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Gasoline Blended with Ethanol
What you need to know
Introduction
Gasoline blended with ethanol is here to stay and has been causing havoc with motorized vehicles that were built prior to 1990.This article focuses on why our present gasoline in almost all of the countries around the world has been blended with ethanol, the negative effects it is having and how we can live with this type of fuel in motorized vehicles and other equipment which runs on gasoline.
The history of Gasoline blended with Ethanol
We have to go back to 1973 to understand the requirement to create this blended fuel. The gas lines of 1973 are iconic images in America’s collective memory. October 16th marks the 40th anniversary of the oil embargo imposed by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) as punishment for America’s support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War.
To be exact, on that date, OPEC decided to raise the price of oil by 70 percent a barrel and cut production over time in 5 percent increments until they were satisfied that their political policies were understood and respected.
If you are of a certain age, your mind is likely racing through past memories of gas rationing, long lines waiting to fill-up, odd and even number license plates determining what days you could go to the gas station, red and green flags designating whether stations had fuel at all, bans on Christmas tree lights, and real, but ridiculous, threats of toilet paper shortages as a result of the embargo. Now, with as much clarity, can you recall what this country has done to protect its economy from being similarly hijacked by Middle Eastern oil supply disruptions or price shocks induced by a global price-setting cartel?
U.S. energy independence is at the heart of this country’s economic and national security. The modern industry was born from the energy crisis of 1973 and officially launched by energy legislation signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. The spirit and intent of that law to establish a domestic, renewable fuel alternative to foreign oil has been supported by Democratic and Republican Presidents ever since. Ethanol has the proven ability to not only displace foreign oil and stretch our existing domestic oil supply; it has proven to lower the price per gallon of gasoline, replace lead and other toxins, reduce green house gas emissions all while stimulating economic development and job creation here in the United States.
The facts speak for themselves:
• Today, ethanol makes up 10% of the U.S. gasoline supply. That’s up from less than 1% just 20 years ago. (Energy Information Administration, Renewable Fuels Association)
• Last year, ethanol displaced an amount equivalent to the gasoline refined from 462 million barrels of imported crude oil. That is more oil than the U.S. imported from Saudi Arabia. (Energy Information Administration. Cardno ENTRIX, “Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States”, January 2013)
• As a result, the U.S. has reduced expenditures on imported oil by $44 billion last year. (Cardno ENTRIX, “Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States”, January 2013)
• Oil imports from OPEC are down 22% since the Renewable Fuel Standard was expanded in 2007.” (Energy Information Administration)
• And oil imports from the Persian Gulf are down 30%over the past decade.” (Energy Information Administration)
• Oil import dependence dropped to 41% in 2012 — the lowest since 1995. Without ethanol, oil import dependence would have been 48%. (Energy Information Administration, Renewable Fuels Association)
• Ethanol has reduced gasoline prices by an average of $1.00 per gallon in 2012 and 2013. (Philip K. Verleger, August Petroleum Economics Monthly)
• Currently, 211 ethanol plants produce over 13 billion gallons and support over 380,000 jobs while contributing more than $43.4 billion in U.S gross domestic product. (Cardno ENTRIX, “Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States”, January 2013
In many countries cars are mandated to run on mixtures of ethanol. All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25), and since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid July 2011. In the United States all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10). At the end of 2010 over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol. In January 2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer. Other countries have adopted their own requirements.
Beginning with the model year 1999, an increasing number of vehicles in the world are manufactured with engines that can run on any fuel from 0% ethanol up to 100% ethanol without modification. Many cars and light trucks (a class containing minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks) are designed to be flexible-fuel vehicles using ethanol blends up to 85% (E85) in North America and Europe, and up to 100% (E100) in Brazil. In older model years, their engine systems contained alcohol sensors in the fuel and/or oxygen sensors in the exhaust that provide input to the engine control computer to adjust the fuel injection to achieve stoichiometric (no residual fuel or free oxygen in the exhaust) air-to-fuel ratio for any fuel mix. In newer models, the alcohol sensors have been removed, with the computer using only oxygen and airflow sensor feedback to estimate alcohol content. The engine control computer can also adjust (advance) the ignition timing to achieve a higher output without pre-ignition when it predicts that higher alcohol percentages are present in the fuel being burned. This method is backed up by advanced knock sensors – used in most high performance gasoline engines regardless of whether they are designed to use ethanol or not – that detect pre-ignition and detonation.
In summary, in order to achieve some level of energy independence and hold gasoline prices at bay, development of an alternative energy source was required and ethanol production was the avenue of choice. Benefits were achieved by being able to omit lead from the fuel and boost the octane levels of gasoline through the blending of ethanol in the gasoline.
