Gasoline Quality Greatly Affects Fuel Systems; Not Ethanol Content

Biofuels Engine Design, Business News/Analysis, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Agency/Executive Branch, Federal Regulation, Infrastructure, Opinions, Performance, Policy, R & D Focus, Vehicle/Engine

March 12, 2013

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by Kristy Moore (Renewable Fuels Association) EPA’s decision to grant the use of E15 in 2001 and newer automobiles and light duty vehicles was based on multiple-year, multiple-aspect testing of more than 88 vehicles. The testing included evaluations of engines, fuels, lubricants, vehicle performance, durability and emissions. Each year, EPA receives nearly 500 fuel additive applications, identical to the E15 application, and has approved thousands of applications since the approval program started in 1974. No fuel additive in history has been studied to the rigorous degree as E15. More than 67 specific studies have been completed, with another 23 technical documents in support, leading EPA to make a sound decision to allow the use of E15.

With our participation and peer review restricted by CRC, we were not involved in this test program. As a new party to the information, the fact is, it is difficult to glean any game changing information from this new version of the fuel system components report. In fact, I’m curious why the original report release in December 2011 didn’t garner an API press release. Further, CRC has already studied fuel system-related problems and confirmed sulfur species present in gasoline as fatal toward fuel system components, yet sulfur isn’t even mentioned in the report. It’s almost as if the 2009 work that commenced after hundreds or thousands of stranded motorists with empty fuel tanks, and dashboard gauges reading “full,” don’t exist. This report should have acknowledged that aggressive test fuels would be highly reactive to fuel system components. Additional questions remain as it is impossible to determine the failing criteria on these fuel system components when regular gasoline was not included in the test matrix. E10 now represents nearly 95 percent of all regular unleaded gasoline. READ MORE and MORE

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