Mandatory 10% Ethanol

james22 · 24-08-2006, 09:08 AM

What does everyone think about this?

Seen it on the news last night, trying to push for all petrol to be 10% ethanol.
Not good news.

:

S3SR · 24-08-2006, 09:18 AM

long time overdue..... used it a few times and well it did nothing bad by my car
its either that or pay upto $2/L for fuel...bring on the ethanol i say

merlin · 24-08-2006, 09:34 AM

Why is it not good news? Only bad news is that they only want 10% in 5 years time. Should be going for much higher percentage.

james22 · 24-08-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Why is it not good news? Only bad news is that they only want 10% in 5 years time. Should be going for much higher percentage.

My uncle is a mechanic, and he says that ethanol is no good for the engine. Over time tests have shown that strips your fuel system of all the crap and through to your filter and engine because of the high amount of solvents in the petrol. Can also cause valve burn

Dazza XLT · 24-08-2006, 09:38 AM

My collegues in Ayr Nth QLD use the Ethanol Blend in their Petrol Rodeos.
Same price up there as normal unleaded at the moment.
They have noticed reduced fuel economy, and a reduction in power.
Might be a unique case, but something to take into consideration I guess.

**ebxr8240** · 24-08-2006, 09:47 AM

Its added to make fuels have higher octane rating..
The issue is its Stoic or "best fuel ratio" is around 10 while petrol is 14.7...But it does allow higher compression...In the old days we never knew what was added to fuels, well?? we don't now. But I think Ethonol has been blamed when other blends have been added...It should help enginesthat have forced induction..
Another issue is due to different AFR ratio a wide band senser is best used to keep good tune. So our ecu's need alittle tweeking to work properly...

Scruba · 24-08-2006, 09:49 AM

My bro in law in Ayr also runs ethanol in his Magna VRX and noted an increase in power and better fuel economy so there could be a lot of factors which give different results.

I passed up E10 last week for the Premo 98 Ron. otherwise I would have given it a go.

Dazza XLT · 24-08-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scruba

My bro in law in Ayr also runs ethanol in his Magna VRX and noted an increase in power and better fuel economy so there could be a lot of factors which give different results.

Must just be those Rodeos then!
Bloody Holdens!

XYGTHO · 24-08-2006, 10:00 AM

I'm sceptical about it. Thought it voids warranty under some cases? It there are no side effects great. Think we'l soon find out anyhow, $2 a litre

:. Think i'l be investing in a pushy. Still won't be getting rid of the XY. I worked my *r** off to own my dream car and aint gonna sell it cause some ***** is trying to make mega dollars profit. Just have to keep working my **s* off i suppose. What a miserable life.

**Grunter** · 24-08-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XYGTHO

I'm sceptical about it. Thought it voids warranty under some cases?...

I'm pretty sure current model Fords are ok, The Turbo Territory states in the fuel filler that it can use Ethanol blend fuel, so I'm guessing it applies to the total Falcon/Territory range?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantz

i'm running optimax extreme, which is 100octane, 5% ethanol... fantastic fuel!

Ditto in my TS50 and have found it to be no worse than BP Ultimate and a lot better than standard Optimax.

Abacus · 24-08-2006, 09:57 AM

10% Ethanol will have sod-all effect on pump price.

I haven't done the maths, but I can't see the falls at the pump being more than a few percent. After all, the oil companies still have to buy the ethanol and blend it in, and they won't be reducing their mark-up. It wouldn't be fair to expect the service stations to take a cut in their mark up , so you're talking at most a small fraction of 10% retail.

The good aspect is that it reduces our reliance on imported oil, and allows for marginally less funds to be diverted by our OPEC friends into terrorist organisations.

Me, I think I'll stick with LPG.

Hardtopxb · 24-08-2006, 11:39 AM

So what happens if you have a pre 86 car that cant run on ethanol blends , and ALL petrol is 10% ethanol..Tough titties I suppose?.

MRJUCY · 24-08-2006, 12:21 PM

Not a fan of the idea I think it's been done for political reasons rather then any real benefit to consumers but what do you do. The only savings is Ethanol is because it isn't taxed like petrol & at the cost of increased fuel consumption & smog causing emissions.

brenx · 24-08-2006, 12:35 PM

I don't think it should be mandatory. Although petrol pricing is weird. In most consumer markets when you buy bulk the price decreases. In our petrol market the more we consume the more the price goes up. In the US they're using E85 with good results in carbed V8's. So bring on E85 ;)

I've been running E10 for well over a year in my EL and 02 Astina. I'll effects? None. I get better econ with E10 in the Mazda than non-e10. In the EL its roughly the same. I get around 550k's per tank if the Mrs doesn't drive it.

