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Reports show severe damage to marine engines from E15
From News Reports | March 9, 2012
READERS: This article appeared in Louisiana Sportsman December, 2011 magazine issue. Thanks to Louisiana Sportsman's Editor Todd Masson for authorization to post this article on PeteLandrysRealGas.com "Pete" Landry
On Oct. 21 the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy released the results of two studies on the effects of using fuel that is 15 percent ethanol in volume (E15) in marine engines. The studies were conducted on engines provided by two marine engine manufactures.
The long-awaited reports show significant problems with outboard, stern drive and inboard engines. Results of the reports show severe damage to engine components and an increase in exhaust emissions, reinforcing the recreational boating industry's concern that E15 is not a suitable fuel for marine engines.
Emissions and durability testing compared E15 fuel and fuel containing zero percent ethanol (E0) and examined exhaust emissions, exhaust gas temperature, torque, power, barometric pressure, air temperature and fuel flow. Specifically, the report showed degraded emissions performance outside of engine certification limits as well as increased fuel consumption. In separate testing on engine durability, each tested engine showed deterioration, including two of the three outboard engines, with damage severe enough to prevent them from completing the test cycle. The E0 test engines did not exhibit any fuel-related issues. NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) worked with its manufacturer members in securing the resources and facilitating the testing for these reports. NMMA supports further testing that will provide additional understanding about the negative effects of E15 on marine engines.
"Current proposals by the ethanol industry to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline should seriously concern all boaters and owners of other small engine equipment," NMMA President Thom Dammrich said. "Although NMMA strongly supports renewable fuels as a means to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of oil and improve the environment, there is growing evidence that ethanol is not the answer to America's energy challenge."
E15 ETHANOL BLEND CLEARS ANOTHER HURDLE
By Rick Barrett | March 9, 2012
http://www.jsonline.com/business/e15-ethanol-blend-clears-another-hurdle-2t4 glqq-142157163.html)
Efforts to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline have cleared another hurdle, meaning a 15% biofuel blend could be available this spring if gasoline stations choose to sell it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved industry-submitted studies showing that a blend of 15% corn-based ethanol and 85% gasoline meets the health effects requirement for a new fuel. (Click link above to read full article)
15% ETHANOL GASOLINE – A POTENTIAL CRISIS DEVELOPING
By Pete Landry (August 4, 2011)
Growth Energy, a lobby group for a large group of ethanol manufacturing plants in the Midwest petitioned the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in early 2009 to increase the ethanol content of motor fuels from the current 10% maximum (except for “Flex” fuel) to 15%, a 50% increase. The EPA allowed input into this proposal and were inundated with replies, mostly negative. Despite the response, the EPA began testing vehicles with 15% ethanol. In December, 2010, the EPA issued “conditional approval” for the use of 15% ethanol gasoline in 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. Then, in January, 2011, they extended the approval to use this new gasoline in 2001 thru 2006 cars and light trucks, despite lawsuits against the EPA from eight different groups. The biggest concern expressed by litigants was the potential for “misfueling”, or using this gasoline in equipment which was not designed to operate with this fuel.
WHY IS E-10 GASOLINE BAD FOR MARINE ENGINES?
By Pete Landry (December 17, 2009 - Updated May 15, 2011)
The U.S. Congress enacted the “Energy Independence and Security Act” in 2007, mandating the increased use of “renewal fuels”. The premise behind this was to supposedly help reduce our dependence on foreign imported crude oil and provide for an oxygenate for cleaner burning and lowered exhaust emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues mandates to oil refiners in the Country each spring listing how much of their total gasoline sales must be………
WHY IS ETHANOL GASOLINE BAD FOR GAS POWERED LAWN AND GARDEN TOOLS?
By “Pete” Landry (March 31, 2011)
Some homeowners are learning the hard and expensive way about the problems that ethanol gasoline is causing their gas powered lawn and garden tools. But, many have still not yet discovered this, or just don’t believe the cause for these problems. I interviewed Mr. James Ladner, owner of Ladner’s Lawnmower Repair (799 W 5th Street, LaPlace, LA 70068 Ph - 985.359.2533) today to get a better insight of what types of problems he is discovering when he repairs customer’s lawnmowers, weed eaters, blowers, chainsaws, etc. Mr. Ladner has been in the business of repairing gas powered lawn and garden tools for over 23 years.
