E5 and E10 petrol blend suitability

[sparkie]

Hi all, I've just come across this at FCAI website:

VEHICLE MODEL SUITABILITY FOR E5 OR E10 USE

The following table lists vehicle models suitability to run on E5 or E10 ethanol blended petrol. Before using E5 or E10 in motor vehicles not listed below, or if you are unsure, consult your handbook or manufacturer to check if the fuel is suitable.

Volkswagen: All fuel injected models post 1986 suitable for E5 and E10

[wai]

It is one thing to say that E5 or E10 is "suitable", and another thing altogether to say that it is beneficial for the car or the environment.

Basically, with E10, you will end up using rougly 10% more E10 which negates the substitution of 10% of the petrol with ethanol, PLUS you burn 10% ethanol.

Ethanol might be a renewable source of energy, however this does not mean that it is not harmful to the environment. Overall, the carbon balance sees more carbon released into the atmosphere than is removed during the growing process. The numbers are made to look favourable because the fuel used in the husbandry of the crop is not counted. Crude oil did take energy to form, however it was spread over millions of years. With ethanol it has to be compressed into a few months and so the energy balance is ot in its favour.

Originally ethanol was mandated to support the sugar cane growers, however almost all of the ethanol used in fuel is produced by distilling wheat and sorghum. Then the government fiddled with excise by applying excise to imported ehanol but not to locally produced ethanol.

There are also mechanical reasons against E10, and air pollution reasons. E10 reduces unburnt hydro-carbons and carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. These are heavily regulated anyway and the quantities in emission controlled vehicles are small. NOx on the other hand triple because of the leaner mixture and higher combustion temperatures, so this is worse for photochemical smog (brown haze). The leaner mixture can also lead to piston and exhaust valve seat damage.

You just need to sort through the hype. It is like the advertisement put out by the Coal Seam Gas (actually methane) industry where they say that you you don't use CSG you will have to generate electricity using "black" coal. They try to promote the image that CSG is colourless whereas coal is black, and black has to be bad. Maybe they would prefer brown coal instead??

Ultimately, you decide whether to use E10 or not. Just make the decision for the right reasons.

[sparkie]

I just thought it would be useful for people in case they are at a servo where there is no other option available, as some servos are phasing out unleaded in favour of E10, and these figures come from the manufacturers, so suitable means they won;t destroy it. I didn't expect a rant, just a 'thanks for letting us know!!' I'll think twice about sharing the love now!!

[wai]

Please don't take it like that. This is something that more and more users around NSW are going to have to decide on given that the government has taken steps to ensure that Standard ULP will not be sold.

For those that do not know, the previous government mandated that 6% of all petrol sales had to be substituted by a "bio-fuel". It started out at 2% and has been increased in 2% increments until it reaches 6% from July 2012. Given the quantities involved, ethanol is the only bio-fuel that can be used. The incoming government was not in favour of it because it would involve the banning of Standard ULP, and many older cars could not handle ethanol, and to convert them would cost more than they were worth.

After some public reaction, the new government said it would not ban the sale of Standard ULP, however the mandated 6% substitution would still apply, so nothing has changed except that it will be the oil companies who will do the "banning" as if they do not meet the mandated 6% substitution, they face fines of $110,000.

It comes down to service stations having to ensure that 60% of petrol sales be E10. If this does not happen, then the particular service station will not be pulling its weight. This can be ensured by the service station "shutting down" non Standard ULP pumps, or the oil company not supplying PULP until the service station meets the split. Ultimately, if the oil companies cannot convince enough motorists to use E10 as they move to PULP, they will either increase the price of PULP to coerce motorists into using E10, or they will have to add ethanol to all petrol products or face the fines (which they will pass on to all motorists).

So, this is the background to why there is talk about E10. Then there is the technical and environmental merit of a switch to E10, and that is what I mentioned. Yes, some vehicles can use E10, however it does require re-tuning as well. This is OK for residents of NSW who do not travel interstate, but if you travel interstate or are travelling through NSW, then you can use E10 with its problems, or you will have to use PULP if it is available when you need it.

The other thing about the vehicle being "suitable" for E5 or E10 is that it is only looking at the corrosive effects of the fuel. It is not looking at the mechanical effects that result from using E10. Some car makers say their cars are "compatible" with E10, but when you ask them if you can should use E10, their answer is a definite NO.

So, as you did, these matters have to be raised and then discussed

[PranK]

Nice info there wai, thanks!