Will do.

Reminds me of the time when my friend loaded diesel fuel into his gasoline-powered snowmobile. Thank goodness he didn't start it. They drained the thing and I forget what else they had to do. 'Twas not a pleasant experience!

They wouldn't have to do too much since he hadn't started it (it wouldn't have started). They just drain out the diesel and fill the tank with gas. The small amount of diesel left would have dissolved in the gas so it might have run a bit smokey for a few minutes, but it would run. I used to winterize a 50 hp outboard by squirting fogging oil in each of its cylinders so when I started it in the spring there was a great cloud of smoke, but it started.

Interesting. As I said, you can't beat nature for fuel compatibility. We should've stuck with the horse, like the Amish. On the other hand, the Amish towns…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/...8ae569079d.jpg

10% Ethanol spiked fuel has been available here for a few years probably because of a sugar glut in Queensland*. My Impreza loves it because otherwise I have to pay extra for Premium ULP. However, I think it may have something to do with two fuel pumps failing in two years. That kills the economy argument.

*Not sure how much sugar plantation is under water just now or the long-term effects of immersion.

According to some of the reports I read Warragul, the Ethanol IS the cause of those fuel pump failures -- some of the plastic and rubber parts don't like alcohol.

A company that sells Subaru fuel pump parts says:

Thanks for that; no more ethanol for me.
The original pump ran for 15 years but the replacement failed within 2 years. Mind you, I didn't start the ethanol until about 5 years ago.

Seems the proposal now is to go with E15, but only for vehicles manufactured after 2007. One more pump at the station, and one more chance to ruin your engine if you're not paying attention. Both my vehicles are pre 2007, and both are low mileage.

Sounds like a really bad idea with no reason I can see to go forward with this.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110104/...us_epa_ethanol

Both my vehicles are 2003 (it was a very good year); a Honda Pilot and a Honda Accord; the Pilot at 105,000 km (65,000 mi) and the Accord much less. I've carefully avoided ethanol for all that time -- the cars simply weren't built for it. They can handle MCMT as an anti-knock agent (most Canadian fuels use it) without screwing up their catalytic convertors.

We have a huge choice of auto fuels here in Thailand. Petrol comes in plain 91 or 95 octane. You can also get 5% ethanol, called gasohol, in 91 and 95 octane versions. 15% ethanol is also becoming widely available. You can have your car converted to run on either natural gas or LPG, both of which are widely available. Generally, gasohol is cheaper than petrol.

I believe that the ethanol produced here is made from oil palm, coconut palm and sugar cane. The increased planting of oil palm for the production of automotive ethanol is blamed on the increasing destruction of rain forest throughout southeast Asia.

Interesting article in today's Bangkok Post about a 30% increase in the price palm oil for cooking: "Your car is eating my food and merchants are hoarding it."