Marvin/TN
I have a friend that worked in the chemistry department at Chevron who told me that at the worst the mileage loss was about 8% and they tried to blend the other additives to produce the best gas mileage possible. Neither one of us have good data, just friends with opinions. Is there any good data available from "A" drivers with mileage differences?
Jim/TX
Gasoline boils at 100-400 degrees depending upon which additives are used to produce the desired octane. ethanol boils at 78 degrees (without using any of the chemistry laws: Boyle's, Henry's, Clausius-calpeyron, etc) when two liquids are mixed together then tend to boil towards the lower temperature. However 10% ethanol would only lower the 100 degree maybe to 90-95 degrees and the 400 to 300 degrees. Now it is possible that a 5-10 degree drop in boiling point could affect the usability of the fuel. Does anybody know the boiling point for gasohol or maybe a chemist who works for one of the companies that produce fuel for your area.
Water absorption, 100% ethanol absorbs water immediately upon exposure to the atmosphere and continues to absorb the water until it becomes fairly stable at approximately 70% ethanol and 30% water. A gallon of fuel equals about 4000ml for calculation simplicity. 4000ml of Gasohol x 10% = 400 ml of ethanol. If we assume that the ethanol is 100%, then that amount of ethanol would absorb about 120ml of water. Now that is a significant amount of water and would equal about one quart of water for a full tank of fuel in an "A" which would be determental to the engine. (unless it helps to get rid of the carbon). However, ethanol and water are a very stable solution. (when was the last time that you saw a water and alcohol separation in that bottle of 70% alcohol in your medicine cabinet), I cannot envision the water separating from the ethanol from a chemistry standpoint.
Tom/MN
Bad
Short shelf life - gasoline one year / gasohol 90 days. I personally have not had a tank or even a partial tank of fuel in my "A" for 90 days, I drive it enough during the season to need a fill-up at least every 2 weeks and drain it during the winter.
Known to cause sticking valves - I did not know that, does it harm the engine? Will using one of the many mentioned special liquids (Marvel Oil, Auto Trans Fluid, etc.) in these threads resolve the problem?
Lower fuel mileage - any data?
Boils at ...... see above.
Eats rubber - addressed in my first reply. Should not be a problem in an "A".
Eats corks - BAD BAD BAD in an A this so far is the only valid reason I have seen for avoiding it. I really hate running out of gas on a tour.
Absorbs water ...... see above.
Turns brass floats green - Called patina in antiques adds to the value. Any real damage to the float, pinholes?
Raises food costs - political, should not be discussed on this forum.
Costs more to produce than gas - Gas or Gasohol is going to cost us exactly how much the oil companies can get away with charging us. At least some of that money spent on alcohol goes to farmers in the United States rather than to foreign countries.
Good- I won't argue that it is good, I just don't understand all the arguments for BAD.
