|
Common Questions Regarding Ethanol Use
| Q: |
Does ethanol plug fuel filters? |
| A: |
When ethanol
first came into use, it was put into older vehicles that
had fuel systems that had become varnished over a period
of use. Ethanol began to clean the varnish from tanks, fuel
lines, and carburetors. This did cause fuel filters to plug.
Once the fuel system was clean, this problem was over. Today
detergent gasolines help keep fuel systems clean and, in
most cases, ethanol fuel is put into clean fuel systems;
therefore, the problem no longer exists. All gasolines sold
today have detergents added to their composition.
|
| Q: |
Is ethanol bad for certain fuel system components in fuel pumps and carburetors? |
| A: |
Early on, some elastomers (rubber-like parts) and metal in these fuel system components did deteriorate over time. Very quickly manufacturers changed these fuel system components to be compatible with ethanol fuel. From time to time, this myth begins to circulate again, but it is not true. Today, all vehicle manufacturers, domestic and foreign, approve the use of ethanol fuels.
|
| Q: |
Doesn’t the use of ethanol-blended fuel cause a decrease in fuel mileage? |
| A: |
There are
so many variables that relate to fuel mileage, such as the
season, the weather, how the vehicle may be driven, etc.,
that it is hard for the average vehicle owner to accurately
check fuel mileage. Every vehicle is somewhat different
in driveability characteristics, as well. Some carbureted
vehicles that run rich may experience an increase in fuel
economy. The most current information derived from controlled
environmental testing is that on fuel injected vehicles,
fuel mileage may decrease by approximately 2%. A vehicle
that averages 30 MPG on the highway would average 29.4 MPG
using ethanol-blended fuel, a small price to pay for a cleaner
environment.
|
| Q: |
Won’t ethanol-blended fuel attract moisture to my fuel system? |
| A: |
All of today’s
automotive fuel systems are closed systems and cannot attract
moisture. Ethanol will absorb moisture that is in a fuel
system and carry it out in suspension as it is consumed.
The most likely cause for water in gasoline today would
be from service station storage tanks, a problem that is
very rare. If water content becomes too high in ethanol
fuel, it will separate and fall to the bottom of the vehicle’s
fuel tank. When ethanol fuel is used in a vehicle, no winter
de-icer is required.
|
| Q: |
Does ethanol cause injectors to plug in port fuel injector vehicles? |
| A: |
This theory
was never proven. Earlier fuel injectors of the pintle design
could form deposits that changed the pattern of the injected
fuel. This problem developed from injectors seeping fuel
when the vehicle was not running. This formed carbon deposits
on the pintle and caused even more leakage. This could happen
with any gasoline. Because of this problem, injectors in
most vehicles have been re-designed around the popet style
and all gasoline is required to carry a detergent component
to alleviate the deposit problem.
|
| Q: |
Does ethanol cause vapor lock on hot days? |
| A: |
Today, fuel vapor pressure is regulated by the EPA with a lower vapor pressure for summer grades of fuel. In this area of the Midwest, ethanol fuel may carry a one pound higher vapor pressure than conventional gasoline. Occasionally, a vehicle may vapor lock on a hot day, but this problem has mostly been eliminated.*
|
| Q: |
Does ethanol use cause injector failure? |
| A: |
This seemed
to be a problem on certain vehicles from 1988 to 1993. The
manufacturers changed the injector coil insulation. It appears
that this problem does not exist on late model vehicles.
|
| Q: |
Isn’t
ethanol fuel blended to over 10% many times? |
| A: |
Overblends
of oxygenates in gasoline are rare and never intentional.
Ethanol, MTBE and other ethers all cost significantly more
than gasoline. To overblend even 2% results in increased
production costs exceeding 1¢ per gallon. Manufacturers
of oxygenated gasolines are very cautious not to overblend
and most now use very sophisticated equipment to achieve
precise blend levels at or below maximum permitted levels.*
|
| Q: |
Will we deplete human and animal food supplies by using corn and other grains for fuel production? |
| A: |
No, actually
the production of ethanol from corn uses only the starch
of the corn kernel. All of the valuable protein, minerals
and nutrients remain. One bushel of corn produces about
2.7 gallons of ethanol AND 11.4 pounds of gluten feed (20%
protein) AND 3 pounds of gluten meal (60% protein) AND 1.6
pounds of corn oil.
|
| Q: |
Does it take more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the energy we get out of it? |
| A: |
No. Research
indicates an approximate 67% gain in the overall corn-to-ethanol
process and use of that ethanol for fuel. Corn yields and
processing technologies have improved significantly over
the past 20 years and they continue to do so, making ethanol
production less and less energy intensive. For a fact sheet
on this issue, click
here  . |
* From Changes in Gasoline III (1996 update)
Top of Page
|
