Posted on 06/08/2022 7:36:05 AM PDT by dalight
Last Friday the Biden administration raised the mandatory amount of biofuel, specifically ethanol, that must be blended within the U.S. gasoline supply. The previous amount of 10% (summer blend) was raised to a year-round 15% (waiver) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is likely to lead to two sets of bigger issues, less food and higher gas prices.
♦ First issue. – The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a government mandate, passed in 2005 and expanded in 2007, that requires growing volumes of biofuels to be blended into U.S. transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel every year. Approximately 40 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is used for ethanol. Raising the amount of ethanol required in gasoline will result in the need for more biofuel (corn). With farming costs and outputs already under pressure this could be problematic.
♦ Second issue – The EPA enforces the biofuel standard by requiring refineries to submit purchase credits (known as Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proving the purchases. This enforcement requirement sets up a system where the RIN credits are bought and sold by small refineries who do not have the infrastructure to do the blending process. They purchase second-hand RIN credits from parties that blended or imported biofuels directly. This sets up a secondary income stream, a trading market for the larger oil companies, refineries and importers.
The RIN credit trading platform is similar to what we might expect to see if the ‘Carbon Trading’ scheme was ever put into place. However, now that summer biofuel requirements for blended gasoline have gone from 10% to 15%, the price of the RIN credits will likely jump. This will cost refineries billions in additional expenses,…. which will mean the cost of the gasoline from the refineries will increase,….. which will mean the cost of the gasoline at the pump will go higher.
♦ Third Issue – “Ethanol is a valuable source of octane in finished gasoline, but it is chemically different than petroleum gasoline and cannot be used in concentrations above 10 percent in small engines — like outboard boat motors, motorcycles, lawnmowers, generators or chain saws — or in any cars made before 2001. Complicating matters further, most cars on the road today still aren’t warrantied to run on gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol. Retail stations also must have compatible infrastructure in order to sell gasoline with higher ethanol blends.” This issue is known within the industry as “The Blend Wall.”
Ethonal eats unprotected metals in the fuel systems.
So metal lines. Metal parts in the pumps unprotected fuel injectors.
It also burns hotter so valves not designed to deal with that also tend to fail sooner.
I buy it for all gasoline powered equipment I own. 20% better gas mileage on my 92 Honda, for instance, is one reason for this.
They want all gasoline engines destroyed.
You might have just stumbled onto the real reason Biden needs diapers
No..I do it for my small engines.
Then, I do some to add into the tank after I fill up at the gas station once in a while.
Mostly for use in my small engines.
I got a 5 gallon white plastic jug that I used.
I dont use the octane additive.
No. E15.
E85 is 85% ethonal. Not 85% gasoline
E85 is not 15%.
E85 is what they have is countries like Brazil. It can have between 53% to 85% alcohol. This is also known as Flex Fuel.
Brazil has true flex fuel automobiles. This is because Brazil has very little petroleum reserves. However, they can grow sugar beets year round. Sugar beets are the best crop to grow and make ethanol. They are so good at making it there, they can export it here and be a lot cheaper than making it from corn. Except, that would not be beneficial for all the farmers in Iowa, where they have that caucus every four years.
Look into converting your generator to propane. Propane is stable, it never goes bad. Instant starting, oil does not need changing as frequently.
I converted mine in 1999 and never looked back.
I’m not sure what cuz is trying to say about fuel mileage but ethanol blended gas gives worse mileage (less energy delivered per gallon) than an equal amount of non-ethanol gas. You can look this up in countless listings on the inter-weebs.
Can the gas be cheaper...that depends upon the price of each component and the blending costs. Will food prices be higher as well — certainly. There is however some octane advantages to certain 5% or 10% mixtures as I understand it but this is a typical socialist planned economy disaster as usual.
Biden destroys.
Remember “Cash for Clunkers”? This is phase two.
Alcohol more than 10% attacks any of the rubber/plastic that is containing it that is not specifically designed for E85 fuels. It damages carbonators (mine is fuel injected - so no bullet there) and it raises cylinder head temps leading to distortion and potential damage of the valves and valve seats. And, to top it off.. you have to buy more fuel per mile to drive it. E85 used to be priced lower than 10% or E90. This is the creepy thing they are attempting. To lower gas prices 5% and destroy the cars of the lower middle class and the poor in one swoop. But the shift to alcohol only lowers the price, not the cost. It’s a sham, and needs to be fought not accepted. And, if you are subject to emissions testing, many cars will fail that would have passed with a 10% blend.
Fifth! The manufacture of ethanol in the US for burning in gasoline uses grain that could be used for food. This is at a time when the supply of grain to many countries is being cut due to the Russo-Ukraine war.
Yes Biden is stupid enough to use phony environmental mandates to starve millions of people to attempt to buy votes.
Makes sense for small engines and hobby cars that eat gallons per year. Not a solution for a car you drive to work.
I was getting around 20.5 MPG in my Jeep wrangler but lately I have been getting around 21.5 MPG since the E15 mandate. Good for me and good for Farmers.
E85 was already mandated for winter fuel blends. What difference does it make if it is now used year-round?
Jumpted 20 cents the other day followed by another 20 cents a few days later and then got to $4.49.9 around here for the first time ever. Thankfully I can go on base at the Alabama National Guard base, the old Fort McClellan and purchase gas there. Lot cheaper!!
I make it, easily, from car gas. The store-bought version of it last time I looked was $20/gallon.
The chemistry: ethanol binds weakly to gasoline; ethanol binds strongly to water.
Take a clear 5-gallon jug; pour about 2-3 gallons of gas into it; pour 2 quarts of water into it; shake well; let the cloudy mixture settle for two days; siphon off the new water/ethanol mixture. The pure ethanol-free gas remains.
My sister has an older Honda CR-V.
Honda specifically tells owners to NOT use more than 10% ethanol.
Here in Maine, some gas stations sell ethanol free gasoline......about $7.00 per gallon versus $4.90 - $4.95 for regular with ethanol.
Also, with the shortage of grain and corn for food and the high cost of animal feed, burning food is insane.
My 2006 Honda CRV requires a conversion kit to run E85. Starting this week we are going to fill up at the station that sells non ethanol gas. I’ll put enough non ethanol in to keep the mix at or below 10%.
Thanks.. I was unaware that you could get 53% alcohol in E85, I will check to see if that is the American definition however.
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