Planet 9

The Great Ethanol Scam - BusinessWeek

good read. now i'm scratching my head and thinking if there was a way to avoid ethanol mixed fuel (probably not possible since i live in a state heavily dependent on corn).

I can't really avoid it. And recently pretty much all our gas stations posted their stickers, telling us that their gas contains 10% ethanol.

I can practically hear it eat my fuel line....

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2009 Cayman S
2008 Cayman (sold)

I agree with the economic analysis. I believe this is one of the biggest scams on the American people. Brasil has a totally different feed stock for their ethanol program, and the cars are designed to use ethanol from day one.

In the great scheeme of thigs food comes before fuel. If food goes up, and fuel does not come down why bother.

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Having fun in Puerto Rico

Nothing to worry about - our cars are designed (including the fuel lines) to deal just fine with up to 15% ethanol. More than that, not so good.

brad

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22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Good to know, thanks!

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2009 Cayman S
2008 Cayman (sold)

There is a much greater issue with ethanol than "eating the fuel line". Ethanol is hydroscopic, which means that it is miscible with water; unlike petroleum which will separate from water.

The petroleum distribution system in this country; ships, barges, pipelines, etc; all have some water in them. As long as we are dealing with gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel there is no problem because the water can be separated and drawn off at the terminal prior to delivery to your local retailer. The real problem is that when the ethanol is blended into the gasoline and water is present it becomes entrained in the gas and winds up in your tank. Most internal combustion engines are not too crazy about water; and that is the real threat from this hypocrisy called ethanol.

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Gil Frank
2008 Cayman S Guards Red, PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport Seats w/painted seat backs, Sport Exhaust, Sport Shifter, Fire Extinguisher, Bi-xenons, Clear Bra

So are there still gas companies out there that don't use ethanol? I know Shell and Exxon uses ethanol.

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speedMotiv

They all have to use it if they are in a "non-attainment" area, since ethanol is now the only allowed oxygenate. The USEPA banned MTBE several years ago and tetraethyl lead was phased out many years ago.

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Gil Frank
2008 Cayman S Guards Red, PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport Seats w/painted seat backs, Sport Exhaust, Sport Shifter, Fire Extinguisher, Bi-xenons, Clear Bra

Brazil uses sugarcane as their feedstock.

The corn used in ethanol is not the same corn that would be consumed by humans; it is a completely different variety.

Still, this is all clearly driven by the corn industry more than anyone else...

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Florida established a renewable fuel standard, requiring ethanol to make up 10 percent of Florida’s total fuel supply by 2010. Florida’s comprehensive “Green Energy” bill was passed by the 2008 Florida Legislature so if you can find a station with no ethanol, it won’t be for long.

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VitaminC you are correct when you state that this corn is not for human consumption, but it is used to feed chickens (eggs), pork, beef, and in turns raises the price of potash nitrogen and other fertilizers. Higher demand for corn raises the price of corn and its alternatives. Did you see what happened to the price of corn oil, rice, wheat, other oils, beef, pork and poultry when ethanol appeared to be the alternative fuel of choice?

Politicians with a little knowledge can be very dangerous. This is a very complex matter and there are a lot of interested parties (lobbyist) trying to change opinions to their point of view.

I do not claim I know the answers, but I know some of the questions.

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Having fun in Puerto Rico

The Law of Unintended Consequences!

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Gil Frank
2008 Cayman S Guards Red, PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport Seats w/painted seat backs, Sport Exhaust, Sport Shifter, Fire Extinguisher, Bi-xenons, Clear Bra

Ethanol is a wealth redistribution scheme masquarading as "green technology". In this case, corn growers get the money. "Cap and trade" will make Ethanol subsidies look like chicken feed. Which is what the corn should be used for.

Free range chickens, of course.

Better still, WILD CHICKENS. Re introduce them into the wild. Feral chickens.

Be free, clucky. Be free!

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2007 Speed Yellow Cayman GT 2.7 (retired)
2008 Guards Red Cayman GT 3.4
"Carpe Cayman"

Yeah, and just think what would happen if they started feeding cows grass instead of corn!

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You should have your own talk show.

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Kevin
2007 Cayman S........SOLD.

And there's complaints about the inefficiencies and environmental impact of the oilsands?!

Let's see. Irrigate the corn. Use diesel fuel to power the tractors, combines, hauling equipment , trains, etc. Use up a bunch of fertilizer - probably using natural gas to produce some components. Take thousands of square miles of farmland to produce it instead of food. Build a bunch of tin can processing plants that are probably less efficient and more environmentally damaging than existing refineries..............

Good plan. Not.

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GT Silver CS
1980 Honda CBX
2004 Suzuki SV1000
2006 Subaru Legacy
2002 Honda Insight

let's not forget who made this possible, shall we?