Originally posted by mora
5% ethanol content is fine and reduces emissions. 10% can be too much if the car isn't designed to run with that mixture. Sounds more like a farming subsidy than an enviromental act.
Reformulation in itself is a very positive thing, and does significantly reduce emissions. If reformulation involves adding too much oxygenates(it's only a small part of reformulation), then the result may be the opposite, as in the case of gasoline with 10% ethanol content.
it is actually an EPA mandate in the 5 counties surrounding milwaukee. when it first started there was a 10% requirement and some oil companies used MTBE instead of ethanol at first, they have since migrated to ethanol.
they are talking about mandating it in all of wisconsin now.
it really sucks for boat and rec. vehicle owners, as those small 2 stroke engines are not designed for that kind of gas. also there is a higher % of failed fuel injectors, as the ethanol corrodes the thin plastic coating on the wires...
but the EPA doesn't care. you are right, it "sounds" more like a subsidy, but it is a law. i wonder just how much they paid to get that law passed
