Yesterday, I heard a news segment on a Morning TV News program that stated that gasoline blended with
Ethanol provided less fuel mileage per gallon. Then, it occurred to me that since last year I've filled up at stations around town where I have noticed that the pump had stickers showing: This fuel contains 10% Ethanol;
I never paid it any mind until I heard the report. In retrospective, I have noticed that when I fill up the tank with this Ethanol 10% gas blend, my 4 cylinder car consumes it as it it had a V8 engine. I have watched the fuel gauge drop as the mercury in a thermometer drops in winter when the sun goes down; As I step on the gas the gauge moves closer to empty in what seems like seconds. Wow! Less bang for my 4 Bucks! What a losing proposition; Gas is up, and the mileage is down because it's been arbitrarily diluted with Corn-a-Ahol. It makes me wonder who is behind these madcap schemes? Up with the price of petroleum, and at the very same time arrange for that expensive gasoline to provide less energy. I guess that's what they call 'fuzzy' math. That reminds me of another phenomenally insane concept of the Auto Industry back in the 1970's: Planned Obsolescence.
Well, I looked around for more info and here's an article I found on the web:
P.S. Where's Jeb?
Drivers may pay more per mile for ethanol blended gas
11:49 AM PDT on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
PORTLAND – Just about any driver who has filled up recently at any gas station has felt the pain at the pump.
AP photo
A gas station attendant pumps gasoline in Oregon.
“It was $75,” said Nancy Kretzschmar as she held out her credit card receipt to show how much she just spent. “It’s not right.”
With gas prices quickly approaching $4 a gallon, drivers like Kretzschmar look to get every mile possible out of a tank of gas. However, NorthWest Cable News learned a type of fuel sold at many gas stations in Portland area makes it more difficult to get maximum fuel mileage.
The fuel is a blended mix of 10 percent ethanol, a fuel that can be made from corn, and 90 percent gasoline.
Ethanol is less efficient
Because ethanol does not combust as hot as gasoline, it takes more ethanol to create the same amount of energy, according to Earl Baker, AAA Auto Repair. “You can get anywhere from one to four miles less per gallon with an ethanol blended fuel.”
According to a NorthWest Cable News analysis, a car that averages 30 miles per gallon would spend $11.66 on a 100 mile trip if gas costs $3.50 a gallon. The same trip using the ethanol, or E10 blend, could cost up to $13.46. Over an average driving year, about 12,000 miles, a motorist could pay up to $215 more for using E10 gasoline when compared to regular fuel.
“It’s not a bad fuel,” said Baker as he defended ethanol. “It’s getting a bad rap and it’s really not a bad fuel.”
Baker added fuel economy not only depends on the type of fuel but how well a vehicle is maintained. Factors such as tire pressures, oil changes, and the efficiency of the engine all contribute to fuel economy.
Benefits to using ethanol
There are also some benefits to using E10. “It helps scour the fuel system, it cleans fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel injectors, carburetors,” said Baker.
The ethanol blend is becoming more popular since it is cleaner burning and uses less oil to make.
Recently Oregon began a mandate to sell ethanol year round, instead of just during the winter months, in a nine county region surrounding the Portland metro area. The same mandate is scheduled to expand to all Oregon counties this fall.
Neighboring Washington and California also sell E10 at its gas stations.
Despite its cleaner burning and cleansing properties, many drivers care little about E10 and just want better fuel economy.
“It’s outrageous,” said Kretzschmar, who is looking for a more fuel efficient car.