The Lowdown on ethanol

[Silver-Arrowz]

The following are extracts from Two Wheels magazine and gives the run down on ethanol in fuels and I think all should have a read and hopefully a better understanding on ethanol in fuels, and the politics behind it.

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Go easy on Alcohol by Peter Thoeming

COULD POLITICS BE KILLING YOUR BIKE? It sure could if a study comissioned by the Commonwealth's Environment Department from the Orbital Engine Company, and widely quoted in newspapers, is correct. The government had not officially released the study as I wrote this, and continued to insist that identification of ethanol-laced fuel at the bower was unnecessary. It was claimed that there is no scientific evidence to justify a legal limit on the amount of ethanol which can be added to petrol, but it's own report seems to contradict that - big time.

HORROR ADDITIVE...

According to the Sydney Morning Herald "it says the additive can cause corrosion of metal parts leading to damage to the carburettors, fuel pumps, lines and filters, and petrol tanks. It also causes perishing of plastic and increases emissions of nitrogen oxides and toxic aldehydes.

"The corrosion 'becomes critical even before the crossive action damages the part, as the particals of corrosion can plug small openings in the carburettor'.

"Because of ethanol's solvent action, fuel lines can swell, soften, and lose strength. Plastic and fibre-reinforced parts of fuel systems can become cracked and leak, creating a fire or explosion hazzard.

"it can also cause cold starting problems, engine 'knocking' and slower accleration."

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More to be added

[Silver-Arrowz]

.....OR SAVIOUR SOLVENT?

Not everyone agrees ethanol is a bad idea. It has a long history as a fuel and several major advantages.

"Henry Ford originally made cars to run on ethanol" says Bill Wells, an international consultant on renewble fuels based in Brisbane. Bill, with a PhD from the University of Texas has decades of experience with alternative fuels, and once briefed President George Bush on the subject.

When cars switched to petrol, it was discovered that adding lead raised knock resistance. But of course lead is a poison, and as we all know was eventually removed from fuel. Unfortunately is was replaced by aromatics like benzene and toluene, which are highly toxic and carcinogenic, and they in turn were replaced by methyl ether. The trouble is that methyl ether is toxic as well. It also has another significant drawback. Nothing "eats" it.

"They were adding up to 25% of ether to the fuek" says Bill. "but then it eventually began to escape into underground water. Tanks leak. And because no organism can matabolise it, it has an extremely long half life and it spreads a long way"

The result is poisoned water table.

Enter ethanol, which is so popular in the US now that some states actually require it to be added to fuel.

"In contrast, everything loves ethanol. says Bill. "Ethanol's half life in the ground is 6 hours!"

"It has anti-knock properties, so it raises the octane level of fuel. It is alsofar less poluting when it's burned, so it cleans up the air. And it's a renewable resource, so it increases energy security for countries that don't produce enough oil for their own use."

BP agrees. Some of it's service stations in Brisbane supply petrol with ethanol in it, but they identify it clearly on the pumps. They also limit it to 10% and display warnings. BP marketing manager Peter MacCuspie points out that service station storage tanks holding ethanol must be kept absolutely free of water, too, something BP controls religiously.

Independent station operators, in contrast, often claim that they don't know thenselves what's in their fuel - and don't necessarily look after their tanks well enough.

IT DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT

But the critical point here is that Bill and BP are both advocating up to 10% of ethanol in petrol, whereas the report is talking about (and those independent stations sell) 20%. That few % can make a very big difference.

BP's Peter MacCuspie notes that the cars General Motors Holden exports to Brazil (where ethanol levels can reach 25%) have "about 10 or 12" components which are different from those in cars sold in Australia, and that the components are seals and fuel lines.

Even Bill doesn't like 20% of ethanol petrol "I would rather see tests done before that's allowed," he says.

[surreal]

'Wheels' magazine also had an excellent article on ethanol last month if somebody can type faster than me....

[Silver-Arrowz]

FORGET YOUR WARRANTY

The Australian motorcycle industry is a bit more definite. They don't want it, and won't wear repairs under warrenty.

Nobody I spoke to is prepared to accept more than 10% of ethanol in unleaded fuel, and Ducati boss Warren Lee would be most concerned if any ethanol was added to Lead Replacement Petrol, which is used in the older Dukes. Some of them have fibreglass tanks.

"It would become an issue if it was added to LRP. Ethanol is not that friendly to things like resin," he pointed out.

