The ethanol nightmare has arrived!

I just happened to see a sticker on a fuel pump today that stated "may
contain up to 10% ethanol" while I was filling my car this morning.
Upon further investigation with my fuel retailer, the local fuel jobber,
and the fuel distributor here in Spokane, Washington that there is a
federal mandate to add 9 billion gallons of ethanol per year to the
nationwide gasoline fuel stream. A new twist is a 5.1 cent per gallon
federal fuel tax break to the oil companies to get this "alternative"
fuel into the market. Tomorrow (April 8) is the first day of the
program and the dealers get their price tonight. According to my
sources, there is a possibility that some retailers may opt out, however
if that 5.1 cent break is passed on to them, it won't be likely.

I was lucky and just happened to ask the right question at the right
time. I haven't seen an outcry on this issue by EAA, AOPA or any other
aviation group.

This is a nationwide situation. Not just in a few states. You may not
find non-ethanol autogas at your usual outlet. Our jobber started
mixing in ethanol last week, however I had not purchased any since
mid-March so was unaware.

In essence, with the 5.1 cent per gallon tax break, the US federal
government has just killed the Aviation autogas concept.

I'm trying to locate a new source, but may not be successful. The
ethanol is added at the distribution rack. Chevron and a couple others
are requiring their retailers to go to E-10.


Al
Spokane, Wa
1964 Skyhawk with an AutoGas STC

On Apr 7, 7:41*pm, Al wrote:
I just happened to see a sticker on a fuel pump today that stated "may
contain up to 10% ethanol" while I was filling my car this morning.
Upon further investigation with my fuel retailer, the local fuel jobber,
and the fuel distributor here in Spokane, Washington that there is a
federal mandate to add 9 billion gallons of ethanol per year to the
nationwide gasoline fuel stream. *A new twist is a 5.1 cent per gallon
federal fuel tax break to the oil companies to get this "alternative"
fuel into the market. *Tomorrow (April 8) is the first day of the
program and the dealers get their price tonight. *According to my
sources, there is a possibility that some retailers may opt out, however
if that 5.1 cent break is passed on to them, it won't be likely.

I bet the days of seaplane cross country flying are done. You aren't
going to find ethanol free gas at the docks either.

-Robert

On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:41:39 -0700, Al
wrote:

This is a nationwide situation. Not just in a few states. You may not
find non-ethanol autogas at your usual outlet.

The local airport stocks mogas without additives, which is a huge boon
to people like me who don't want to put the alky-diluted stuff in our
small engines (snowblower, lawnmower, chainsaw) where it can literally
gum the works. It was four dollars a gallon last time I brought the
stuff home, but I don't use that many gallons in a year.

Happily for us, you can't transport alky-gas over long distances in
pipelines or on tankers, so the stuff is mixed at the port of entry,
which for us is Portland ME, sixty miles north. When the airport owner
needs to fill the mogas main supply, he orders us a truckload of the
unadulterated stuff from the terminal.

This began here four or five years ago as a way of getting mogas
without MBTE in it. Though not as objectional as alcohol, the purists
didn't want to put it in their airplane tanks.


Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

On Apr 8, 2:59*am, Cubdriver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:41:39 -0700, Al
wrote:

This is a nationwide situation. *Not just in a few states. *You may not
find non-ethanol autogas at your usual outlet. *

The local airport stocks mogas without additives, which is a huge boon
to people like me who don't want to put the alky-diluted stuff in our
small engines (snowblower, lawnmower, chainsaw) where it can literally
gum the works. It was four dollars a gallon last time I brought the
stuff home, but I don't use that many gallons in a year.

I believe out here in California its illegal to sell mogas w/o the
ethanol.

-robert

You are wrong.

Jim




--
"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
--Henry Ford

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
news:625af64a-d1c1-473a-91ec-


I believe out here in California its illegal to sell mogas w/o the
ethanol.

-robert

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:34:01 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I believe out here in California its illegal to sell mogas w/o the
ethanol.

Good grief. So it's all true about the Left Coast?

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

On Apr 10, 2:55*pm, Cubdriver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:34:01 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"

wrote:
I believe out here in California its illegal to sell mogas w/o the
ethanol.

Good grief. So it's all true about the Left Coast?

There was talk at one point of allowing pilots to purchase non-ethanol
fuel but it didn't appear sure that anyone would actually be willing
to make it and if it would be less expensive than 100LL. The ethanol
is mandated by the state by region I believe.

-Robert

In essence, with the 5.1 cent per gallon tax break, the US federal
government has just killed the Aviation autogas concept.

Thanks for the head's up. We've used over 9,000 gallons of mogas in our
Lycoming O-540, without a burp, at a savings of well over $10K. Obviously
this change will be catastrophic if it is, indeed, nationwide.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Apr 8, 8:22 am, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
In essence, with the 5.1 cent per gallon tax break, the US federal
government has just killed the Aviation autogas concept.

Thanks for the head's up. We've used over 9,000 gallons of mogas in our
Lycoming O-540, without a burp, at a savings of well over $10K. Obviously
this change will be catastrophic if it is, indeed, nationwide.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The Conti E-185 in the '47 V tail Bonanza is STCed for mogas, but the
biggest problem is getting it to the airplane.

Jay -- what changes do you see in leaning, startup, etc with mogas v.
100ll?


Dan Mc

Jay -- what changes do you see in leaning, startup, etc with mogas v.
100ll?

The only changes we've seen a

- The oil doesn't turn black
- The plugs don't foul with little BBs of lead
- There is an extra $10,000 in the bank

Anyone who's got the mogas STC and is choosing not to use it is needlessly
burning Ben Franklins at a breath-taking rate.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"