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Ethanol won’t hurt your car engine

The Globe and Email -- My neighbour tells me the ethanol in today’s fuel ruined his chain saw and lawn mower engines. Can it harm my car engine? – Jim in Windsor

No, it will not.

Today’s passenger vehicle engines are developed around fuel that contain ethanol. However, there is no question the federal requirement that gasoline sold in Canada contain 5 per cent ethanol has caused difficulties for small engines such as those used in lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc.

The Canadian requirement is lower than the 10 per cent in the U.S., which is moving to 15 per cent. At the 5 per cent level I doubt it is creating the problems your neighbour reports, but at 15 per cent there might be issues, particularly with engines left unused for lengthy periods of time since ethanol contains more moisture, which can lead

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Submitted Jun 09, 2012 By: aservant

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,632 Points:1,610,495 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 12, 2012 6:02:33 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse opinion piece and lots of hot air. EtOH will damage vehicle engines, esp. those that are not built in the last 4 or 5 years.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,968 Points:2,118,365 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 2:27:50 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse Maybe NOT the engine, specifically...
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,620 Points:1,143,220 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 8:09:06 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse To find ethanol-free gas stations in your area for the U.S. and Canada go to: http://www.pure-gas.org/
1006 Champion Author Birmingham Posts:1,105 Points:1,355,190 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 7:32:42 AM Ignore 1006 Report Abuse you will eventually have ethanol problems
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,047 Points:2,346,485 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 5:08:08 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Most of the vehicle engines operating on today's roads and small motors in backyards are Not designed for an Ethanol mix. The gaskets, rubber and plastic parts will corrode and degrade over time when exposed to ethanol. Then the engine will have to be rebuilt in order to operate correctly. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost, if possible. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
OilOnTheCheap Champion Author Ventura Posts:2,102 Points:451,135 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 1:01:28 AM Ignore OilOnTheCheap Report Abuse The moisture in ethanol is not good for any engine.
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,305 Points:1,464,545 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:30:13 AM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse This does not agree with what I've found out :(
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:556,980 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:10:48 AM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Try ethanol straight up and see what happens to that engine
nc43bike Champion Author North Carolina Posts:12,495 Points:2,904,865 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:07:31 AM Ignore nc43bike Report Abuse SammyAdams: I did not know about Florida's restriction on E0; now that I know, I may have to make arrangements to avoid buying any gas at all in FL the next time I visit your fair state. BTW, I also make it a point to buy gas in TN. The last time I was there, the E0 was $3.21 vs $3.34 for E10 in my town. And I make it a point to test the E0 to make sure it IS E0.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,479 Points:1,712,810 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:05:44 AM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Yet another attempt at people trying to sway opinions on ethanol
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,176 Points:1,931,455 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:04:50 AM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Maybe it's an urban myth but I think it does damage car engines over time.
langolera Champion Author Akron Posts:1,766 Points:666,955 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:04:04 AM Ignore langolera Report Abuse bull chit!!! is nothing like the gas we were making 30 years ago!!!
flahusky All-Star Author Florida Posts:733 Points:154,590 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:03:27 AM Ignore flahusky Report Abuse ok
gus8441 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:2,119 Points:443,800 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:02:44 AM Ignore gus8441 Report Abuse i disagree
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,357 Points:1,303,815 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:02:18 AM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse Sure.
TheSicilian Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:5,384 Points:1,470,725 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:01:23 AM Ignore TheSicilian Report Abuse won't help it
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,190 Points:1,118,840 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:01:09 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse No food for fuel.
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,083 Points:798,125 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:58:29 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse I don't believe it........more misinformation.
BackwoodsPundit Champion Author Richmond Posts:5,185 Points:1,012,725 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:58:05 PM Ignore BackwoodsPundit Report Abuse It is a not so slow poison in small engines and their parts - fuel filers, carbs, lines, etc. And unlike iocane powder, you dont build up an immunity to phase shifted gasoline, the effects are cumulative Ethanol absorbs thousands of times more water than petrol does. And it only takes a few teaspoons of water to ruin a gallon of petrol
tessnlu Champion Author Missouri Posts:24,269 Points:1,108,215 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:56:28 PM Ignore tessnlu Report Abuse well let me tell you otherwise. You are a Talking Head for the ethanol industry!
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,857 Points:1,613,975 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:56:22 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Ethanol at 5% (Canadian standard) may not harm a modern car engine, which is supposedly designed to use E10, but I would not use it if there was any alternative. Ethanol will definitely reduce fuel mileage. I use only E-free and get about 20% better overall gas mileage than the EPA highway rating for my vehicle. Ethanol is death on small engines like lawn mowers, chain saws, trimmers, etc.
DandyDapple All-Star Author North Dakota Posts:715 Points:311,570 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:56:14 PM Ignore DandyDapple Report Abuse My Dad, a mechanic for 45+ yrs did a test with both reg gas and ethanol blends ... Long story short ... Reg gas did much better with mileage and performance ... found that ethanol ruined several small engines ...
bigdog467 All-Star Author Texas Posts:713 Points:195,040 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:55:28 PM Ignore bigdog467 Report Abuse ...
