ALT-1 What is e 85 and where can you Buy it
E-85 is becoming one of the most popular alternative fuels on the market because of it's supposed increase and performance and an obvious lower release of greenhouse gases, one of which being carbon dioxide. Because of this, E-85 has become increasingly popular amongst environmentally conscious citizens.
E-85 is also making a huge impact in the pocket books of consumers as well, because of it's relatively low cost in times of high oil prices. While the prices of E-85 tend to hover around the prices of standard gas prices, they are generally $.05-$.10 cheaper on average.
This particular blend of fuel is considerably different than most fuel. It is much less oil than what you would imagine. It is actually 85% Ethanol and 15% fuel. If you don't realize what Ethanol is, then you're probably in for a big surprise, because it is actually made from plants. Ethanol is nothing more than a fuel that is derived from plant sugars. Typically you'll find that Ethanol is made from corn, however quite a few different grain products have also been used in the creation of Ethanol. Ethanol has also been made from paper waste as well as other agricultural wastes. This means that Ethanol could be a means of increasing the efficiency and profitability of several different industries.
The best thing about Ethanol is obviously the reduction in pollution, but there are many other benefits that come along with it. Ethanol based fuels are generally higher in octane, at around 105. You can normally expect standard fuels to start in the high 80's and end in the mid to high 90's depending upon the blend and the company.
But for many economists the most important aspect of Ethanol is that it reduces the United States dependence upon other countries for fuel. It also has other economic benefits besides just keeping the fuel money in our own country. The use of grains for the production of the fuel raises the prices of grains, and since our country is one of the largest producers of grains in the world, this means a much higher quality of living for local farmers as well. This of course means a much greater overall economy as more jobs are created and more money is kept within our country, which has obvious benefits to it.
The biggest issue with Ethanol however is that you need a vehicle that is capable of using it. While most newer American vehicles are now Ethanol capable, it is a good idea to check with your manufacturer or dealer to find out if your vehicle can use it or not before using it.
If you were to use Ethanol without having an Ethanol vehicle only a few times you would be fine, but realistically over time it could cause some major issues. This is because Ethanol promotes corrosion within a vehicle's fuel system. In order to combat this, Ethanol vehicles use an upgraded fuel system that is much more resistant to corrosion. Another difference is that you'll probably see your check engine light come on while using Ethanol in a non-Ethanol vehicle. This is because there is far more oxygen in Ethanol than in standard fuel. So your oxygen sensor may have difficulty regulating with your computer the fuel levels. While this doesn't create any real problems short term, it could potentially eliminate the benefits of having a low polluting fuel if you are burning too much fuel for the oxygen level or too little.
Overall, the benefits for Ethanol are huge and the limitations are minimal. The next vehicle that I purchase, I'm going to make sure it compatible. I wasn't worried about it when I bought my Mazda 6, mostly because there aren't any Ethanol capable gas stations in Alaska, but most other states have them readily available.
