Hobbyist: E10 vs E15

[Don]

" A lobbying organization representing foreign-brand car companies has asked the government to require that E10 fuel continue to be sold, even though the feds have approved E15, a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. Automakers and power-equipment companies say the higher concentration of ethanol -- usually made from corn -- can damage engines over time and that government tests showing otherwise weren't thorough. "


http://content.usatoday.com/communit...legal/1?csp=34

[letsboogie351]

I refuse to use any ethanol blended fuel in any of my vehicles. It's bad enough that if you don't use the correct rubber/plastic fuel lines that unleaded fuel can seep through them

[fordracing65]

In Arizona, USA, we have 10 percent ethanol in all of our pump gas, it has a different smell than pure gas, its been in our pumps for years now.

[Seagull81]

We can only get 10% in our area. There were several guys having trouble with their carbs this past weekend at the Texas Cobra Meet. Less mileage (hmmm, sell more gas?) and in my opinion the only people who benefit are the gas companies. the price isn't any cheaper. I believe part of my problems with my gas powered lawn equipment is the darn gas. What a scam!

[WardL]

Arizona has E10 gasoline. There is no E15 gas available right now in the US unless it is the bath tub variety. The EPA approved E15 for Tier 2 vehicles only. Tier 2 vehicles started being produced depending on manufacturer around 2003-05. The Autos, boaters, small engine manufacturers, oil companies and anyone else with a brain that isn't drinking corn ethanol is against it. The ethanol producers like ADM somehow have a stronger lobby than the other guys combined and have bought off, excuse me, lobbied our government to require ethanol. We are headed to E15 soon enough given the laws that are on the books already.

[fordracing65]

Tier 2 vehicles are 2007 and after, E15 will be here to stay soon, and the price will probably go up also.

[Ron61]

We have had only the E-10 fuel here for years. I buy 93 unleaded with no ethanol or alcohol for my yard and garden tools and they run great. The small engine businesses around here are swamped every Spring with motors they have to change lines on and clean out the carbs and filters. The 93 octane gas is expensive but not as much as having to have the motors in the lawn mowers and tractor gone through every year. Not only does the pump gas not smell like gas, it doesn't look like it as it is almost clear and you can see through it.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

I have a 15 year old 8HP Mercury 2 stroke outboard on my dingy. I never had a lick of trouble with that motor until I put some E10 in it 2 or 3 years ago. First off the gas pickup tube inside the gas tank fell apart and the primer bulb in the gas line was also attacked. So I had to buy a new gas tank and a new primer but that was not the end of my problems. The crap from the rotten rubber kept plugging up the fuel filter and some actually got into the carb. I must have removed the carb and filter 6 or 7 times before I finally got all of the junk cleaned out. Now a small primer diaphram in the carb has been attacked so I have to change that.

Wayne