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,057 Points:793,605 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:55:06 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse From the article: " Ethanol produces less energy per unit than gasoline, so is detrimental to fuel mileage, but it is cheaper than gasoline so adding more than required is one way for refiners to pad their profits." ====================================================================== In Tennessee I pay the same price for ethanol blended fuel or for pure gasoline, but the mileage (mpg's) is noticeably better with the pure gasoline. If (as this article insists) there is less energy in the ethanol blended fuel (hence poorer mileage), I only buy pure gasoline when in Tennessee. In Florida, it is apparently against the law for a fueling station to dispense non-ethanol gas directly into a car's tank. It's okay to dispense it into a fuel container which is later put into a vehicle's tank, but not directly into a car's tank.
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,929 Points:1,177,875 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:52:24 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse Get rid of all the ethanol blends!!
waynester1955 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:284 Points:208,210 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:52:04 PM Ignore waynester1955 Report Abuse The jury is out
bluetatanka Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:56,200 Points:782,805 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:49:24 PM Ignore bluetatanka Report Abuse Yeah, right!?
Is246 Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:1,014 Points:427,610 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:48:34 PM Ignore Is246 Report Abuse So all the moisture that comes out of the tailpipe is good for our cars???
RAKARWOWSKI Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,005 Points:822,000 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:47:50 PM Ignore RAKARWOWSKI Report Abuse If it didn't hurt your car, they wouldn't have been changing it all these years...
mrinmoyd Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,095 Points:364,525 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:46:21 PM Ignore mrinmoyd Report Abuse ok
Petrothirst Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,286 Points:418,865 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:43:19 PM Ignore Petrothirst Report Abuse Yeah, RIGHT!
EmperorsFinest Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,564 Points:340,870 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:42:56 PM Ignore EmperorsFinest Report Abuse I don't believe it
rampower80 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,049 Points:462,890 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:41:39 PM Ignore rampower80 Report Abuse It may not ruin it, but it will run much better and more fuel efficient with pure gasoline.
RitaVespa Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,986 Points:793,235 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:41:14 PM Ignore RitaVespa Report Abuse I don't agree
OceansidePoms Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,680 Points:688,075 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:40:48 PM Ignore OceansidePoms Report Abuse NOT TRUE! ETHANOL SUCKS! It is GARBAGE! IT SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM GASOLINE, WE SHOULD HAVE THE FULL CHOICE! NO E-10 NO E ANYTHING. IT SHOULD BE 100% GASOLINE OR ETHANOL FOR ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO WANTS CORN CRAP IN THEIR CARS! PURE 100% GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY PREMIUM 93 IS WAY BETTER! THAT IS ALL I WILL USE! NO ETHANOL FOR ME! NEVER EVER! I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR MY V-POWER AT MY LOCAL SHELL, IT IS PREMIUM 93 - ETHANOL FREE, AT REGULAR PREMIUM PRICE, TODAY IT IS $3.58. NO NO NO ETHANOL! & IF YOU DO WANT IT, GO AHEAD, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE FORCED, JUST LIKE RELIGION OR OPINIONS OR DECISIONS!
CapNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:393 Points:362,780 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:40:48 PM Ignore CapNC Report Abuse even ruins lawnmowers
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,625 Points:3,495,680 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:39:17 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse It will cause the car parts to wear out sooner and it decreases fuel economy.
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:8,259 Points:1,817,220 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:36:38 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse oh sure...2 weeks ago it would hurt the engine..get it straight
zaq001 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,985 Points:1,474,050 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:35:55 PM Ignore zaq001 Report Abuse ok
Minutefan Champion Author Springfield Posts:3,316 Points:1,247,280 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:34:01 PM Ignore Minutefan Report Abuse I haven't had any problems.
CAroadrunner101 Champion Author California Posts:1,827 Points:1,316,175 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:31:36 PM Ignore CAroadrunner101 Report Abuse oh really...
wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,687,165 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:29:13 PM Ignore wild3bill Report Abuse Maybe if you have a Flexfuel enginne. Remember those Fools in the EPA forced Ultra low Diesel on everybode. Diesels before 2007 have $2000. diesel injection pumps failing at an alarming rate. my 98 and 2003 VW had injection pumps wear out
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,718 Points:601,255 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:29:00 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse It hurts the pocket in the long run either way...
dabbadu Champion Author New York Posts:1,056 Points:661,755 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:28:38 PM Ignore dabbadu Report Abuse Yeah, and unleaded gas is safe to drink, right?
roadjet Champion Author Baton Rouge Posts:15,496 Points:2,094,600 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:25:47 PM Ignore roadjet Report Abuse The bottom line is that ethanol comes with a lengthy list of precautions to consider, avoid and change the way you use and store gas over gasoline without it. Ethanol was a cop out to address a reduction on dependence on foreign oil and was passed into law to benefit both corn producers and ethanol manufacturers. Find an alternative to using this to blend into gasoline so small 2 & 4 cycle engines and older vehicles don't have to line the pockets of mechanics shops with excessive, unnecessary damages!!!!!
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,713 Points:760,255 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:23:30 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse Lier, lier your pants are on fire.
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,809 Points:1,844,425 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:18:28 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Get rid of that ethanol garbage.
A2J Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,080 Points:603,925 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:16:29 PM Ignore A2J Report Abuse Different story everyday..,
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,569 Points:1,513,105 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:15:04 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Jury is still out on this one
IUVidiot Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,595 Points:710,410 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:14:36 PM Ignore IUVidiot Report Abuse no ethanol