He has also noticed a significant droip in fuel economy in his car when he fills up with ethanol-laced no-name petrol from independent service stations. He says Ducati is prepared to accept 10% of ethanol, "in line with the rest of the industry" but that he would much prefer to see ethanol levels identified on the pump.

"What I don't like is that they don't give you a choice" he says.

Brendan Gunton, Suzuki Australia Service Manager, also calls a halt at 10% ethanol.

"The stuff is highly corrosive on fuel lines" he says. "Even in South America, where they use alot of ethanol, Suzuki recommends a maximum of 10% for bikes"

Brendan is also one of the people who can actually point to problems that may have been caused by excessive ethanol.

"We do tend to have problems with things like rubber tank seals in WA and NT, where there are a lot of small fuel distributors" he says. If you run your Suzuki on 20% ethanol, problems will not be covered by your warranty.

Greg Smart at Honda MPE is doing research into the subject, including "accelerated testing on fuel injectors" he says. "Unfortunetly, you can't tell the ethanol content of fuel by loking at it or smelling it."

"Officially, we have agreed with the European directive Euco 3" he says. That limits ethanol to a maximum of 5 % "10% would be absolute maximum."

Among the effects of even just 10% ethanol in petrol, Greg nominates loss of power "similar to running an engine on LPG", deterioration of some material including fuel lines, seals and even metal components and even inlet valve damages as potential problem areas.

And "it's not difficult to work out that high ethanol content is responsible for problems" he says. If that's so, your warranty will be void.

At BMW Australia, Fergus Bell says that the company is happy to accept 10% but the factory has provided "no official word" on cencentrations above that.

"It would be at your own pral to go to higher concentrations" he says. In other words, forget your warranty.

[Silver-Arrowz]

WE PAY EITHER WAY

So why are blends of 20% ethanol sold in about 200 outlets in NSW, atleast? SMH's Mike Seccombe is in no doubt. He is not pacified bt the goverments point that the report is only a literature review, and more research is needed.

"All interest gruops want ethanol capped to 10%" he writes "except one - the Manildra Group, which makes nearly all Australia's ethanol and markets it largely through independent service stations at concentrations of up to 20%

"Manildra is a major donot to the Liberal Party and it's principle, Dick Honan, is a friend of the Prime Minister. Ethanol is only competative because of a 38c a liter producer subsidy introduced at John Howards behest in September"

That's why we can "save" money by filling up at an independent service station. It seems that not only are our bikes engines are at risk, we're even subsidising the people who make the stuff that's responsible - with our taxes.

Anyone for a drink?

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Fin.

[predator]

****ing petrol companies..they give us shit enough fuel as it is, control the prices like a ****ing communist country and then try to pump up the octane rating of poor quality fuel using cheaper alternatives such as ethanol!!

I say we all go back to the lead as the octane supplement and the world will be a better place

Apparently the addition of ethanol is apparently 20% of places in some states in Australia (during a survey that was done) and that is definitely not good for the car owner. The thing is the consumer has very little say in the matter - if our cars go bung, then, oh damn, the car companies sell us more cars. The Government doesn't care, that supports our car industry.

Unless we have access to testing equipment at each and every fillup how do we know what we are being served or whether we are being screwed over? It is a difficult one.

[Ash]

There is an Inderpendant servo just up the road from my house, He is often 5 - 10 cents a L cheaper than both BP and Caltex on the other side of the road.

He advertieses 100% Ethanol Free and his servo is ALWAYS packed, sometimes cars are queued onto the street. im sure he is loosing money on petrol but he must be making a killing with all the bread, mik, ice cream etc he is selling.

[crooser]

Originally posted by a5h

There is an Inderpendant servo just up the road from my house, He is often 5 - 10 cents a L cheaper than both BP and Caltex on the other side of the road.

He advertieses 100% Ethanol Free and his servo is ALWAYS packed, sometimes cars are queued onto the street. im sure he is loosing money on petrol but he must be making a killing with all the bread, mik, ice cream etc he is selling.

not this guy is it?

[BigDatto]

a5h,

I think I know the place you mean - right next to the vet clinic ?

Ironic that his fuel supplier is Caltex, and less than 20 metres away Caltex are charging 5-10c more.. I've seen some nasty acco's at that intersection from ppl queuing in the driveway.

If this is the place, you must live REAL close to me.

P.S. anyone know Caltex's policy on aromatic HC's or other additives ?

[MM2death]

Holy crap...THAT is a queue if i ever did see one.