Ethanol Problems

In the past few days I have discussed ethanol in gas problems with several individuals.

First, let me state that I really like the idea of ethanol as a source of power, though I am not happy with the idea of "corn for cars," I love the ideas that are appearing in research stages now. Second, I am absolutely amazed at how quickly that whole corn fermentation industry came and went with the price of oil. Investors lost millions! So amazed that I really think that the potential of the future competition of ethanol was seen as a significant enough threat that oil industry pulled back the price of oil, though most would argue that it is the recession that has kept the price down. Well, time will tell. Historically, if you examine the tension between these two fuel sources, back to the turn of the last century, the muscle of the oil industry has been used to minimize the growth of the ethanol industry, even to the extent of backing Prohibition. But I digress. (Read David Blume's Alcohol Can Be a Gas! for a much more in depth review of the subject than you might find anywhere else.)

As an introduction to the problem, let me note that the Baltimore City Police department had about 20 of their patrol cars "sidelined" last weekend with fuel problems. At first it was suggested that diesel fuel had been mistakenly substituted for gas. Later it was reported that the ethanol ratio in the gas was too high and that this effected the engines. While I have not read the value of the specific number, one must wonder "how high is too high?" Remembering that in the recent past, FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicles) were being produced, and still are in many other countries, with the ability to burn E85 or 85% ethanol, why would a manufacturer be producing cars that might be damaged by a slight increase in the ethanol content of gas, from 10% to lets say 20%. Obviously, they know how to prevent problems from ethanol contact and just as obviously it has to do with costs. (Just another side note - when was the last time you saw a service station that is pumping E85? I tried to find one in the Baltimore area a was not successful. Think back to paragraph one.) So what might be damaged? And here is the transition point for this blog- the fuel system, its hoses, tank, pumps, and internal components.

My neighbor reported having $300 worth of work done to his Honda outboard motor which he has on his sail boat. On a sail boat, outboards are backup and it is not unusual for a couple of gallons to last a session. My friend Alvin asked me to work on his high pressure sprayer. When I opened the carburetor, the residue throughout was amazing and he reported that he had cleaned parts of it, which were covered with "junk," only a couple of months earlier. In the case of the sprayer, I found a rubber component of the carburetor which I believe had been heavily deteriorated leaving a layer of "junk" throughout by the ethanol/gas mixture. The mechanics who worked on the Honda, reported that the ethanol was responsible for the damage to its carburetor's.

In these cases several problems exist. The manufactures are not planning properly for the kind of reactions that may occur with the ethanol, the fuel is left standing in the engine so prolonged, undisturbed contact is assured, and lastly, the owners (including me) were not aware of the potential problems and a solution. (I also believe that I might have experienced a similar problem with my conversion van that sits unused for months at a time.)

My neighbor's mechanic suggested using a gas supplement called StarTron which is used at a ratio of 1 ounce to 16 gallons, to inhibit the action of the ethanol and minimize associated problems. As yet I have not picked some up but will do so and use it in the immediate future. The web site is:
http://www.startron.com. Plan ahead. I really think this is worth the effort.