Ruger · 24-08-2006, 12:36 PM

do you really think itll have an effect on the price of fuel? rubbish. maybe a couple of cents at most but nothing significant. servos are still going to want their money get realistic it wont have any effect on the end consumer other than corroding rubber fuel lines.
its needed for petrol to not go to $2? what will it be with 10% ethanol 1.95? if you cant afford it sell your car and buy a scooter and dont whinge about petrol prices.

BENT_8 · 24-08-2006, 01:07 PM

I ran my EL on it to Wagga From Pt Wakefield and got 700km out of the tank.
No ill effects, no power loss.
Isn't someone in Sydney testing an AU/BA with E80?

blackers10 · 24-08-2006, 01:22 PM

so is it bad or is it OK for your engine?

Ruger · 24-08-2006, 01:48 PM

people get over excited with accusations it would probably have an ill effect after running it for 20 years but you aint gonna do any harm running it once

brenx · 24-08-2006, 01:48 PM

good ol oil company scare tactics.

4.9 EF Futura · 24-08-2006, 02:00 PM

I have no problems using ethanol fuels but im concerned about the enironmental impacts and the use of fossil fuels in its production.

Until they come up with a more efficient method of production, we're better off burning the raw fossil fuels.

Abacus · 24-08-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

I have no problems using ethanol fuels but im concerned about the enironmental impacts and the use of fossil fuels in its production.

Until they come up with a more efficient method of production, we're better off burning the raw fossil fuels.

Too right. We should go nuclear ASAP.

uranium_death · 24-08-2006, 03:17 PM

Petrol prices at a high...
Shell Australia made a fat 300 million dollar profit.

And they say it's hard to make a profit in Australia!

Well, find the secret and share them with me please!

4.9 EF Futura · 24-08-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Petrol prices at a high...
Shell Australia made a fat 300 million dollar profit.

Outright profit means nothing. What was the revenue? What was the return on assets? What was the return on equity?

**Professor Farnsworth** · 24-08-2006, 03:22 PM

i'm running optimax extreme, which is 100octane, 5% ethanol... fantastic fuel!

flappist · 24-08-2006, 03:30 PM

Guys, it is a spin doctor excercise.

Petrol used in Australia in 2004-2005:
about 4,000,000,000 litres (4 Billion)

Maximum capacity of production of ethanol in Australia if all cane and grain was used for that purpose:
about 30,000,000 litres (30 million)

Ten percent of 4 billion is 400 million so we are just a little bit short unless we import the ethanol. If we import the ethanol from somewhere than has an excess like south america we have just as big a problem so where is the advantage?

Source of info; CSIRO study on ethanol published earlier this year.

N.B. I am paraphrasing as I cannot remember where I actually read the study and therefore do not have exact figures.

And from memory the cost of production of a litre of ethanol was more than the cost of production of a litre of petrol.

4.9 EF Futura · 24-08-2006, 03:51 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...063001480.html

"The False Hope Of Biofuels"

Not the most scientific article but a lot easier to read that many others - and gets the point across.

iCat · 24-08-2006, 03:55 PM

Using an ethanol blend in fuel is promoted as a 'green' thing isn't it? Better for the environment and all that? Studies have been done showing that the production of ethanol is far worse for the environment than the production of petrol.

Scruba · 24-08-2006, 06:04 PM

I'd like to see some further tests on Ethanol greater than 10% before using it in the XR.

xbgs351 · 24-08-2006, 08:51 PM

I'm happy to see it available but would be very upset if it was mandatory. I would be happy to run it on my company car, but I wouldn't run it on my own cars.

8pAc · 24-08-2006, 09:03 PM

Ethanol fuels are a bunch of crap, i have been using optimax extreme 100 ron with 5% blend. Yes the car was smooth but in 53 litres i only traveled 322 km with regular 98 optimax i get 380+. Also the fact it has 10% blend regular should make it 10% cheaper yes. NO!!!!! more like charge it as premium BS. Use more Charge more. I can see oly 2 groups benefiting, the government with there excise and the fuel companies as the sell less charge more. YAY ETHANOL FUELS!!!!!! for the gay.