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Re: Winter gas... a compromise (long) Posted by Peter [Email]  (#2804)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Peter) on Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:23:06
In Reply to: Winter "oxygenated" gas, Yak, Wed, 12 Jan 2005 15:49:01 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Using it only in winter is a compromise, in many cities it is used year round.
Unfortunately, if you are in the business of selling oil and gas, you make less money on oxygenated gas. So this way, everyone gets something. You get some cleaner air, and oil companies don't give up as much revenue.
RFG (Re Formulated Gasoline), or oxygenated gasoline is used year round in some areas. In general this is a good idea, I may enjoy driving around in a car that gets 15-18 mpg in the city, but I still want stay healthy.
RFG is just plain gasoline with something other than lead (ethanol/alcohol or ether-based additives ) to raise octane rating and prevent knock. This is also good, because it would be tougher to have a high performance engine without 93 octane.
Alcohol (usually 10%) or ether-based additives (15-18%) can do the job.
Alcohol is a good fuel, burns with no harm done to the environment, you can add as much as you like to gas. Some race cars burn pure alcohol. Ultimately it comes from a corn field (that is why it was used primarily in states with a strong farm lobby, i.e. the midwest). It has about twice as much oxygen per unit volume as ether-based additives. Only trouble is, you can't make much selling it as fuel unless you own a corn field.
A compromise had to be made between the farm and oil lobby, so the government did not mandate the use of alcohol, any oxygenate would do.
Enter MTBE. The story with MTBE (methyl tri butyl ether) and other ether-based additives is a little more complex than ethanol. They are manufactured chemicals, and much more profitable, but have some issues when absorbed through the skin, inhaled while you pump gas, or when spilled. Again a compromise - you gain clean air, but pay in contaminated water supply. In 2004, MTBE was banned in California, but other ether-based fuels are still in use.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oxygenate.htm
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/bulletin/motorgas/4_oxygenated-gasoline/
or just google it: "RFG", "oxygenated gasoline" etc.
posted by 69.211.7...
, Wed, 12 Jan 2005 20:51:11, Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:23:06 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 13 Jan 2005 15:29:00, Wed, 12 Jan 2005 16:54:44
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