Comedian and former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno appears to be opposing a federal mandate for blending ethanol in the nation's gasoline supply.
But proponents of the corn-based gasoline additive are not laughing at Leno's proposal.
Leno, one of California's best-known auto enthusiasts, keeps about 130 classic and other collectible cars in his Burbank garage. He slammed the controversial additive Wednesday in Autoweek magazine, in an article titled "Can't We Just Get Rid of Ethanol?" Lenojoins a growing bipartisan coalition — including Democrat Dianne Feinstein, the Golden State's senior senator — calling for the ethanol program to be abolished.
The article was published just weeks after Feinstein and her GOP co-signer from Pennsylvania Pat Toomey introduced a bill Feb. 26 that would abolish the corn ethanol "mandate" under EPA's flagship green fuels program known as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
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If you own a car with a carburetor you need to add an additive because ethanol turns to water after a period of time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he'll be better at politics than was as a comedian.
ReplyDeleteSecond that. Anyone ever see the movie he did with Pat Morita - Collision Course..?
DeleteTruly horrible.
I would like to hear from the farm community on this one as the corn market is way up due to buying of corn out west to produce ethanol. Will a reversal cause an ag subsidy?
ReplyDeleteEthanol doesn't exactly turn to water, but it does attract it.
ReplyDeleteThe program is a failure and should be ended. All of that corn can be used much more effectively as food, both human and animal.
You can pin part of the outrageous increase in meat products to the rise in of corn prices, which rise because of supply and demand.
ReplyDeleteEthanol is just another taxpayer funded subsidy that favors a few rich people,that's it.
ReplyDeleteHow many senators and congressmen are receiving farm subsidies for corn? How many will recuse themselves from voting on it?
ReplyDeleteEthanol is a cheap way to boost octane, and comes from our own corn crops, so I don't think it should be completely discontinued.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'd like to see it available in a separate pump, like the old leaded/unleaded pumps were, many years ago. If your car is designed to run on it, fine. Perhaps it will be a little cheaper at the pump. But I don't want it to be a universal "filler", degrading the relative quality of the fuel overall, especially for those cars not designed for it. Not all hoses and gaskets are tested compatible with ethanol mixed fuels.
I particularly avoid pumps with ethanol added, because I'm already using an aftermarket alcohol injection system, so the last thing I want is a higher alcohol ratio. Once my turbochargers boost level passes 12psi, a solenoid sprays a shot of alcohol into the motor, giving it a temporary octane boost to prevent detonation (engine knock) under higher boost.
If it already has alcohol in the fuel, that isn't going to be healthy for my engine.
4:25 Please explain how ethanol boost octane? And then explain why it is important to use a zinc additive in a engine that uses non-detergent oil. I happily wait your reply.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the only thing to boost octane is more octane.
ReplyDeleteFYI. Corn prices are in the tank. Last year the prices were horrible (half of the year before) and the guru's predict corn prices to remain low for the next 3+ years. So don't blame corn prices for higher meat and food prices.
ReplyDeleteEthanol does boost octane, the refiners are using lower grade gasoline <85 octane and blending in ethanol to meet the standard 87. Plus you still need a oxygenate since MTBE had been banned.
Please recognize that the byproduct of ethanol (distillers grains) is a very desirable, high protein animal feed, so corn used for ethanol is not suddenly unavailable for food. Stop spreading false info in the food vs fuel debate.
ReplyDeleteperhaps if the Saudis were made to stop funding politics ..
ReplyDeletewe could pump our own oil and the price of many food products would stop increasing every time I go to a supermarket...
the price of fuel went down last fall to influence the mid term elections and allow the liars in Washington to conflate economic statistics..
as if our own wallets don't tell us when we're getting snowed.
perhaps if the Saudis were made to stop funding politics ..
ReplyDeletewe could pump our own oil and the price of many food products would stop increasing every time I go to a supermarket...
the price of fuel went down last fall to influence the mid term elections and allow the liars in Washington to conflate economic statistics..
as if our own wallets don't tell us when we're getting snowed.
7:29 you beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteNot addressing the zinc additive question, save it for Click and Clack.
8:19 Who is Clink & Clank and why not address the zinc issue? And while you're at it, why is a zinc additive even sold at most automotive parts stores?
ReplyDeleteIf we have so much oil, why do we need ethanol. It's proven to be no good for engines. I kno my mileage dropped by half. So twice as much needed & at such high prices...should tell you something.
ReplyDelete