We have PLENTY of ground that could be used. All you hear is how farm ground is being take up by housing and industry, in reality we've lost more ground to re-forestation (replanting trees) than any other reason. So if need be cut down the trees and plant the crops. Another problem with corn ethanol is amount of energy it takes to produce it that's not advertised, i.e.fertilizer. As far as sugar ethanol we already send billions of dollars to Brazil (one of the largest producers of sugar cane) for economic aid. All we would have to do is allow the import of sugar from a friendly country and they probably wouldn't need the economic aid. (or at least not as much) I think most would prefer to buy energy from a friendly country rather than the middle east. Actually most would say they want energy independence but that's not going to happen (no matter what the candidates tell you)

 

My uncle fred has been doing that for years.... It ain't for driving purposes tho...

Another thing that has been gathering attention is biomass ethanol. basically, all the stuff that is shredded and left in the field.

 

This assumes the farmer and trucker have not yet converted to biodiesel.Once they do,it cuts big oil completly out of the picture. But they don't want you to think that way...

 

Oh who owns the History Channel-GENERAL ELECTRIC! They own what is arguably the best propaganda outlet on the planet.(They can re-write history or distort facts as they see fit)They are also heavliy invested in oil. Simply follow the money and it will be a real eye opener

 

Go ahead and run it.I have been running it in my gassers to take the money away from big oil.They are not flex fuel.According to the official gov.information they should be junk by now.We have not had any problems.A cel and maybe new fuel filter is the only downside.The upside is keeping the money in this country,and being an innovator in the world of alternative fuels.It is a baby step but it's a start.Don't believe the anti-ethanol crowd.You do not need to mod your vehicle-That would be to run Methanol which does require stainless this and that.Big oil does there best to blur the lines between ethanol and methanol.They assume we are sheep and can be herded through their misinformation campaigns.All "offical'' information on ethanol is absolutely b.s. If you noticed this issue has me fired up you would be right.In this day of 5 dollar a gallon diesel i am surprised more people are not fired up.Maybe we can change that

 

And what is your fuel mileage burning E85 compared to the rating for a gas vehicle . I know the USPS FFV is rated at 15 mpg using gas , 11 mpg using E85 . http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/noframes/17312.shtml

 

Ethanol = Archer Daniels Midland.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-241.html

MikeyB

 

Granted the mileage is not as good,but the epa has long made '' adjustments" almost impossible- what is needed is increased timing (spark) and lots of it or a turbo.We are using it to prove a point-imagine if everyone did this for two weeks to upset the apple cart!

 

That is some really outdated "info" How about you let us know what it is you're trying to say.This is 2008 and it's a different world

 

I'm saying ethanol sucks over the grand scheme of things. I do not see the economic benefit of using ethanol as the mainstay for fuel. It's fine for the regional areas like the corn belt but when 'ethanol trains' are coming down to Houston to be blended with gasoline as required by the EPA it doesn't add up.

Even with a 10% blend it's costing about 10% in fuel economy. This is from my own calculations and from others that are having to run the blended gasoline.

As for ethanol not harming the fuel system I'm calling BS on that. It's true for newer vehicles that have synthetic materials in the system but for older vehicles it's a different story. Ask any auto mechanic.
Why last year I had to replace all the fuel lines and seals on my Harley due to being damaged by the ethanol blended fuel. The carb wasn't immuned either.
I ended up throwing the carb away.

Not to mention I have seen the price of corn feedstock double in the last two years.

I don't see how the info is outdated. ADM has been paying off politicians for years. And they are reaping the benefits to this day.

MikeyB

 

I don't know if you can get away with this on a newer car, but, I once converted an 87 Plymouth Caravelle to E-85 by simply turning up the fuel pressure until the mixture was right at full throttle & tweaking the timing. It got same mileage as it did on gas.

 

It's no bs i am running it in my 80's dodge turbo cars on it,a 99 gmc safari workvan,wifes 02 ford escape. they are not flex fuel. I am trying to get people to wake up and see the gov.info is BS. also, they can manupulate the markets to make ethanol not cost effective.See today's headlines.They are protecting big oil by smearing e-85 any way they can.You are right on with the synthetic fuel components.Would I run E-85 in my carbed 73 roadrunner?Not without taking the cork out of the carb gaskets.Harley's by nature are antiquated(i have a shovelhead) and no i wouldnt dream of putting e-85 in my harley.Yes, older vehicles need mods but 99% of the cars on the road today can run it despite what the gov. says.This is what I am trying to say. imagine if we all ran our late model gassers on it for just a week? what would happen? alot of people going to advance auto to have the cel reset,but that lack of demand for gas for 1 week would make prices plummet.Where is the outrage? see my other posts

 

right on brother!

 

in the long run e-85 will cost more than more expensive gas. due to the lost fuel milage. and if you car -truck is not set up to run e-85 the alcohol will eventualy hurt it.

 

What will it hurt? The combustion temps are cooler than gas,the emissions are way down,gas engines have been proven to run quite well on it,(it is far from new,do some research,nothing from the oil-controlled gov.please) if the timing(spark) is advanced the mpg can be the same or better than gas. You do not even need to richen the mix.Remember,this is not gasoline,so don't tune the engine for gasoline.The burn rate is slower(much like race gas)but it is 105 octane,and the potential for huge gains is real.Don't believe me? Ask the turbo gasser guys.The oil industry propaganda machine is in full tilt trying to destroy ethanol before it destroys them and your post is proof they are winning.Do you like your money going overseas? To finance who-knows-what? See my other posts