EPA APPROVES 15 PERCENT ETHANOL GASOLINE FOR 2001 - 2006 VEHICLES
By Pete Landry (January 31, 2011)
(The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has been gracious enough to allow me to use their recent announcement of the EPA's approving E-15 for 2001 - 2006 vehicles.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. January 21, 2011 ~ Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the use of E15 for another subset of on-highway motor vehicles, this time allowing the
use of gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol for model year 2001-2006 cars and trucks.
EPA APPROVES 15 PERCENT ETHANOL GASOLINE FOR 2007 and NEWER VEHICLES
By Pete Landry (October 15, 2010)
As expected, the Federal Environmental Agency (EPA) today announced the approval of 15% ethanol gasoline ("E-15") for limited use in 2007 and newer vehicles. They indicate......
ETHANOL PROBLEMS ARE ON THE RISE SAYS "THE BOAT DOCTOR"
By "Pete" Landry (February 6, 2011)
Hank Johnson, "The Boat Doctor" has been gracious enough, along with Louisiana Sportsman, to allow me to use his most recent article on ethanol gasoline from Louisiana Sportsman. The original article can be found at http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=2768
UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF EPA APPROVAL OF 15% ETHANOL GAS
By Pete Landry (August 16, 2010)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to make the decision to increase the ethanol content of motor fuels from 10% to 15% in September or late October, 2010. This change......
IS "E-15" GASOLINE COMING SOON?
By Pete Landry (December 21, 2009)
In March, 2009, an ethanol lobby group called "Growth Energy", representing over 50 ethanol-producing plants petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to increase the currently allowable>>>>>
ETHANOL LABELING STILL REQUIRED ON FUEL PUMPS IN LOUISIANA
By Pete Landry (January 18, 2010)
Several fishermen have e-mailed me with a concern that they were told that ethanol gas-pump labeling was no longer required in 2010 or beyond. I researched this concern and this is what I.....
WHY IS ETHANOL GASOLINE BEING SOLD?
By Pete Landry (December 21, 2010)
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency Regulation (EPA-40CFRPart80) titled "Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard Program" of 2005 mandates the use of "renewal".....
THE BOAT DOCTOR WARNS OF HAZARDS OF ETHANOL GAS IN MARINE ENGINES
By Pete Landry (March 19, 2010)
Hank Johnston, the Boat Doctor, wrote a great article about the effects of ethanol on marine engines in the July, 2009 issue of Louisiana Sportsman. Mr. Johnson and Louisiana Sportsman have been gracious enough to allow posting of his article on our web site. The article can be found at http://www.louisianasportsman.com/summary.php?sec=306&cat= or by clicking on this title to read it here......
By Pete Landry (October 20, 2010)
These are several sites and companies I've found which sell kits to test for ethanol in gasoline. I'm sure there may be more than the ones I've listed below. I personally own the test kit sold by........
WHAT MARINE ENGINE MANUFACTURERS SAY ABOUT ETHANOL GAS
By Pete Landry (October 20, 2010)
This is what the major outboard marine engine manufacturers have to say about the use of ethanol fuel in their engines. This information is taken directly from their web sites........
WHAT GAS POWERED LAWN AND GARDEN ENGINE MAKERS SAY ABOUT ETHANOL GAS
By Pete Landry (October 22, 2010)
Ethanol gasoline in concentrations greater than 10% ethanol may be damaging to lawn and garden gasoline powered equipment.......
By Pete Landry (December 17, 2009)
~ Ethanol gasoline has been tried several time in years past (was called "gasahol")
~ It never caught on in the past due to high cost to manufacture ethanol (> $6/gallon)......
SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS IF "E-10" GAS MUST BE USED IN MARINE ENGINES
By Pete Landry (December 17, 2009)
It is suggested that the following precautions be taken if you cannot find a source of ethanol-free gas and must use E-10 gasoline.......
PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL AND THREE PROBLEM-CAUSING PROPERTIES
By Pete Landry (December 17, 2009)
PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL
- Ethanol is mostly produced from corn fermentation (in the United States), primarily in the Midwest.
- Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid with alcohol or liquor type odor.......
LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FAILS TO TAKE ACTION ON ETHANOL GAS ISSUE
By Pete Landry (July 27, 2010)
On April 7, 2010, I appeared before the Louisiana Agriculture Committee in the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The State Agriculture Commission regulates motor fuel related issues in Louisiana. The purpose of the meeting.......