Advanced BioFuels USA

by Bobby Likis (Car Clinic Network)  Recently, Lauren Fix appeared on the Jacki Daily Show and took aim at Ethanol.  Really?   Yes, something needs to be fixed. And it’s not ethanol.  What needs to be fixed is the egregiously incorrect perception of ethanol like that perpetuated by Lauren Fix, whether spurred by naiveté, ignorance or special interest.  … …in my experience as a 44-year, award-winning automotive service shop owner with over 200,000 vehicles (from classics to hybrids) rolling through the bays; rear-end dragster / engine builder; car-talk host answering more than 100,000 car questions live on radio, television, web & social media.

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Henry Ford’s first car “1896 Quadricycle” ran on E100 (100% ethanol).  And Mr. Ford’s 1908 Model-T was America’s first Flex-Fuel car.  E15 is the most tested fuel ever…to the tune of the equivalent of 12 round trips to the moon (6 million miles). No discernable difference was found in engine wear between E15 and other test fuels in the tested model years (2001 and later). NASCAR powers its cars with E15 fuel (85% gasoline with 15% ethanol). Indy racecars run E98.  Why 98% rather than 100%?  Glad you asked.  By adding 2% gasoline, pit crews would be able to see smoke in case there’s a fire.

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Speaking of clean burning, ethanol replaced MTBE (which replaced lead in gasoline) as an oxygenate.  By adding 10% ethanol to gasoline, many cities are able to reach clean air requirements that otherwise would not be possible. Ford’s EcoBoost and GM’s Ecotec engines thirst for high octane, and ethanol delivers.

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Ethanol – with its 113 octane rating – is an enabler of power & performance.

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Ms. Fix states that ethanol falls to the bottom of the fuel tank. Incorrect. When condensation occurs with temperature changes, WATER can (unlikely, but theoretically can) fall to the bottom of the fuel tank in an event called phase separation (water separating from fuel). Know which fuel best solves phase separation?  Ethanol.  All-hyrdrocarbon gasoline with NO ethanol can suspend about .15 teaspoon of water before it separates.  E10 can suspend about 4 teaspoons – that’s over 26 times more – reducing the chance for water-related corrosion and engine misses.  Yes, ethanol is the solution to the problem.  Ironically, Ms. Fix refers to several companies offering fuel additives that keep condensation from freezing in very cold climates.  Guess what the fuel additives are?  Like ethanol, they’re alcohol-based compounds.  Yes, really!

Now that we’ve gotten to the details, let’s go back to the 10,000-ft view.  Phase separation isn’t even an issue with today’s cars.  At 70°F and 70% relative humidity, it takes almost 3 months for pure gasoline to phase separate. The danger of ethanol – with 26 times more water-suspending capability – phase separating in any practical environment is ridiculous. The math indicates that more than 5.8 years storage with “open” fuel caps would be required to cause phase separation with ethanol (compared to 2.7 months with pure gasoline).  In any case, today’s secure gas caps (check-engine light warns if leaking) seal fuel vapors from escaping the tank and allow only the amount of air into the tank that is required to fill the void as the engine burns fuel from the tank.  READ MORE