Ethanol poisoning my engine

cwaitt11

Member
:
red 2002 Mazda Protege 5
i own a mazda protege 5 2002...i am a new driver and recently i have noticed a sign at all gas stations that the gas contains sometimes up to 10% ethanol...this isnt making me happy...my motor was not made to run off this crap and slowly but surely will make the life of it shorter. I would like to hear some opinions on ethanol cuz as of right now the only person i know who supports it is obama haha...i think it is the biggest waste ever
 
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/ethanol/ethanolblendedgasoline.htm

No it is not "poisoning" your engine...Your engine was designing to accept up to 10% ethanol blended gasoline, as have all gasoline engines for at least the last decade.

It does make the slightest difference in performance, I've had heard, but cannot substantiate with any dynometer numbers or long-term testing.

Why do you think ethanol is a waste??? A renewable fuel source for automobiles is a waste???
 
the reason that ethanol is a waste is because the amount of energy that ethanol produces is less than it takes to produce it. Also...growing more corn causes all prices of other things to go up...also e85 gets lower mileage than regular gasoline...so i think that it is a lose lose situation...also corn takes more nutrients out of the soil than any other crop so the fields that they are grown lose nutrients much more quickly than any other crop. i think that ethanol definitely isnt the answer and nor is it a temporary problem solver of the oil issue. i dont mean to sound like a douche but the site that u provided is a government site and the government is pro-ethanol...might be a little biased?
 
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I too am concerned about the ever popular pumps dispensing gas with up to 10% ethanol. But all politicians on both sides of the isle share the blame for its introduction into the gas supply, thanks to ADM. Its been shown to produce less mpgs, it attracts water, its corrosive to rubber parts and cannot be shipped via pipeline. Boaters and small engine owners have been beefing about it for a while.

It sucks if you ask me but its everywhere here in Florida and will be in other states as time goes on.
 
Actually, Ethonal can be made out of any organic materials. The reason "Corn Ethonal" is such a hot topic is because the US Government and certain Motor Vehicle companies put out an ad campaign to "go Yellow", and thus, the masses assume that Corn is the only way that it is being produced. The latest trend is to use Algae.
But Hydrogen technollogy will surpas everything.

don't worry about your engine. Ethonal has been mixed with gas for years, at least around here.

the reason that ethanol is a waste is because the amount of energy that ethanol produces is less than it takes to produce it. Also...growing more corn causes all prices of other things to go up...also e85 gets lower mileage than regular gasoline...so i think that it is a lose lose situation...also corn takes more nutrients out of the soil than any other crop so the fields that they are grown lose nutrients much more quickly than any other crop. i think that ethanol definitely isnt the answer and nor is it a temporary problem solver of the oil issue. i dont mean to sound like a douche but the site that u provided is a government site and the government is pro-ethanol...might be a little biased?
 
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I personally hate it. I get ***** at the pumps since I have to use premium, an get worse gas milage becuase of this crap. I also noticed my engine doesnt run as well on it. If i can, I preffer to fill up in washington since they dont use ethonal. Plus, I Like filling my own tank. This way, I dont have to sweat about the pump jokie drop outs putting regular in my tank. Ive had that happen to me before. Ive noticed it doesnt burn very well, thats my problem.
 
ethanol is a boosted cars best friend talk to some SMART mitsubishi guys they run pure

EDIT: most guys fill up with 25% ethanol gas mixed with there regular 91 octane boosted applications respond excellent to it
 
You must see the alternatives: there are none. Besides, from the engineering point it's far superior. It burns without any major by-products, and best of all, 120 octane. You could boost it as far as you like. Just normal engines are designed for gas not for alcool. If they are (as most swedish Saab, Volvo...), they run really well. Most cars in Brazil run up to 100% ethanol since years.

Obviously neither oil companies nor car manufacturers like the idea.
 
ethanol is a boosted cars best friend talk to some SMART mitsubishi guys they run pure

EDIT: most guys fill up with 25% ethanol gas mixed with there regular 91 octane boosted applications respond excellent to it
Yep, I knew a guy back in school with a 600 awhp GSX that ran straight off of ethanol. Then again, each of his 8 injectors was bigger than all four of mine combined.

