Originally Posted by 440Magnum
I like ethanol in gasoline from an engineering point of view, just not the subsidies since methanol would be even better.
Either methanol or ethanol an excellent octane booster for the cost, and once you've gotten rid of any incompatible materials it keeps the fuel system corrosion-free and spotless. All the hatred is based on misunderstanding. ALL oxygenated fuels don't store well and deteriorate even in sealed tanks, whether it be oxygenated with ethanol, MTBE, or other compounds. Nature of the beast. Anyone who thinks they're improving things buy buying "ethanol free" fuel is kidding themselves, unless they are getting truly non-oxygenated race fuel or aviation fuel. And if ethanol (by itself) were so bad, why is it exactly what people have been adding in the form of "Dry Gas" and "Heet" for decades to remove water contamination from the system? Yes, it does cause water to emulsify in the fuel... but that's the idea, get it to emulsify and pass straight through as the engine runs, NOT to pool in the bottom of tanks and low points in steel lines and cause corrosion. Problems only arise when people park engines for extended periods without making sure the tanks are full of fresh fuel, with NO air space, and with a stabilizer added. The worst thing you can do is run a boat or car in a humid area nearly empty of fuel then park it for months thinking "I'll put all fresh gas in when I use it again." Top off before parking, and add stabilizer (regardless of ethanol content of fuel).
If I want ethanol in my gasoline, I'll put it there. E0 also smells better! You don't need to be an engineer to do the math:
Gasoline = 115 BTU/gal
Ethanol = 76 BTU/gal