In Oregon, at least in the Portland area, we are required to have alcohol in
the gas during the winter months. When they first started this, the
mechanics had a field day as the alcohol cleaned out the gas tank and all
the fuel lines depositing gunk in the carburetors. I had to have my Chevy
carb rebuilt at nearly $500 and both of my MG carbs rebuilt to clean out the
residue. This was several years ago and they continue to require the
alcohol, but I have not had any further problems with carburetors. The
mileage does go down so you end up burning more fuel. My take on this is
that the net pollution effect is minimal if at all. No flames please, I
really don't want to hear it!
Dave 72 B
-----Original Message-----
From: Lundy, John D. <JOHN.D.LUNDY@saic.com>
To: 'Joe7670@aol.com' <Joe7670@aol.com>
Cc: 'MG List' <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, June 12, 2000 11:40 AM
Subject: RE: Question Re: Ethanol
>Ethyl Alcohol - just like alcoholic drinks. The purpose is two-fold:
>
>1) To provide government-mandated price supports to farmers who sell their
>grain to make it.
>
>2) To provide "oxygenated" fuel for high altitude regions like Colorado
>where it is supposed to
> cut down on pollution by providing more complete combustion (we don't
>have all that much
> air here!)...
>
>BUT
>
> Like many govt programs, it got way messed up - here in Colorado we have
>to buy oxygenated fuels on the
> populated Front Range a good part of the year - and they made us use
>MTBE. In my previous vehicle, the
> mileage was MUCH worse with MTBE, so I was polluting much more, since I
>was burning way more gas
> (and money). But we had no choice - government made us buy it - like it
>or not! Now they are finding bad
> problems with MTBE contamination in ground water, and it is now out -
but
>I notice all the gas pumps still
> say this gas has 10% Ethanol....
>
>So that's the story - we would never mix anything like that in our gas, but
>we aren't given a choice -
>government knows best, or so they insist! I worry that maybe the alcohol
>might attack some of the hoses
>or plastic fittings (do we have any in MGs?). So I was wondering if anyone
>had any knowledge or experience
>with this. I know the FAA wouldn't let airplanes burn that kind of stuff -
>it was a safety risk for some engines.
>
>JL
>
>> ********************************
>> John Lundy
>> Senior Astrodynamics Engineer
>> Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
>> PHONE: (719) 637-8740 x248 FAX: (719) 573-7936
>> EMAIL: john.d.lundy@cpmx.saic.com
>>
>> ********************************
>>
>> ----------
>> From: Joe7670@aol.com[SMTP:Joe7670@aol.com]
>> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 12:14 PM
>> To: john.d.lundy@saic.com
>> Cc: mgs@autox.team.net
>> Subject: Question Re: Ethanol
>>
>> What is Ethanol?
>> What's the purpose of mixing it the gas?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Joe
>>
>
>
|