Benefits of switching from ethanol
12-29-2011, 10:38 AM
#21
Prius Eater
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Asheville NC
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My city ran nothing but E85 in all compatible vehicles for an entire year as a test program. It lasted only one year as they stated there was no cost benefit and in some vehicles it actually cost more as the mpg was found to be lower.
The department of agriculture is about as accurate as the EPA mpg estimates for new cars = not even close. You wouldn't sell a product and tell people it sucks would you?
Here there was a considerable period of time where you could see cost benefit of running the E85 blends as the price was over $1 lower but the 10% blend has been a pretty steady $.05 - $.10 difference only.
Now that some of the tax breaks are disappearing the price of E85 here in South Dakota has been found to be the same as the 10% blends so the cost benefit has gone away.
I worked on a crew that built an ethanol plant here years ago and the head of the project told us that there were studies that showed it was impossible to grow enough corn to completely switch the country over to straight ethanol as some South American countries have done. He said it would be possible but they would have to start developing more cellulose sources. I believe it is Brazil that is almost 100% ethanol in all vehicles and it is made primarily from sugar cane. So it can be done. I think we are just behind in technology because of the buddy buddy and cash cow that oil and gasoline are for the folks that influence the decision makers.
The department of agriculture is about as accurate as the EPA mpg estimates for new cars = not even close. You wouldn't sell a product and tell people it sucks would you?
Here there was a considerable period of time where you could see cost benefit of running the E85 blends as the price was over $1 lower but the 10% blend has been a pretty steady $.05 - $.10 difference only.
Now that some of the tax breaks are disappearing the price of E85 here in South Dakota has been found to be the same as the 10% blends so the cost benefit has gone away.
I worked on a crew that built an ethanol plant here years ago and the head of the project told us that there were studies that showed it was impossible to grow enough corn to completely switch the country over to straight ethanol as some South American countries have done. He said it would be possible but they would have to start developing more cellulose sources. I believe it is Brazil that is almost 100% ethanol in all vehicles and it is made primarily from sugar cane. So it can be done. I think we are just behind in technology because of the buddy buddy and cash cow that oil and gasoline are for the folks that influence the decision makers.
12-29-2011, 10:43 AM
#22
Prius Eater
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Asheville NC
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey! I thought you weren't going to divulge your knowledge/information!?
You and your silly facts. Scientists. What do they know? "Mark my words. Those new fangled horseless carriages will never catch on." -Some guy adverse to the process of change.
Also not mentioned was that we almost never hear of water in the fuel from gas pumps any more... Could it be ethanol isn't as bad as some say?
Now lets argue about brands and weights of motor oil!!!!!!!
You and your silly facts. Scientists. What do they know? "Mark my words. Those new fangled horseless carriages will never catch on." -Some guy adverse to the process of change.
Also not mentioned was that we almost never hear of water in the fuel from gas pumps any more... Could it be ethanol isn't as bad as some say?
Now lets argue about brands and weights of motor oil!!!!!!!
12-29-2011, 12:15 PM
#26
Gas engines are junk!!!!!!! If I had the money id be driving around a 6.4L power stroke with a spartan tuner, and any who disagrees with me, look at the Eco boost! It's based of a diesel! Only reason gas engines are still around in vehicles is because of the government and there laws, wouldn't have to worry about green house gasses, if the vehicles were allowed 40+mpg like europe,
12-29-2011, 04:21 PM
#27
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's what a buddy and another buddies dad said when they traded in their f150's for power strokes,that gas engines were under powered junk & within the last month one spent $6200 on repairs and the other $8500,needless to say there back to f150's,they woulda come out cheaper breaking every plug and replacing the transmission in their p o s gas f150
12-29-2011, 04:36 PM
#29
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guess some f250's have probs like some gassers, some get ones that you can't kill & others get ones that are a p o s from the time it leaves the dealership,just glad it was them footing the repair bills & not me.
12-29-2011, 05:07 PM
#30
Originally Posted by Gatorbait2
Guess some f250's have probs like some gassers, some get ones that you can't kill & others get ones that are a p o s from the time it leaves the dealership,just glad it was them footing the repair bills & not me.