Gary,
Given the choice I'd pick ethanol every time given the ecological damage
attributable to MTBE.
We even have a choice of not using ethanol in the winter here if one
doesn't mind driving to one of the gas stations run by the local native
American's who are not required by "our" laws to enhance the fuel. Though
I'm pretty sure that the average Joe doesn't know that little tid bit.
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of GSFuqua1@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 9:57 PM
To: N5572B@aol.com; healey.nut@gmail.com; gilrockwell@comcast.net
Cc: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Ethanol and Healeys
David is correct. I used to make MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) and
have
competed against Ethanol. The Corn & Farm Lobbies are VERY powerful
machines. Especially when they have the "Green" Lobby support. They won
which is one
of the reasons MTBE is going away. There is actually a better product than
either Ethanol or MTBE. It is ETBE but little was done to push for it as it
was a form of combined Ethanol and MTBE. i.e. Neither group would be a
clear
winner.
For those of you who may care, Ethanol is made chiefly from corn. However
it
takes many times the amount of energy to make it versus what it does in the
gasoline and for the atmosphere. The big thing is that Corn is renewable.
MTBE is made from a chemical process that uses Natural Gas, Oxygen to create
Methanol which is then combined with Isobutlyene. (a refined liquid
byproduct of
Natural Gas). Both are hard on Rubber and seals. Ethanol is particularly
bad
about water and particulate matter. It will literally "Clean" your system.
It will also burn a hotter so what your temp gauge.
What makes me the most unhappy is that Ethanol is also highly subsidized by
tax dollars. Why? Because it is not competitive to manufacture. Remember
the
earlier statement about the amount of energy it takes to make it?
I realize the last paragraph and perhaps the entire response could be
considered "Political" and it is NOT my desire or intent to see this debated
on the
list. So please hold the flames. I just thought there might be a few who
would like to know the background.
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