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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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REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jun 12, 2012 5:02:33 AM

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.
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remay
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 1:27:50 PM

Maybe NOT the engine, specifically...
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NedW
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 7:09:06 AM

To find ethanol-free gas stations in your area for the U.S. and Canada go to:

http://www.pure-gas.org/
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1006
Champion Author Birmingham

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Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 6:32:42 AM

you will eventually have ethanol problems
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 4:08:08 AM

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!
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OilOnTheCheap
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:01:28 AM

The moisture in ethanol is not good for any engine.
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tidalwave3
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:30:13 PM

This does not agree with what I've found out :(
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Dodge_Me
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:10:48 PM

Try ethanol straight up and see what happens to that engine
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nc43bike
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:07:31 PM

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.
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SavALot
Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:05:44 PM

Yet another attempt at people trying to sway opinions on ethanol
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mfeldstein
Champion Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:04:50 PM

Maybe it's an urban myth but I think it does damage car engines over time.
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langolera
Champion Author Akron

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:04:04 PM

bull chit!!! is nothing like the gas we were making 30 years ago!!!
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flahusky
All-Star Author Florida

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:03:27 PM

ok
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gus8441
Champion Author Baltimore

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:02:44 PM

i disagree
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bababooey2
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:02:18 PM

Sure.
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TheSicilian
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:01:23 PM

won't help it
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coughlin
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 11:01:09 PM

No food for fuel.
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ExplorerWA
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:58:29 PM

I don't believe it........more misinformation.
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BackwoodsPundit
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:58:05 PM

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
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tessnlu
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:56:28 PM

well let me tell you otherwise. You are a Talking Head for the ethanol industry!
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jrsva
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:56:22 PM

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.
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DandyDapple
All-Star Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:56:14 PM

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 ...
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bigdog467
All-Star Author Texas

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:55:28 PM

...
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SammyAdams
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:55:06 PM

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.
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saleboss
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:52:24 PM

Get rid of all the ethanol blends!!
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waynester1955
Veteran Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:52:04 PM

The jury is out
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bluetatanka
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:49:24 PM

Yeah, right!?
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Is246
Champion Author Albuquerque

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:48:34 PM

So all the moisture that comes out of the tailpipe is good for our cars???
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RAKARWOWSKI
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:47:50 PM

If it didn't hurt your car, they wouldn't have been changing it all these years...
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mrinmoyd
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:46:21 PM

ok
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Petrothirst
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:43:19 PM

Yeah, RIGHT!
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EmperorsFinest
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:42:56 PM

I don't believe it
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rampower80
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:41:39 PM

It may not ruin it, but it will run much better and more fuel efficient with pure gasoline.
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RitaVespa
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:41:14 PM

I don't agree
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OceansidePoms
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:40:48 PM

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!
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CapNC
Veteran Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:40:48 PM

even ruins lawnmowers
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DEG
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:39:17 PM

It will cause the car parts to wear out sooner and it decreases fuel economy.
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mplato
Champion Author Columbia

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:36:38 PM

oh sure...2 weeks ago it would hurt the engine..get it straight
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zaq001
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:35:55 PM

ok
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Minutefan
Champion Author Springfield

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:34:01 PM

I haven't had any problems.
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CAroadrunner101
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:31:36 PM

oh really...
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wild3bill
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:29:13 PM

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
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carloco75
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:29:00 PM

It hurts the pocket in the long run either way...
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dabbadu
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:28:38 PM

Yeah, and unleaded gas is safe to drink, right?
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roadjet
Champion Author Baton Rouge

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:25:47 PM

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!!!!!
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SpankyMI
Champion Author Kalamazoo

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:23:30 PM

Lier, lier your pants are on fire.
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WIPACKERFAN
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:18:28 PM

Get rid of that ethanol garbage.
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A2J
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:16:29 PM

Different story everyday..,
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serrog
Champion Author Nova Scotia

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:15:04 PM

Jury is still out on this one
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IUVidiot
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:14:36 PM

no ethanol
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