems. There are cars on the market that can't run on research grade gasoline (Honda has some) reliably. As for mechanics, they don't know things and many of them lie to gain business (rip off shops). Engineers design these cars and test them in much harsher conditions than normal usage does. They know that ethanol use is easily designed in, has passed numerous testing, and they have lots of experience in the automotive realm.
liao Champion Author Montreal Posts:3,574 Points:1,453,010 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:37:07 AM Ignore liao Report Abuse Time will tell.
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,485 Points:2,281,720 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:36:16 AM Ignore 10k Report Abuse ethanol shoulda been sent down the river long ago..
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,811 Points:452,400 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:36:10 AM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse Fuel pumps are expensive to replace.
BobD2009 Champion Author Long Island Posts:7,129 Points:1,267,485 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:35:18 AM Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse Abolish all ethanol.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:32:52 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse getting harder every day to find ethanol free fuel
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,674 Points:2,108,435 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:32:35 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Some of the 2012 cars should be OK but the majority of any older model cars not OK at all...
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:32:31 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse hurts my Seadoo!
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:32:10 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse No ethanol!!!!
camaro_man Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,367 Points:638,520 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:31:57 AM Ignore camaro_man Report Abuse waste of time and money
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,202 Points:1,996,835 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2013 12:30:04 AM Ignore esquared Report Abuse No beef with cellulosic ethanol (pun intended), but no food for fuel.