here in wisconsin you'll see that the premium gas (91 - 93 octane) does NOT have ethynol added (for the most part) while the low & midgrade gas usually does.

 

Pretty much the same in Iowa. For the most part, only the 89 grade has an Ethanol sticker at the stations I frequent. Others (87, 91, 93) do not usually have the stickers. I do use Ethanol in my truck but stick to premium non-Ethanol in the bike. I do seem to notice a MPG difference and a slight extra exhaust-popping with Ethanol when I have to use it in the bike. I also think there's a difference between certain stations as well but I've never put anything to the test to know for sure. I admit, that one could just be my imagination but I figure better safe than sorry and avoid them.

 

Lets not forget all that Ethanol does for us;

Lower performance / fuel milage, accelerated deterioration of the non-metallic parts of the fuel system…

Upward pressure on grain prices filtering throughout the food chain…

Destruction of the natural environment to meet the demand for additional farmland…

Produces only 25% more energy than is required to produce it… (Biodiesel from soybeans is in the 90%'s)

And our hard earned tax dollars are subsidizing it! Check your state for availability of pure gasoline. Google non-oxy fuel (state name). Sometimes antique car or hot rod car websites will list locations where you can buy gas without the filler. Minnesota is right in the middle of the corn belt and we have it here, so I would think other states would too.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...ol-study_x.htm

http://www.startribune.com/local/388...aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articl...tarve-the-poor

 

I have found I get about a 10% DECREASE in fuel mileage with 10% ethanol, and I also have popping on decel with ethanol.
Here's some info I just found; it's not just ethanol but what is called RVP gasoline.
Read all about it here: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090199464
Here are a few facts I found real interesting....

One physical characteristic of gasolines that is addressed in ASTM 4814 and is commonly regulated in many jurisdictions is RVP. RVP can be measured in accordance with ASTM Standard Specification D 5191-04a ("D 5191") which is incorporated by reference herein. RVP standards are typically expressed as a maximum RVP limit which gasolines sold commercially in a particular jurisdiction may be compelled to meet. Such RVP limits significantly constrain the composition of hydrocarbons in gasolines because RVP increases as the proportion of lighter hydrocarbons increases. Typically, to produce gasolines with reduced RVP, the proportion of lighter hydrocarbons, for example C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, are reduced.

Reducing such lighter hydrocarbons can negatively impact gasoline characteristics. For example, decreasing the amount of butane in a gasoline fuel lowers the RVP of that fuel, but it also reduces the octane rating.

By constraining the composition of gasolines, RVP limits also impose a burden upon refineries. Generally, refineries adjust the composition of gasolines by controlling the proportions of various refinery streams which are used to produce the gasolines. For example, to produce a gasoline with a higher boiling point, a refinery may need to reduce the proportion of low-boiling refinery streams used to produce the gasoline. To produce gasolines which will satisfy applicable RVP limits, refineries typically reduce the proportion of lighter boiling hydrocarbons in gasolines. RVP is typically controlled or adjusted using empirically determined RVP blending values. A RVP blend value represent a particular composition's contribution to the RVP of a particular mixture. One consequence of such RVP constraints upon refineries is that less gasoline can be refined from each barrel of petroleum. This can significantly impact the gasoline supply available to meet consumer demand.

BOY, are we getting SCREWED!!!!!!!

 

Ethanol has oxygen in it. That means that ethanol has less energy when it burns. When you use 10% ethanol in vehicle with oxygen sensor computer makes adjustments and vehicle runs fine except less MPH.
When you use 10% ethanol in a vehicle w/o oxygen sensor, computer(carburator) doesn't adjust fuel/air ratio and engine runs lean. That is why you can hear popping and engine doesn't run well.
Jets in carburator have to be replaced by bigger ones or drilled.

 

I tried a tank of Nitrogen enriched Shell with ethanol in my '07 Road King Classic and it did run very well at all. If vehicles that were not built to use ethanol uses it very often, they will have a problem I understand. all of the rubber and nylon hoses in the fuel transfer systems are not very tolerant to alcohol.

