Originally Posted by
marlinspike
RandomTask, I know they tell you that newer rubbers are ok with e10, my sources tell me that studies conducting over long periods of time find that they aren't. They're much more resilient than the old rubber, but still won't last as long were we to use MTBE or just unoxygenated. Bump it up to 85% and now they don't last nearly as wrong as with pure gas. This is what the people who work for the companies have told me.
The livestock feed is a false benefit, as using food for fuel has greatly increased the cost of livestock feed.
You do realize gasoline is a solvent as well? I've taken apart tanks that have sit for 2-3 years where the gasoline had turned the fuel pump hose into chewed gum.
Like I said earlier, in the early/mid 90's, cars were switched over to Viton (not just the old school rubber), which doesn't get eaten up. Yes, older cars will have a problem switching to E10.
The effects of E10 on the fuel system, if any are present, are so negligible its asinine. The only problem you have is if you have a lot of built up corrosion that gasoline can cause, inside your tank, E10 can release this corrosion and have it clog your fuel filter.
And second, negative. First, breaking it down to its simplest pieces, a single kernel of corn consist of the germ and the endosperm. (couple of other, non important parts) After it gets ground up into flour, an alpha-amylase is used to break down the starches in the endosperm into complex sugars. A gluco-amylase is then used to break down those complex sugars into simple sugars which the yeast can use to make the alcohol. That being said, the germ is fairly useless in the process and comes out at the end into the distillers grains (either WDDGS or DDGS)
A.) Pound for pound its higher in protein - thus the farmers like it more.
B.) It makes feed taste better to cows, they are more attracted to it as it has a 'sweet' taste.
C.) Quick math - Currently the US produces 6.5 billions gallons of ethanol yearly. . . It takes 56 lbs of corn to make 2.7/2.8 gallons. Of that, you get back about 26 lbs of feed. The market gets so flooded with the feed its rediculous. . . so no, its not creating a shortage of corn for cattle feed.
Just as an FYI, I used to work for an ethanol plant design company. . .