Article: "Cars running on ethanol can pollute too: Brazil study"

[ghosthunter]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090917....9wO_20zIHcggF

[SIZE="4"]Cars running on ethanol can pollute too: Brazil study[/SIZE]
Thu Sep 17, 7:14 am ET

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Cars running on sugarcane ethanol can produce as many harmful pollutants as those using ordinary petrol (gasoline), according a study published by Brazil's environment ministry.

But the report on the emissions of the cars on Brazil's roads does not count carbon dioxide emissions.

"We want to make sure that customers are aware of pollutant emissions" when they buy a car, Environment Minister Carlos Minc said Tuesday on delivering the report.

The study ranked emissions based of a scale of "green grades" that measured three pollutant gases that do not produce climate change but do affect the health of a country's population: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide.

The green grade scale, ranging from 0-10, does not count carbon emissions, which are the main driver of global warming, because emissions from burning ethanol are offset by the carbon dioxide that sugar cane absorbs as it grows, the study said.

The research also examined 250 so-called "flex-fuel" cars, which use both ethanol and petrol and constitute about 85 percent of all cars on the road in Brazil.

Among those receiving the lowest scores, eight were cars running on ethanol, including several with "flex" engines, the study said, though all of the models examined met Brazil's standards for maximum emissions levels in 2008.

Environmental group Greenpeace welcomed the report, but an official with the group's climate change campaign in Brazil, Joao Talochhi, told Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper that "when it comes to public health, the Brazilian government should invest in non-polluting vehicle technology."

[ice15]

The Biden administration gives a green light to a fuel that could be even dirtier than regular gas | The Verge

E15 is a gasoline blend with up to 15 percent ethanol — a fuel made with plant material. The move is supposed to save Americans money while reducing dependence on foreign oil supplies because ethanol can be made with domestically-grown corn.

Most gasoline in the US is already mixed with up to 10 percent ethanol. The summertime ban has been in effect since 2011, and was based on concerns that more ethanol in fuel might lead to more smog. The added boost of ethanol could increase the amount of smog-causing pollutants entering the atmosphere. Those pollutants can react with sunlight to create more smog — a big problem during sunnier summer months. Growing all that corn to make the fuel can potentially also result in more greenhouse gas emissions.

[edtrafalgar]

The Biden administration gives a green light to a fuel that could be even dirtier than regular gas spacebar clicker | The Verge

I don't think that

[travajante]

Ethanol is hygroscopic. The US added ethanol to support corn farmers. Ours, we import to add. Crazy move, not good for our cars.
The problem with ethanol in gasoline - The Globe and Mail.

Those who don't wanna run it go Blaze.
Gov't to raise ethanol blend to 2% to lower gasoline price

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tsikot Forums mobile app

[travajante]

These guys run Blaze.

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tsikot Forums mobile app

[oj88]

For carbureted vehicles and machinery, ethanol is really bad if you leave it in the system for any length of time. I have a couple of generators and I use Blaze to run them (including LPG on the other). Blaze lasts longer in storage as well. Any other E10 gas would just start absorbing water and corrode parts.

For all modern fuel-injected vehicles, ethanol (up to 10% by volume) is fine. Plastic tanks, ethanol-compatible parts, and a fairly sealed system, ethanol won't do much, if any damage.

As for switching to E20, having more than 10% ethanol in gasoline by volume requires your vehicle to be Flex Fuel compatible (FFV). If your car isn't an FFV, you can't use this fuel.

[dr. d]

in the early days of ethanol blends,
we didn't use the ancient air-cooled beetle for a few weeks in the garage.
then, when we wanted to use her, it wouldn't start.
the fuel had gelled in the tank into something more... solid.

[oj88]

in the early days of ethanol blends,
we didn't use the ancient air-cooled beetle for a few weeks in the garage.
then, when we wanted to use her, it wouldn't start.
the fuel had gelled in the tank into something more... solid.

That was typical of the time. About 2 years ago, right smack in the middle of the pandemic, I got interested in working on small engines and I realized how we take FI for granted. Carburetors, and to some extend, metal tanks, suffered greatly on E10, especially if not used regularly.