For you alcohol and alternative guys...

[Bob]

I am ALL for ethanol, from the standpoint of a patriotic American and a farmland owner.

HOWEVER, from the point of view of the checkbook, it's NOT a money-saver...

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/alternativefuels/articles/120863/article.html

Here's a link to the Edmunds mainpage, with a TON of other automotive info fuel economy information, and then,m a link to "Biodiesel Basics".

http://www.edmunds.com/fueleconomy/index.html

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/alternativefuels/articles/124450/article.html">

 

[Dan-IA]

I'm still waiting for the magnetic wankel engine installed in a trailblazer. Then you might talk me into buying an SUV.

 

[Greg_Ky]

I am a firm believer that alcohol is for human consumption and not for powering vehicles.

 

[Anonymous-0]

With my 2000 Dakota and 4.7 V8, the mileage can vary from a
high of 20 to a low of 15 from one tank to the next. That's actual
miles driven and gallons put in, not mileage readings from the
trip computer. I don't believe a run like they did proves
anything. The next day it could be the opposite depending on
humidity, heat, temp, wind speed, direction of wind, traffic, high
pressure weather system, low pressure system, etc. To switch
from regular to a highly oxygenated fuel like E-85 and do a test
run doesn't prove out either. My son and I have been doing our
own testing with E-30. The first tank after switching the mileage
dropped 1-2 miles per gallon. After 2 tanks of E-30, mileage
was back up to what it was before the switch. And at .20 a
gallon less than E-10 it is worth using it. The computer needs
time to reset itself to run at optimum and to try and prove
something by one tank doesn't carry much weight.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

ONE tank of fuel proves nothing...

If one tank of fuel is all you need to prove something, then my 2001 Honda Accord makes 38 miles per gallon. It did it once so that must be the mileage... OR maybe it only makes 19 mpg, because it did that once too!

 

[Anonymous-0]

A lot of the economy depends on the price spread and
calculation. Right now the spread here is $0.84. Spend most of
my high school life working a full service (anybody remember
those) gas station and people never said; "Give me ten gals., it
was fill it up, give me $5, $10". MSD is correct about the
computer resetting, most manuals say 25-50 starts for
computer to relearn driving habits after installing a battery or
doing any work on the emission system. Many of the studies
that show negative energy have been proved erroneous, some
were even funded by big oil. Any one remember AMOCO"s
campaign against E10 when they had the now banned BTE as an
oil company alternative. I will continue to use E85 because I
grow corn.

 

[730 virgil]

at local gas station.price spread is 85 to 95 cents depending on day.
i get about 18 mpg on 2007 impala not great i know. most of our driving is 10-12 miles one way.
point is i would have to get at least another 8 to 10 mpg to make up price spread.

 

[IH2444]

Ethanol has reduced our oil imports by nearly 9% or so. How much would oil cost if we were importing 10% more ?
Plus ethanol has give some money back to the farmers and rural economies instead of sending the money to the middle east.

More than one way to look at things.

 

[cornfarmer]

On straight gas, they used 36.5 gallons of gasoline. On E-85, they used 7.5 gallons of gasoline, a reduction of approximately 80%. Sounds like it saves oil to me. I thought that was what we were trying to do?

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you dont want to save oil, dont buy it. You need to ride a bike.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I look at it like this.Ethanol may not get the MPG's and cost more in the end,but,every barrel of oil that is displaced by ethanol is a good thing.After all,that's one less barrel we are buying from someone that wants to kill us.

 

[Bob]

As a farmland owner, I fully agree with your sentiments. Ethanol IS good for the USA, and farmers.

The deal is, though, WHY do folks need to LIE that they get nearly the same MPH on E-85. It just AIN'T gonna happen in the real world!

We need LOTS of reasonably-priced ethanol and biodiesel.

 

[Anonymous-0]

2 pint and a half cans of a beer I like have gone from 2.18 to 2.81 in one week.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Our several year experience is a mileage drop of 11 percent, and with E-85 always priced at least 40 cents lower, it does pay for us.

 

[Sam#3]

For what it's worth I've been using gasohol since 1983 when and where I could get it. By that I mean I have lived where it wasn't sold and I've traveled where it was or was not sold. Where it was available I used it. I have heard all the "It will ruin your engine, It will dissolve your gas lines and carburetor, you won't get the power or mileage" believe me, I've never been able been able to tell any difference. I use it in cars, tractor, lawn mowers, chain saws, and weed trimmers. The only identifiable reaction was when I started using in Denver I never again had a frozen fuel filter.
If I have any reservation about the big alcohol drive is the base component, Water. In my humble opinion we need to start collecting those melting ice caps before we have to distill the seawater.

 

[Sam#3]

I neglected to say I have no experience with E85.