Some Chemistry Considerations of Blended Fuel
Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water vapor directly from the atmosphere. Because absorbed water dilutes the fuel value of the ethanol and may cause phase separation of ethanol-gasoline blends (which causes engine stall), containers of ethanol fuels must be kept tightly sealed. This high miscibility with water means that ethanol cannot be efficiently shipped through modern pipelines, like liquid hydrocarbons, over long distances. Mechanics also have seen increased cases of damage to small engines, in particular, the carburetor, attributable to the increased water retention by ethanol in fuel.
The fraction of water that an ethanol-gasoline fuel can contain without phase separation increases with the percentage of ethanol. This shows, for example, that E30 can have up to about 2% water. If there is more than about 71% ethanol, the remainder can be any proportion of water or gasoline and phase separation does not occur. The fuel mileage declines with increased water content. The increased solubility of water with higher ethanol content permits E30 and hydrated ethanol to be put in the same tank since any combination of them always results in a single phase. Somewhat less water is tolerated at lower temperatures. For E10 it is about 0.5% v/v at 70 F and decreases to about 0.23% v/v at −30 F.
So what’s “phase separation” you ask. Ethanol by choice would prefer to be bonded to a water molecule rather than a gasoline molecule. When our fuel tanks are subjected to changes in temperature, our tanks will breathe atmospheric air in and out of the tank since there’s no vent control on the tank. Any moisture in the air will be absorbed in to the ethanol molecule and once the level of moisture i.e. .5% by volume has been absorbed, the water/ethanol molecule will separate out of the gasoline. Since water is heavier than gasoline, this new molecule will sink to the bottom of a gas can or gas tank creating by definition a “phase separation” in the fuel. .5% by volume is equivalent to .6 ounces per gallon of fuel.
Storage Practices for Ethanol Blended Fuel
When we talk about storage practices, we must also consider storage practices at the refineries, the distribution centers, the gas stations and our own storage.
At the refineries, we see the large fuel tanks sitting above ground and exposed to the sunlight, heat of the day and the cool of the night. The tanks are vented to atmosphere and as such will breathe. When the tankers come in to fill up, they remove fuel which will draw air into the tanks and as the refinery makes the fuel, the tanks will displace the air in the tank. There’s nothing we can do about this but just realize that the fuel coming from the refinery is not necessarily dry, meaning it’s not necessarily moisture free.
At the gas station typically the fuel tanks are underground and not as exposed to temperature differences but still as fuel is purchased atmosphere will be drawn into the tanks. Is there anything to be considered here? Yes, the station you’re choosing to buy your fuel at, is it a large well used gas station with a high volume of fuel sales or it your little mom and pop grocery store in your little community which tends to only sell fuel to the locals which are supporting their local shops and trying to help keep them in business. The higher volume stations are constantly being refilled with fresh fuel where the little guy gas station may only be getting there fuel tanks filled every 3-4 weeks. Also, the practice of dipping the tanks with the long stick with a moisture indicator may not be done as frequently at the small volume station where the chances of phase separation at the large volume station are slim due to the fresh fuel being constantly put in the tanks.
Ok, so you’ve bought your fuel. If it’s in your fuel tank on your bike, how long will it be in the fuel tank before you’ve finished emptying the tank? Do you ride every day, or just when you’re in the mood. While it’s in the tank, where do you store your ride? Outside on the driveway exposed to sunlight and ambient temperature changes, or in the garage where the temperature variables are much less?
And let’s not forget the 3 little tanks on the bottom of the carburetors better known as the float bowls. They too are also vented to atmosphere and will breathe with changing temperatures. Also note that they are at the bottom of the fuel system, so if the phase separation has occurred in the fuel, that water/ethanol mixture will flow downhill and settle in the bottom of the carburetor which is also where the fuel pickup tubes are.
How about the fuel you bought for the lawnmower, chain saw, weed whacker etc. that’s sitting in that 5 gallon container? If you’re like me you’ve gone to get that tank of fuel and found it blown up like a pot bellied pig and said “Holy crap!! It’s a good thing the tank didn’t split!!” So you’ve developed the practice of leaving the small vent cap loose so the tank won’t billow out so round that it could roll over. Saves the tank and possibly prevents a fire but now you’ve allowed the tank to breathe. How long has that fuel been in the tank? A few of months? Oops, chances are that tank has phase separated fuel in it. Can it be saved? The answer is no, there’s nothing you can do to save this fuel. It’s sour, garbage. About the only thing you should do with it is start a bonfire. End of story.
