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Re: Ethanol

To: mgs <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Ethanol
From: mup1dm <mup1dm@surrey.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 00 12:55:03 +0100
When pondering the question of "Gasahol" bear in mind that the 
petrol at the pump, whether in Europe or North America, is 
composed of the refined petroleum product we think of as 
"gasoline" PLUS a whole lot of other things that give the
features and characteristics required by the modern market.
"Straight" gasoline is much TOO volatile for todays cars,
so other componds are added to control the temperature of 
ignition, temperature of vapourisation, burn rate, and any 
number of other parameters as dictated by local requirements.

Market price ethanol may be US $2/Gallon, but as an octane
booster/oxygenator/fuel-system-cleaner/antifreeze that 
still makes it about half as costly as most of the xxx-ane's 
and xxx-ene's that would otherwise be used, so it is in fact 
quite likely that whatever refinery supplies your local
pump is including either wood or grain alcohol in the mix,
even when laws don't require it.

I too used to seek out Gasahol for a particular car that 
would ping on (US) 93 octane fuel but was fine with 89
octane gasahol. Go figure...

Douglas McKinnie


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