Missouri Mandates Ethanol in Gasoline

By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press Writer, General Science / Other

Steve Smith, 48, talks with a reporter while fueling his car, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, in Jefferson City, Mo. A new state law which takes effect Jan. 1, 2008, requires that gasoline sold in Missouri contain a 10 percent ethanol blend but many stations, such as this Break Time convenience store, are already selling the mixture. (AP Photo/Kelley McCall)

(AP) -- Pushing the button for regular 87-grade octane, Steve Smith said he thought he was filling his SUV with ethanol-free gasoline. "I don't buy super unleaded, knowing that it's ethanol," Smith said, citing concerns about how ethanol could affect his vehicle.

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Posted by Nevaar 12/31/07 11:00

Rank: 3.67/5 after 3 votes

regarding ethanol, I recently added a flex-fuel system to my 98 Wrangler. E-85 is anywhere from 70%-85% ethanol. It is also currently about $2/gal. E-10 is around $2.70/gal (central Colorado). I drive about 100 miles each day and save about $0.01/mile by using E-85 - that's $1/day of $20-ish/month. Every little bit helps.

My mileage is about 13mpg on E-85 though, and about 16mpg on E-10. I fill up about the same number of times per week (every other day) - that's about the same as E-10.

For *ME*, as long as E-85 is at least $0.50/gallon cheaper than regular gasoline, I'm saving money. Of course, ethanol isn't only about saving money... It's about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and promoting local fuel production. It's good for farmers too!

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Posted by Ashibayai 12/31/07 12:54

Rank: 3/5 after 2 votes

Yeah, as long as people realize that E-85 gets them worse gas mileage than they're not deceived into thinking it's 100% better than E-10. But who said deception was a bad thing right?...

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Posted by Nevaar 12/31/07 13:33

Rank: 2.33/5 after 3 votes

Indeed. I'm firmly against gas stations increasing the percentage of ethanol in the fuel without telling their customers (I mean more than micro-font hidden on the back-side of the pump). I can envision a scenario where customers are getting 10-15% worse mileage and don't know why. That level decrease in mileage would have most people examining their engine or somesuch without even considering that the fuel could be the culprit. If ethanol is being mandated by a state authority, then that same state authority should be mandated to disclose to consumers that their mileage will suffer.

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Posted by Hardcase 02/26/08 15:27

Not rated yet.

Ethanol is a farce! Everyone says that their mileage decreases with it and most say their vehicles do not perform as well. Along with the FACT that it is seriously messing with the worlds food supply. so the math and you will see that you are not gaining a thing except making the farming community richer. Missouri made a serious mistake in mandating that this be incorporated in all fuel and in kow-towing to the farm lobby.

As for me, I am eagerly awaiting electric or hydrogen cars.