Is ethanol fuel safe to use on the 05 Mazda 3 2.0L ?
sfcop85
It's gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (ethyl alcohol, derived from corn distillation) added.
http://www.ethanol.org/
http://www.ethanol.org/
Wow, that sounds awesome! Why haven't the car makers started switching to this E10, and hopefully in the future E85, that would ween us off of gasoline! Damn, freakin sweet!
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
The biggest problem is the different requirements for engines running E85. My Dodge Grand Caravan is capable of running E85 (they call it a "flexible fuel" vehicle), but the last time I read the manual (which was a REALLY long time ago), there was a bunch of stuff in there about changing to a different oil and different service schedules.
Also, fuel mileage does indeed go down - somewhat significantly - when you use E85, so it becomes a function of cost vs. "doing what's right for America". I was talking to a person in MN who is using it. While the E85 gas was a little cheaper per gallon, with the reduced mileage he wound up spending about as much as he would have by using just gas. But, like with all things, your mileage may vary. Since I've never used E85 (I don't know of any places near me that carry it), I can't give you an objective opinion.
I don't know if any of the 3's engines are flex-fuel capable.
Also, fuel mileage does indeed go down - somewhat significantly - when you use E85, so it becomes a function of cost vs. "doing what's right for America". I was talking to a person in MN who is using it. While the E85 gas was a little cheaper per gallon, with the reduced mileage he wound up spending about as much as he would have by using just gas. But, like with all things, your mileage may vary. Since I've never used E85 (I don't know of any places near me that carry it), I can't give you an objective opinion.
I don't know if any of the 3's engines are flex-fuel capable.
[quote author=Mello link=topic=34926.msg498427#msg498427 date=1133689159]
Wow, that sounds awesome! Why haven't the car makers started switching to this E10, and hopefully in the future E85, that would ween us off of gasoline! Damn, freakin sweet!
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
[/quote]
it's not a cure-all for the oil shortage. Ethanol is basically alcohol, and it's produced by getting lots of tiny living things to starve. The problem is that the process takes more energy to produce than it lets out. Also, ethanol has a lot less power by volume than gasoline, so you would get a lot less far on 12 gallons of ethanol then on 12 gallons of gas.
Wow, that sounds awesome! Why haven't the car makers started switching to this E10, and hopefully in the future E85, that would ween us off of gasoline! Damn, freakin sweet!
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
[/quote]
it's not a cure-all for the oil shortage. Ethanol is basically alcohol, and it's produced by getting lots of tiny living things to starve. The problem is that the process takes more energy to produce than it lets out. Also, ethanol has a lot less power by volume than gasoline, so you would get a lot less far on 12 gallons of ethanol then on 12 gallons of gas.
[quote author=kcap122 link=topic=34926.msg498477#msg498477 date=1133709698]
[quote author=Mello link=topic=34926.msg498427#msg498427 date=1133689159]
Wow, that sounds awesome! Why haven't the car makers started switching to this E10, and hopefully in the future E85, that would ween us off of gasoline! Damn, freakin sweet!
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
[/quote]
it's not a cure-all for the oil shortage. Ethanol is basically alcohol, and it's produced by getting lots of tiny living things to starve. The problem is that the process takes more energy to produce than it lets out. Also, ethanol has a lot less power by volume than gasoline, so you would get a lot less far on 12 gallons of ethanol then on 12 gallons of gas.
[/quote]
Hmm, interesting stuff! Thanks for educating me, I appreciate it. Look forward to learning more, anything that gets the US closer to the end of gas powered cars and relying on foreign oil is better IMHO. I hope I see it in my lifetime.
[quote author=Mello link=topic=34926.msg498427#msg498427 date=1133689159]
Wow, that sounds awesome! Why haven't the car makers started switching to this E10, and hopefully in the future E85, that would ween us off of gasoline! Damn, freakin sweet!