I think I’ve painted the picture for you. Let’s consider the valid points and consider storage practices.
• Best practice for purchasing fuel would be to buy your fuel from a high volume brand named fuel station so you know you’re buying the freshest fuel you can.
• If you’re putting the fuel in your motorcycle think about where you store your motorcycle. In the garage would be best if it’s not going to be ridden for a while. Also, if you fill the tank before you put it away, you minimize the amount of air in the tank which minimizes the breathing of the tank. Less air in and out, less moisture for the ethanol to react with.
• The fuel you store it that 5 gallon can. If you can store it in a cool out of the sunlight area, then you could keep the vent cap closed. Recommended storage practices for temporary fuel storage is 90 days unless you use fuel stabilizer and if you use fuel stabilizer, up to 6 months.
Fuel Stabilizers
There are many brands out there but did you know that there are only a few brand names which have developed fuel stabilizers for ethanol blended gasoline? It’s true. Lots of stabilizers take care of the obvious problems associated with long term gasoline storage but there’s only a handful which have the properties specifically required for storage of ethanol blended fuel. Take note the next time you purchase fuel stabilizer and make sure you ask for the right one.
Also consider if you’re a part time rider who goes out for a ride on those perfect days. It should be a standard practice to put fuel stabilizer in your tank on every fill up. So it costs you a couple of extra dollars. How many times do you want to pull off your carburetors and clean out the oxidation that keeps clogging up the idle circuit? Fuel stabilizer is your friend.
Other Considerations
Although E10 ( 10%) ethanol blended fuel should not affect any equipment designed to be run on gasoline, experience has shown that the ethanol property in the fuel reacts with rubber elastomer components of machinery built prior to the 1990’s. As an example Porsche came out with a service advisory to have all of the fuel lines on the fuel injection systems on the 928’s upgraded since the ethanol was reacting with the fuel lines causing line ruptures and consequently engine fires. Failure to change out the lines usually resulted in a total write off.
Buna N ( Nitrile) does not like ethanol. The ethanol tends to shrink the Nitrile material from what we’ve seen. Viton 75 handles the ethanol easily. Most of the fuel injection hose materials have been designed for flex fuel compatibility which is E85 fuel (85% ethanol).For KZ1300 owners, change out your flex fuel lines using fuel lines rated for fuel injection.
Also, when you build your carburetors, change out the o rings for Viton 75 o rings. You’ll be glad you did. We’ve seen carburetor bowls overfilling and flooding cylinders causing hydraulic lock in that cylinder which will bend a connecting rod when you try to start it. The cause may be due to fuel passing around the o ring between the float needle seat and the carburetor body. Check with an o ring supplier for same size o rings as what’s supplied in the carburetor rebuild kits. It will cost you less than $20.00 to do the upgrade. Sure beats rebuilding an engine because you bent a rod.
Ethanol is an oxygenate and as such is corrosive. Mix it with water, and you got a corrosive liquid which is heavier than gas and will find its way down to the bottom of your fuel tank, or your shut off valve or your carburetors. Corrosion of the aluminum in the float bowl and the brass on the fuel feed tubes will result in blocked idle circuits and emulsion tubes. Just don’t let the fuel phase separate. Bottom line, manage your fuel!!
Can you purchase straight Gasoline with no Ethanol component?
Possibly. There are a few fuel suppliers who have chosen to blend their fuel without ethanol. Shell happens to be one supplier but how do you know for sure? Buy yourself a fuel tester for determining the content of ethanol in fuel. For the most part it’s a graduated cylinder about 120ml. which you put 100 ml of gas in and add 20ml of water. Then you shake it and then allow the fluid to settle. If there’s ethanol in the fuel, it will combine with the water and show up as a whitish fluid. The gas will be the top layer and any water not combined with the ethanol will be on the bottom. The amount of fluid which is whitish can be measured from the graduations and if you see 10 ml of whitish fluid in the cylinder then you have E10 (10%) ethanol, 15 ml, E15 15% ethanol etc.
If by chance you find a station selling straight gas, you can avoid this whole problem but just because they have it today, doesn’t mean that it will be ethanol free tomorrow. Ethanol is here to stay and the pressure is on to have all gasoline blended with ethanol. Keep testing your fuel and know what you buy.
I hope I’ve provided you with some pertinent information and you consider it. Keeping our KZ’s running is what it’s all about. I’d rather be riding than repairing. Understanding the fundamentals of using blended fuel will make your motorcycle experience more rewarding. Enjoy !!
