Ethanol is surposed to be a higher-octane engine fuel, and up to ten percent presence in gasoline is surposed to offer a better-burning greener fuel. But it now appears (see report below) to have problems related to its chemically-more-reactive nature, and its greater water solubility compared to hydrocarbons such as octane, which are immiscible with water. It appears to chew engine parts in smaller, and enviromentally-more-exposed engines, such as lawn trimmers and boat outboard engines. The problem appears to arise from ethanol's readly miscibility with water, which in turn corrodes the iron (steel) and even rubber parts in these small engines. These in turn lower engine efficiency. These effects may be less signifficant in the larger-and-better-isolated car engines.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25936782/
Saturday, August 2, 2008
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