[Guy]

I recently read that the government intends to allow the ethanol percentage in gasoline to go from 10% to 15% soon. Is there really any down side to that?

[jason]

Corn prices may go up. MPG may go down. If you have an older vehicle, or anything like a lawn mower, trimmer, edger that you do not use very often, it will require more maintenance. Some older vehicles do not handle ethanol very well either.

Producing ethanol is not energy efficient. It is also contains less energy then gas, but that fits into the MPG I think.

[Mario]

I have also read that ethanol tends to be a bit corrosive, especially to any parts made with plastics or rubber, so parts can wear out sooner.

[jason]

Originally Posted by Mario

I have also read that ethanol tends to be a bit corrosive, especially to any parts made with plastics or rubber, so parts can wear out sooner.

If it sits too long, yes. That is why I mentioned mowers, trimmers, etc... Anything you do not use for a while. It eats gas filters down here in the yard equipment. I'm not sure about up north if you have to drain the mower or not, but I was told to only fill up the mower half way now, filling it up full lets the gas sit too long.

[Midnight Tech]

There's a product by Star brite called "Star*Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment" that will cure the ethanol problem. We used it in our delivery truck which had lost 40 miles to a tankful and got 20 of it back.

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Res...mber&Nty=1&N=0

It is extremely bad on vehicles that weren't designed for it...my understanding is that E15 must be sold in a separate, clearly marked pump.

[Marvin]

I would assume that the newer vehicles are indeed designed for it. Any idea at what point in time vehicles started being designed for it and which ones are not?

[TransAm]

Originally Posted by Guy

I recently read that the government intends to allow the ethanol percentage in gasoline to go from 10% to 15% soon. Is there really any down side to that?

Since most conventional gasoline cars can run up to 15% ethanol without significant damage to their engines, it is the maximum possible ratio recommended by auto manufacturers to run on E10, generally speaking. So, this would seem to be the absolute limit before you would have to update to a flexible-fuel vehicle, or modify your engine to suit.