No one who loves Stovebolts can read all this but here goes!!

You can hardly avoid ethanol in your gasoline. It raises the octane rating and has been essentially mandated by the Feds. You pay 5 cents per gallon of gasoline in hidden Federal subsidy in your taxes to the ethanol producers if you use ethanol. I like the producers, especially if they have some ol' Chevy trucks out back!! I think the fuel lines, gaskets, etc. can take it now.

The old "gasohol" of the 1970's had more ethanol than what is used now. They dropped the "gasohol" term because it was bad for marketing. The Feds mandated "oxygen" or "oxygenated fuels" in gasoline in the early 1990's to counter (they thought) increased carbon monoxide (CO)emissions. CO is the one and only reason for using the stuff. "Oxygenated" does not mean "busting to burn." It is actually stuff which is already partially oxidized or "burned." Methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) was the "choice" because ethanol was too volatile for a different set of Fed standards. Ethanol creates pollution by pure evaporation. The gas companies were told to use MTBE and are now being sued because it caused more water pollution problems than ethanol would have in the first place! I think they've waved the volatility standards to use more ethanol. Geez!

Yes, please pollute my glass of ice water before dinner with a bit of ethanol. But hold the MTBE, please.

Missoula, MT and Fairbanks, AK were the only two cities which could switch from MTBE after the first year of use in 1991. The good citizens of these two towns were so used to clean air that the smell of MTBE made them queezy, like a doctor's office. (I'm a chemist and can handle the smell!!!!) We got to switch to ethanol in the second year.

The big problem with the MTBE "oxyfuel" is its good solvent properties (like carb cleaner). It loosened up gas tank crud when it was first introduced. My friend had his engine rebuilt when a new fuel filter would have sufficed.

The enormous question is whether MTBE or ethanol has had any noticable effect on carbon monoxide levels at all. Evidence shows the millions of dollars in extra at-the-pump fuel costs in lil' ol' Missoula since 1991 has NOT had any measurable effect!!!!!

1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet

34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.