Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this question. I wasn't sure what the best place would be.

A couple of my friends have been discussing this lately. Is there any benefit or harm to using ethanol blended fuel? Also, how would ethanol blended fuel affect trucks that have been tuned? I've heard arguments that it burns cleaner, is a little better for mileage, etc. Is any of this true?

Thanks.

 

its worse mpg and it also makes your engine work harder, so that 50k check up would be around 35k, dont run it, its not worth it (even if our truck could)

 

rth...I suspect you would find more complete and objective answers if you would research 'ethanol blend' on google.

 

For what it's worth, I have been using the 10% ethanol blend in every motor I have ever owned (including cars, trucks, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chain saws, snow blowers, etc.) for the last 30 or so years. I have observed no fuel related problems in any application. I have never had a fuel line freeze due to water in the fuel because alcohol tends to abosrb it. It does burn clean, it certainly does not alter my mpg and it is a renewable resource. Plus, it does not void any warrantee on any of the vehicles I have used it in.

As far as the E85 ethanol, I have little experience. However, the state agency I work for (Iowa DOT) has purchased several of these cars and has some pretty positive things to say about it. Check this out on the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website.

Hope this helps.

 

Do some research and look for scientific based studies, please don't listen to the "guy down the street", or "your friend's brother's sister who is a chemist" or even "Uncle Fred". Just because someone tells you they put a tankful of ethanol blend in their truck and it ran like c^%p, doesn't make it true.

The amount of ethanol in blended fuels is relatively low (usually 5%-10%), therefore almost all modern engines are able to compensate without any problems. You engine's computer will compensate just fine.

Second, ethanol burns cleaner, cooler, and more completely. So no, your engine will not be working harder, and you will have less hydrocarbon build up in the cylinders and less pollution from the tailpipe.

Finally, and this is more a personal reason for some, but by using ethanol that is derived from corn grown here in the good ole' USofA, we are less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

The downsides to ethanol are: your engine will have to burn a little more fuel, but this is a pretty slight amount, and if you have an older auto it may be configured to burn the ethanol as well as newer (computer controlled combustion) engines.

Now if your thinking of running a higher concentration of ethanol in your fuel blend, then you may want to have your truck 'tuned' for this as it will require a higher fuel/air mixture ratio. Just fill up with what you will be using every day when you head to the dyno.

 

I'm in the same boat as akaheisman (although I haven't been driving nearly as long). Here in Iowa, it is actually cheaper to run ethanol blends because of the farm subsidies. It usually runs about a nickle a gallon cheaper to run ethanol here, we're supporting the farmers, and I have not run into any adverse affects with a 10% blend. This is our fourth new vehicle in about 8 years, and they all have run ethanol through them, and I have never had to take any of them in for engine problems.

 

It's what we run on in California. No choice, in most of the 18 fuel zones. Little lower power, little lower mileage. Safe in modern cars/trucks. If you run it in something from the 80's some have had problems. If you run it in 60's cars, expect problems if you have original seals in the Carburator. Not many have original neoprem or rubber stuff after 40 years though..

This info is based on 30-40 years experiance in auto repair, auto parts and owning a gas station back when this stuff was first coming out.
Bottom line, these trucks will drink it just fine. If it is cheaper, dump it in. If it's more expensive, balance the slight difference it makes to importing oil, and make your own decision.
Us Ford owners do tend to 'buy American' on the average.

If you race your truck, or run your timing very advanced, (tuner with variable timing, not the fixed timer ones) be sure you check with the vendor for their recommended settings.
A two minute phone call and go with what they say. Their rep is on the line, they will give you the straight story.
Chris

 

Ethanol does burn clean and the ethanol portion of the fuel, about 10%, is high in octane but extremely low in actual energy (BTU) content so you will get less power and less fuel mileage and it’s more corrosive than gas and harder on the fuel system components. Indy cars have been using methanol fuel for years but they have to burn 2 gallons of methanol for every 1 gallon of gas you would normally burn.

 

Backlash...what part of iowa are you from? Im from the northwest. And yes the ethanol plants are starting to take off. I hear of a few more going up around my area. I still run regular 87. Shame on me.

