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2013-06-18 Home Front: Culture Wars

Republicans seek to end federal ethanol mandate - Daily Caller

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Posted by Besoeker 2013-06-18 05:52|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 The worst thing ever to happen to outboard engines was E-10. Now they want to make things worse, to keep a few large farmers and ag combines happy.

Two years ago the Feds approved E-15 in an attempt to provide even more demand and price supports. Thankfully, this was met with protest, derision, and outrage. The Feds replied that it would not be mandated as the ONLY fuel sold all pumps at a station, it would have to be available but E-10 would still be available. Trouble is, only a few stations have sufficient numbers of pumps and tanks to do the various E fuels in various octane ratings (not to mention diesel and kerosene), so if the Feds required that you offer E-15 a lot of stations would offer nothing else.

If E-15 became the only fuel practically available every outboard engine in the U.S. would become instantly obsolete.

Getting rid of ethanol subsidies would return things to normal, make the price of corn more reasonable, and provide less incentive for government agencies to require adding it to fuels and incurring more costs to end users for maintenance.

The fact that a farm state legislator is even talking about this is encouraging, Fred.

Posted by no mo uro 2013-06-18 09:22|| 2013-06-18 09:22|| Front Page Top

#2 Ethanol is for drinkink!!!

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2013-06-18 09:23|| 2013-06-18 09:23|| Front Page Top

#3 Small engine carburetors sure run poorly on it, until they don't run at all.

That's a lie, the first engines burned alcohol.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2013-06-18 10:00|| 2013-06-18 10:00|| Front Page Top

#4 Today's small engines become gummed up on the stuff. My local Stihl and Deere dealers recommend 'alcohol free gas' for small engines. Our neighborhood BP station handles it. Costs a bit more, but it's all I use for mowers and trimmers. Seems to work fine.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-06-18 10:07|| 2013-06-18 10:07|| Front Page Top

#5 If E-15 became the only fuel practically available every outboard engine in the U.S. would become instantly obsolete.

Not too good for older vehicles, either. Some of us didn't buy in to 'cash-for-clunkers' and still drive those.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2013-06-18 12:00|| 2013-06-18 12:00|| Front Page Top

#6 Some engines use plastic in their carburetors, that's why, no plastic, alcohol burns fine.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2013-06-18 12:06|| 2013-06-18 12:06|| Front Page Top

#7 alcohol burns fine.

The issue is not combustion (except in two-strokes). The issue is the effect alcohol has on engine parts, and it's affinity for water.

Go read Mullah Richard's link in #5 for a good discussion of the problems.

Posted by SteveS 2013-06-18 12:36|| 2013-06-18 12:36|| Front Page Top

#8 Use shale oil for fuel - and quit using corn which is better suited to making CHEAP STEAKS.

Posted by 3dc 2013-06-18 14:54|| 2013-06-18 14:54|| Front Page Top

#9 I had to change a few parts in our old analog truck's Carter carb (manual choke, too) when we started using E-10 as ethanol-free wasn't always available.

Redneck Jim is correct, alcohol damages many plastics and certain types of rubber gaskets (like what older 4-barrel carbs used to use).

Posted by Mullah Richard 2013-06-18 19:00|| 2013-06-18 19:00|| Front Page Top

#10 corn which is better suited to making CHEAP STEAKS.

And BOURBON.

Posted by Glenmore 2013-06-18 20:36|| 2013-06-18 20:36|| Front Page Top

#11 Small engine shop owning friend has about 50 4 cycle mowers sitting waiting for carbs/parts because of this crap. Our racing mowers don't like it neither. I have already R & R'd one carb and haven't even hit the track yet this year....
local 76 station used to sell non-ethanol gas ( big sign proudly told you so) but the WA eco-weenies gave him a choice, stop or shut down. no non-ethanol gas available now.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2013-06-18 21:55|| 2013-06-18 21:55|| Front Page Top

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