Beware of Gasahol!!!

[AfterGodsOwnHeart]

The big thing here in OK is now for gas stations to cut their gasoline with 10% ethanol. It runs in newer cars but kills the mpg, and can destroy the engines in older vehicles. And the thing is, the stations aren't required to tell anyone they're doing it...at least til July 1. The OK legislature is requiring a sticker be put on the pumps that are selling gasahol.

Might not be a bad idea to ask the stations where you fill up if they're selling gasoline or if they've added ethanol.

Here's the links.
http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8327128
http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8338889
http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8359245

[freespirit]

Where have you been? Gasahol, or 10% blend has been at the pumps since the early 80's
It's produced in the US and the profits are shared with US farmers, Not Mid East US haters. It gets a bit less mileage, but it also costs a bit less, so you get what you pay for. A 10% ethanol blend runs fine in any internal combustion engine ,new or old. I've been using it since it was introduced, in cars, motorcycles, lawn mowers, etc., no problem.

[AnnOdom44]

I know that our owner's manual on our '05 Town and Country says not to use Ethenol, but I believe it's speaking about 100% Ethenol. I do know this, that if we use Shell gas, we get better gas milage, 25 mpg or a little better, depending on how much wind resistence we're driving into. Also, in our area, there are lots of hills, so of course that cuts down on the mpg. What really bugs me are these people who are speeding like there is no tomorrow:doh If people would drive the speed limit, they wouldn't use as much gas. I think we should lower the speed limit back down to 55, like back in the 70's. When we drive that speed, our mpg jumps up to almost 30 mpg. Now you go down to Houston, and it's like the Indy 500 on the freeways:faint IMPO, irresponsible driving, using more gas, will eventually lead to a shortage as people will have to get gas more often. I'll pass the :soapbox
Texas Mimi

[lyngraphics]

:aha If you drive 50 in Houston, you will get run over!!

[Jubilee on Earth]

If people would drive the speed limit, they wouldn't use as much gas. I think we should lower the speed limit back down to 55, like back in the 70's. When we drive that speed, our mpg jumps up to almost 30 mpg. Now you go down to Houston, and it's like the Indy 500 on the freeways IMPO, irresponsible driving, using more gas, will eventually lead to a shortage as people will have to get gas more often.

LOL -- it's true! I drove about 65 in the slow lane on the freeway yesterday, and still cars were speeding past me doing 85, giving me looks that could kill. I wish that I had a sign that I could've held up that said, "Forgive me, but I'm not as wealthy as you! Must save gas!!"

:lol2

[AfterGodsOwnHeart]

Where have you been? Gasahol, or 10% blend has been at the pumps since the early 80's.

I've been right here in OK. I guess we're just used to using real gasoline. Maybe it's because it's pumped and refined here....I dunno. But gasahol, which I was aware of in the last oil crises, never made it to our pumps. It just showed up in Tulsa at the end of last year and here in OKC in January.

The big thing here is that everyone is trying to figure out why their milage went down so dramatically. The stations made the switch and no one knew.

It's produced in the US and the profits are shared with US farmers, Not Mid East US haters.

I'm all for that! I'm guessing from your reply that you are involved in agriculture. Ag is big here in OK, too although corn is not one of our big crops.

It gets a bit less mileage, but it also costs a bit less, so you get what you pay for.

I guess that depends on your definition of "a bit". A 10 mpg drop is a big "bit" here.

A 10% ethanol blend runs fine in any internal combustion engine ,new or old. I've been using it since it was introduced, in cars, motorcycles, lawn mowers, etc., no problem.

Apparently this is true. From what the links state, the problem is with the rubber and plastic parts in pre 85 engines. They claim the alcohol and rubber/plastic don't play well together and alcohol deterioates the hoses, etc.

Again, I'm not a mechanic, just saw this on the local news station. I don't really have a problem with gasahol if it's a viable alternative. My beef is more with being switched at the station without my knowlege and that's changing here in a month.

-Mark

[AfterGodsOwnHeart]

LOL -- it's true! I drove about 65 in the slow lane on the freeway yesterday, and still cars were speeding past me doing 85, giving me looks that could kill. I wish that I had a sign that I could've held up that said, "Forgive me, but I'm not as wealthy as you! Must save gas!!"

:lol2

It's funny you mention that. I've been experimenting with different highway speeds in our vehicles to see which ones are the most efficient. In the process I've slowed down quite a bit and have noticed that the drive is much less stressful. Traffic all drives away from me, so I always have a nice buffer, and I don't have to keep my eyes peeled for the next speed trap. Combine that with boosting my milage by 8 mpg and I'm a happy guy. It does add about 10 minutes to my 160 mile trip to the lake on the weekends, but I just enjoy the extra time with my family.

-M

[Purplelinny]

:aha If you drive 50 in Houston, you will get run over!!

That's right! It makes me laugh - just this morning I was on the feeder road to I-45 by Almeda Mall and this young guy in his beat up Honda just could not wait to get past me, and I was doing 50 on the feeder! As he raced by, I shrugged and said to myself, "You're burning more gas than I am, buddy".

Anyhoo - about the gasahol thing - don't know about that, but Fox news reported the other night that even the Ethanol blend is not good for many cars. It's difficult to say how many and which, but this site estimates 30-40% of cars.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/09/1062902057222.html

[RememberTheName]

Uhm. Is there a particular reason I tend to get better milage when using this 'gasahol'? I once filled up with it coming from Texas to Tennessee, and I got a good bit further on that tank than I usually do with a tank of regular unleaded from the same town.

[Southern Grace]

AfterGodsownheart: I am from Oklahoma and posted a link here back in March about this ethanol:
Here is the link http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=39133

Anyway, My DH hauls this stuff. He absolutely refuses to put this in our vehicles. It does reduce the MPG and yes it can corrode certain seals. He has had to order "special" seals for his truck so it won't leak.
The stations are not closing now while he fills their tanks. They were scared to death of it. I know there are alot of people that use it just fine. That is your preference. I just know my info comes straight from one of the horse's mouth (don't tell my DH I said that):lol2 Anyway he hauls this ethanol crap everyday all day and he will not put it in our vehicles!

Question: How is this more economical if you get less MPG which means you have to fill up more often which means you will in the long run use MORE OIL?
Plus use our food production. Is it just me or am I just missing something here? :scratch :hehee :idunno