That's good that in that Ford commercial I saw, they said that by 2010 Ford will offer cars that are ethanol fuel capable. That's great! We need to stop relying on oil, that's what's driving this country into the ground, but I won't go there, haha
[/quote]
it's not a cure-all for the oil shortage. Ethanol is basically alcohol, and it's produced by getting lots of tiny living things to starve. The problem is that the process takes more energy to produce than it lets out. Also, ethanol has a lot less power by volume than gasoline, so you would get a lot less far on 12 gallons of ethanol then on 12 gallons of gas.
[/quote]
Hmm, interesting stuff! Thanks for educating me, I appreciate it. Look forward to learning more, anything that gets the US closer to the end of gas powered cars and relying on foreign oil is better IMHO. I hope I see it in my lifetime.
Here is another threada that has been discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of using ethanol as a fuel:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=33969.0
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=33969.0
i don't have all the stats, but i have read that there's a split vote on the efficiency of producing ethanol....i think it goes... if you are the governor of a midwest (read "grows corn") then you're for it. If not then you look at the data and more often than not vote "no"
when it takes more than 1 gallon of ethanol (ethanol powered tractors to till the field, plant the corn, harvest the corn, transport to a bio-plant to convert & ethanol to run a power plant to produce electricity to run the bio-plant) to produce 1 gallon of ethanol to the consumer, then you actually end up pouring MORE energy from somewhere else (oil?) into the process to keep it going.
Sounds like this whole thing needs some real data & get the damn politicians and their pork barrels separated from the whole issue....lol...it'll never happen
when it takes more than 1 gallon of ethanol (ethanol powered tractors to till the field, plant the corn, harvest the corn, transport to a bio-plant to convert & ethanol to run a power plant to produce electricity to run the bio-plant) to produce 1 gallon of ethanol to the consumer, then you actually end up pouring MORE energy from somewhere else (oil?) into the process to keep it going.
Sounds like this whole thing needs some real data & get the damn politicians and their pork barrels separated from the whole issue....lol...it'll never happen
10% ethanol is fine for your car, but expect a significant reduction in mileage and power.
Ethanol should be used only if it's economically feasible to do so. That means no tax breaks, incentives, or subsidization. Otherwise, it's a big waste of energy done so politicians can look good to the clueless general public.Â
Ethanol should be used only if it's economically feasible to do so. That means no tax breaks, incentives, or subsidization. Otherwise, it's a big waste of energy done so politicians can look good to the clueless general public.Â
The other big factor (at least in corn-producing states), is that it's a pretty big boon for the farmers, who are already relying on government subsidies to stay afloat.
It should be noted that most of the large-scale debates and studies have been limited to the use of ethanol as automotive fuel. There are other fuel and non-fuel applications where it can be put to absolutely worthwhile uses. For example, Cargill-Dow has a huge plant (in Indiana, I believe?) that uses ethanol as the primary feedstock in the production of biodegradable plastics.
There are also intangible benefits of using biofuels, mainly the fact that it closes the carbon cycle. That is, you are no longer reintroducing carbon that was previously "fixed" under the surface of the earth. At some point, issues like cost-per-gallon will become irrelevant to the use of petroleum products...
It should be noted that most of the large-scale debates and studies have been limited to the use of ethanol as automotive fuel. There are other fuel and non-fuel applications where it can be put to absolutely worthwhile uses. For example, Cargill-Dow has a huge plant (in Indiana, I believe?) that uses ethanol as the primary feedstock in the production of biodegradable plastics.
There are also intangible benefits of using biofuels, mainly the fact that it closes the carbon cycle. That is, you are no longer reintroducing carbon that was previously "fixed" under the surface of the earth. At some point, issues like cost-per-gallon will become irrelevant to the use of petroleum products...
We're right on the edge of an ethanol, non ethanol line here in Southern Indiana. Most of the stations in Northern KY sell ethanol fuel, I guess to cut down on polution in the metropolitan area. Most of the ones in Southern Indiana are ethanol free. I just know my car runs like pure shit on the ethanol added fuel, although it is usally significantly cheaper. I try to stay away from that stuff.
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