My only problem with ethanol currently is the US's unwavering support to use corn because we have so many farmers. Using corn as a source currently requires more energy in than the ethanol itself puts out (as was already mentioned). If a different source like sugar cane were used (see Brasil) then it would be much better. Currently ethanol production via corn the reason why food and diesel prices have skyrocketed in the last few years.

As for the "efficiency", ethanol can be just as efficient as gasoline. It just burns hotter and faster and thus gives the illusion of poor efficiency. Sure you car's consumption per mile will go up but honestly, I wouldn't mind filling up every other day if fuel prices were like $0.50/gal...
 
If only we could make an engine that ran off of political nonsense and bureaucracy. We'd all be richer than astronauts.
 
You might want to try changing gas stations...maybe the station you're using has crappy fuel. I switched from the QT near us to BP and the car seems to like it better...
 
There's always an energy tradeoff somewhere with each fuel type. Here in the states our ethanol is made of corn because some political desk jockey thinks it's a good idea. Corn ethanol is horrible for motors, gets horrible mileage, takes a ton of effort to make, hurts the soil since corn pretty much rapes the land, kills the corn surplus that we sell to other countries so they can eat, and is more expensive.

Well there's always hydrogen right. Sure but that takes more effort and energy to refine than Ethanol. Is electric the answer? Sure, but how much of your electricity is actually made my water plants or windmills, not as much as you'd think I bet. (Read that as we burn lots of coal for electricity already, imagine if all our cars were running on it).

As you ponder read this and ask yourself "why won't anyone make this?" Easy answer-Fossil=$$ for everyone but you.

http://www.emref.net/wankel.htm
 
There's always an energy tradeoff somewhere with each fuel type. Here in the states our ethanol is made of corn because some political desk jockey thinks it's a good idea. Corn ethanol is horrible for motors, gets horrible mileage, takes a ton of effort to make, hurts the soil since corn pretty much rapes the land, kills the corn surplus that we sell to other countries so they can eat, and is more expensive.
Ethanol is ethanol - it doesn't matter where it comes from. Certain derivations require more energy than other however (like corn). The "politcal desk jockey" you refer to has the following logic: America wants ethanol, ethanol can be made from corn, America has corn farmers, therefore America should make ethanol from corn. They see it as win/win because we're producing both a renewable source of energy and helping midwest farmers. What most fail to realize is the energy requirement to refine ethanol from corn and the other sideline effects such as the increase in diesel fuel cost (resulting from higher demand due to more farm equipment being used) which consequently results in higher product prices (because products must be shipped and most go via diesel trucks).
 
I found a station around here that advertises "real gas" with 0 ethanol, so that's where I always go. Car and especially motorcycle seems to run a little smoother with it.
 
if only you would all do research that has happened recently not ten years ago laike the "facts" you are quoting now
 
Ethanol has always been incorporated into gasoline. In winter many companies increase the ethanol percentage in their gas. Ethanol combusts just like gasoline however the energy yielded is much less. Essentially you will have to fuel up more often. Ethanol is cheaper per gallon then gasoline but you have to fill up more often to get the same mileage. Right now gas is still clearly a better option and cheaper. Hydrogen fuels seem to be the next target. The only problem here is hydrogen can't combust on its own. Their must be a mixture of another substance. . . I guess Organic Chemistry was useful :)
 
The only problem here is hydrogen can't combust on its own. Their must be a mixture of another substance. . . I guess Organic Chemistry was useful :)
You mean air? I'm pretty sure hydrogen will readily combust when mixed with air even in excessively lean conditions.
 
ethanol is a boosted cars best friend talk to some SMART mitsubishi guys they run pure

EDIT: most guys fill up with 25% ethanol gas mixed with there regular 91 octane boosted applications respond excellent to it

are you sure he didn't run 25% methanol? that's completely different, it's a high octane fuel they use in race cars (mj) don't get the two confused
 

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