 

Just wanted you to know with out commenting on the ethanol because if you search you can find my viewpoints, but the ethanol plant that we do a lot of business with sells the byproduct of making ethanol directly to Ole El Paso taco shell company and to the producer of taco bell's tortillas. So the argument about the lack of food is just b/s.

 

The argument that ethanol has impacted our food prices is hoax, aside from pork, the largest cost increase in food prices that everyone blames on ethanol is the petroleum it takes to move the product, and the petroleum in the packaging of the product, and when the corn prices went back down notice that the food did not drop. Wonder where the cost went?

I agree that there were subsidies on ethanol most of them have went away, and still are no where near the subsidies to the welfare provided to low income/poverty stricken individuals that receive money from a lot of the farm bill programs, that farmers get blamed for.

If you refer the to research that the University of Minnesota did regarding the impact on food? Dig a little who some of the contributors for that study were? Seems to me I remember something about energy companies.

One ethanol plant in southern Minnesota is using almost no outside power to fuel the plant. It is powered off of the byproduct as well as a single wind turbine. The byproduct of the burning of the by product has a plethora of nutrients and a few farmers that I know are working on a way to market it and spread it instead of commercial fertilizer again reducing the amount of outside power used to create ethanol.

And most of the byproduct called DDG's or wet cake, can be still be used to feed cattle, that produce milk, beef. It can be used to feed chickens, that produce eggs and chicken. It can still make corn tortilla's. Further the production releases clean co2 that goes directly into making pop with limited further process.

Other ethanol plants are trying to grow shrimp in their cooling waters as an additional source of food, that eat the DDG's.

In Iowa and Minnesota, the amount of land taken out of conservation, is little to none, so the argument that we are destroying the environment to produce more corn seems feeble as well.

While I will not comment on the aspect it has on our bikes and our cars, something I know little about. Those that quote the media for sources regarding food, and energy policy should take note that it may not always be the truth (amount of oil leaked into the gulf is a good example. Hmm' I wonder how that results for food production and destruction of natural resources, let alone fuel prices in the long run?)

 

If I am understanding this correctly it is cheaper and more efficient to produce gas with a higher octane level or rvp? If that is the case why has it always been the case that higher octane levels in gas raises the price? Not disagreeing as I have no knowledge it doesn't make sense to me, and would like to know more.

 

A lot of BP stations have the non-oxgenated gas in Minnesota. They also have serarate gas hoses so you get what you pay for. There is also a sign by their pumps that state you are responsible for any spills.

I work at the ADM plant in Marshall, Mn, and have participated in numerous ethanol threads in the past, some of which got quite heated.

Three things everyone should know.

1) If you've never run it before in any vehicle, expect some initial problems, as it will "clean" the gunk from your tank and fuel lines--i.e., you may have to replace a gas filter on your cars. We've been an ethanol state for years--those problems are long behind us, but believe me, people sure bitched when it happened, as you will.

2) Ethanol will give you slightly lower gas mileage, but unless you check every tank, it's not enough that you will really notice It may also run a little leaner and hotter, which, of course, the EPA loves. The plus side is you may be able to get higher octane, up to 93 around here, at the same price as 90-91 octane. It's a god-send to those of us having high octane engines, such as my classic Triumphs. E-85 will give you much lower gas miliege in compatable vehicles, but it's only $2.20 a gallon, compared to $2.67 for regular (current price in my locale). An engine built for pure alcohol could run much higher compression, which would create more power and better mileage. Unfortunately, we are behind other countries, such as Norway and Brazil, in that regard.

3) Ethanol is made from the starch of corn. The world needs more protein, not more starch.
Ethanol is a by-product of corn processing. It does not take away from the food supply. The residue is high protein animal feed, fed to cattle, creating those nice juicy steaks we all like with a cold beer. Coor's beer buys another one of the by products from our factory. Every time you drink a can of pop or eat a candy bar, it's probably sweetened by another by product--high fructose corn syrup. The glue holding the box together containing your Harley parts could very well be made from another by product of the process.

Here is a link to an article on the latest study by the USDA, released just last month, for those who care to learn facts, instead of believing posts on a chat thread.

http://www.startribune.com/business/96851009.html