Counter Steer

Here is an E10/E15 update from the Marine side of the business.

From "Trade Only", an email newsletter as reported by the NMMA.

"AAA has come out against the use of E15 at gas stations. “With little consumer knowledge about E15 and less than 5 percent of cars on the road approved by automakers to use that fuel, AAA is urging regulators and the industry to stop the sale of E15 until motorists are better protected,” the federation of motor clubs said in a statement issued Friday.

“In smaller quantities, ethanol is really good. It’s an oxygenator,” Currie told Trade Only. “The NMMA is not anti-ethanol. We can live with it in lower levels. It’s just when they increase it above 10 percent that it hurts engines.”

“Alcohol burns hotter than gasoline and causes engine damage,” he added. “It’s all a matter of heat.”

Whenever a person uses a gasoline pump, about half to three-quarters of a gallon is left in the hose, Currie said. So the EPA said it would mandate that a minimum of 4 gallons be dispensed at a time to dilute the concentration of fuel left behind.

“If you’re filling up a little tank to fill your (think motorcycle or ATV) lawnmower or weed whacker, what do you do? Do you pour the rest on the ground? They don’t say,” Currie said.

Ethanol has fewer Btu per gallon than gasoline, so the more ethanol the worse the gas mileage, Currie said."
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My comment: The new regulations will be made by legislators on behalf of their largest campaign contributors unless there is a united National industry (marine, auto, motorcycle, ATV, chain saw, etc)response that counters the corporate, agricultural, and Wall Street lobbying efforts and money. This issue is about giving money back to donors and not what is best for the environment. Follow the money.

Look at the bright side, it may force Suzuki to put a 5 or 6 gallon tank on the C50!

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Wescalero Rider

Mhac nan con
"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” Thomas Paine

kerf

There is also the issue of burning our food supply. With unexploited reserves of crude in just North American alone, the rational for using alcohol as a fuel source seems to be questionable, especially considering the inflation rate in food cost.

Do you know how many food items that are impacted by the high price of corn? Beef, poultry, pork, baked goods, eggs and soft drinks to name but a few.

As was stated in the OP, fuel mileage decreases with each percent of ethanol added to gas. Ethanol laced gasoline also deteriorates rather quickly into corrosive compounds that can destroy a fuel system.

C50TinAB

+1

I have issues of burning our food supply as well and for the same reasons you stated. It just doesn't seem like a wise thing to do.

As an aside, from what I understand Shell premium has no ethanol added so for small engines like weed whackers, mowers etc. Shell premium is recommended to save gaskets and other parts that were not designed with ethanol in mind. It was also said it's a better fuel to have in the tank for engines being stored. I think I read that on the Yamaha site.

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'09 C50T Black/Grey

Hi-Vis

Thanks CS.
A friend of mine sold his 8+? gas stations about 5 years ago. He made out good. Fact, ALL of the gas in our area comes from the same cross country pipeline. Our gas stations buy their gas there and add what ever spices required to make it shell, chevron or what ever. Ethanol gets added at that point too.
Some where I read that ethanol production creats tons of green house gasses,,,what ever those are.
Also read where inboard boat engines of years past had rubber fuel lines melt causing fires and deaths.
I HATE ETHANOL

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Special Edition 2009 C50 Green/White . 13600 miles. Loaded up and then some!
2006 Honda Big-Ruckus 250 scooter. ~Rare~

If an old man is Laughing at you for no reason, you might want to take a mental inventory because you might have lost something.

ATGATT Sweat, not blood.

472viper

Where I live we can still get 0% ethanol at BP stations.

Yes, I do pay a premium price for it.

I am less concerned with using grain as a renewable energy source than am with government paying farmers not to plant it.

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2006 M50/C50/109fender/ SE 50 wheels and HD bags
2007 1600 Kawasaki Classic*SOLD*
2008 FLHX Street Glide 105th Anniversary #1387
USAF 1973-1977
SoDak ANG 1977-2010

Run my fingers across the bars of his cage and make the little monkey dance

cavie

Check here to find ethanol free gas


List of ethanol free gas stations - Tampa Bay sports car | Examiner.com

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'03 Volusia Intruder, Cobra Drag Pipes, K&N air filter, Fatty Knees Bars, Mustang seat, Grasshopper backrest, Wolo horn. Gold wing floor boards and a few other goodies.

kerf

The only place I've noticed it in Alabama, is in close proximity to launch ramps or marinas. In boats, alcohol is a big no no, even in my boat with a 350 Mercruiser. Don't know if farms are exempt from the ethanol mandate or not.

Thunderhoof

This whole ethanol/govt. subsidy/food price increases/engine destroying effects/don't drill for our own oil cr*p really upsets me!! These "geniuses" in Washington seem to ruin everything they touch.

(Except for their own bank accounts - of course.)

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"Thunderhoof"
Vance & Hines jet kit, K&N, modified pipes, switchblade windshield, dual back rests, license plate relo, tank bib, MCE highway bars, Marlin's clock & thermometer, Kury ISO grips, smoked lenses, Saddleman bags, run/turn/brake controller, PIAA headlight, LED turn signals & running lights,Optronics spotlights, de-paired, "de-Huffied" and de-badged! Kruz Drive Club member.

kerf

I absolutely fail to understand how anyone capable of reasoned thought could disagree with you.

Two Red Ryders

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, President Bush signed it on December 19, 2007 in response to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years. The Bush Energy Act directed DOE to assess the feasibility of using intermediate ethanol blends in the existing vehicle fleet. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated the potential impacts on legacy vehicles and other engines. In a report released in October 2008, NREL described the effects of E10, E15 and E20 on tailpipe and evaporative emissions, catalyst and engine durability, vehicle driveability, engine operability, and vehicle and engine materials. This preliminary report found that none of the vehicles displayed a malfunction indicator light; no fuel filter plugging symptoms were observed; no cold start problems were observed under laboratory conditions; and all test vehicles exhibited a loss in fuel economy proportional to ethanol's lower energy density

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The United States of America, founded on the principle that "all men are created equal; with unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Red & Black C50