 

thats the same thing as the oxygenated fuels they have us run here in the high desert from October to March, and I definately notice a significant drop in gas mileage during "oxygenated fuel season"

 

Up here in nyc (I think in new york state also), were mandated to use 10% ethanol (blended in either in the fuel truck or at the station). I know there has been a huge problem in the Marine industry from the ethanol. 2 Stroke outboard engines have all gone to crap over the last year. Everyone up here with a 2 stroke outboard has blown powerheads and/or gummed up the whole engine. The problem with ethanol, is that it eats rubber basically. We have run into problems left & right last year with all of the boats up here. I have been running just about mixed fuel (nyc fuel-10 percent ethanol (at least thats what they say it is)). Most of the time, when the fuel sits (like when ya dont use it alot as in boats), the ethanol is heavier than the fuel. You guessed it, the engine can suck in as much as 40% ethanol in those cases, basically devouring any rubber in its path.
I havent had any problems with the f-150 with the ethanol fuel so far. Just mileage sucks up here (besides the traffic).
Now for the good parts of ethanol. Just like threadhead says, it is made of corn alcohol basically, & it definitly does help emmisions. But, its at a cost of a lil more per gallon.

 

Bigmike: I don't think you're going to have to worry about having problems with 2 strokes too much longer. They're pretty much going the way of the Dinosour. I was in a farm implement store a couple of weeks ago, and saw a 15 hp outboard in a 4 cycle. I guess that whole idea is catching on now.

I took a motorized trip through the Grand Canyon a few years ago, and the guide told us that they were now forced to use 4 cycle motors for all of their rafts. I've also heard that the same type of thing may be coming into play in national parks with snowmobiles.

trytokeepup: I'm now living in Creston (down by the "Bridges of Madison County"), but I grew up in north central Iowa. I just heard that the plans for a new ethanol plant near Blairburg is pretty much set in stone.

 

Californians do *not* burn ethanol in their gas! Fuel oxygenates in the USA are two: (1) ethanol -- region specific to the midwest, and MTBE which is used in all other US regions.

MTBE is nasty stuff if it gets out of containment (gas tanks, storage facilities). It's hydrophilic and easily contaminates water supplies. That's why the city of Santa Monica sued (???Sun or Unocal) for $200,000,000+ when it found MTBE in its water supply.

Ethanol is just expensive. Beaucoup expensive, since all fuel lines and tanks moving "gasahol" must be purged of the old fuels prior to transfer. Every season. That's why gas was $2.50/gallon a few years ago in the midwes when it dirt cheap everywhere else.

Many scientists and engineers point out that ethanol requires far more BTUs to produce than it provides. This means no net environmental benefit or lessened dependence on foreign oil.

Ethanol is great for farmers, or at least companies like Archer-Daniels-Midland. Last I read ADM received an extra $2,000,000,000 each year from our ethanol program. Our tax dollars at work.

We here in Las Vegas burn the same gas Californians burn: MTBE in the winter when oxygenated fuels are required by EPA. Despite this "clean" fuel, our air quality continues to decrease, even after accounting for growth.

Oxygenated fuel is basically a sop to special interests. It little to clean the air and requires more energy to produce than it provides.

Flame on!

;-)

 

There are 18 'blends' of gas mandated in California. In Vegas you use the 'medium altitude, desert, not major urban blend. It is not same as the gas used at our 'semi major urban, high altitude, high temp' blend. On the 15 freeway as it passes from San Diego to Vegas there are four districts, each with it's own fuel. Look at the district maps of our state. The best blends are used above the Sacramento area, and around Modesto. The worst in the Valley, where 80% of the people live.
Vegas has very little to do with neighboring California.
Nice place to have invested in land a few years ago though.
Chris

 

EPA has mandated 18 different blends of fuel nationwide. If CARB has also done this -- one more reason not to live in the state. The MTBE lawsuit is ongoing I believe, unless a settlement was reached recently. I travel to and through SoCal on a regular basis and can't recall ever seeing gasahol for sale when I filled up, though federal law requires listing the oxygenate when it is in use.

Vegas real estate: going to get me an early retirement if all 'dem Californicans keep comin' up here! My house has jumper 225% were I to sell today after only 3 years. Thanks all.

San Diego? Buddy bought 1,200 sqft for $800,000.

Laguna Nigel? Brother bought 1,600 sqft for almosy $650,000.

There must be something in the water.

;-)