Topic: confronting ethanol ignorance... (Read 1665 times)

Steve-O · « **Reply #15 on:** March 09, 2010, 04:17:20 PM »

This is bummin' me out, but I have said before I see it all the time too. The fortunate owner of an FFV goes to the best place in town to get the E85 and there they are putting in E10.

I am not much for conflict so I would never talk to a stranger at a station but man would I like to. Wouldn't want to hurt the station that is at least getting the E10 business by just walking up to a stranger and being a know-it-all. LOL

I did once tell a guy from the Renew company in the Renew Impala that I had been running E20-E30 in my Hyundais...seemed very surprised but agreed with me that it was a great idea. Wanted to know what would have made me do that in the first place, and I just told him I had done my research

Corey872 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2010, 03:44:35 PM »

The funny thing is - if the tables were reversed...we have ethanol and trying to switch to gasoline...you'd be laughed out of the room for suggesting the switch. I can hear it now...

Why would I put something in my car I can't drink for myself?

Who would ever use 87 octane when ethanol gives me 105?

I don't want that 'low power' 87 octane junk in my tank!

Why would I want a bunch of gunky old dinosaur parts clogging up my injectors when I can flush them with pure alcohol??

Why would I pay some middle easterner for a bunch of oil sludge when we can grow clean ethanol right here?

Why pull a pound of carbon out of the ground and put it in the air when I can just recycle the carbon already in the air with ethanol?

I'm sure there are plenty more, but it's funny if ethanol does ever 'clog a fuel system' - it's simply because it's breaking down what years of junky gasoline have left behind!

cessna · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2010, 02:02:03 PM »

I'm about ready to call it a day and admit defeat. Was just up at the elevator checking markets and there is a new flex fuel Chevy Impala that the hog building manager is driving. I ask if he's using E85 and he says the dealer said to just put E10 in. This guy lives at Hartley where a blender pump with E20,30,40 and 85 is installed---there's no hope.

rufus · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2010, 01:42:45 PM »

You Chilluns is having a regular "cry fest," aren't you?

Listen to Outlaw. He markets the stuff. It's all about Price. For the first time in a year prices are gettin right.

Time is your friend.

HuskerFlex · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2010, 01:30:37 PM »

I have another neighbor who has a massive SUV (believe Tahoe?) which is a FFV. We asked him if he used e85.

He actually laughed, and said "a buddy of mine" (always the start to a well informed opinion

) "told me that if you put that junk in your tank, you'll ruin the fuel pump, you'll get less then half the mileage, and after a few tanks, the injectors will be plugged..." He then went on to state "I'm not a genius, but saving $.50/gallon is not worth it..."

I tried to politely set the record strait, but unfortunately, my "anecdotal reports" carried nothing compared to the "expert testimony" of "his buddy"...

ignorance is ethanol's greatest enemy

fleebut · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2010, 12:59:09 PM »

Oh, the fun stuff, how about "GO GO Juice", "Motor Aid", "Ka-Zoom", "She Moo", "La Peppy", "Tank Juice" , 'Re-Zoom"

Jonny Energy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2010, 10:15:16 AM »

Quote from: HuskerFlex on March 09, 2010, 07:51:05 AM

If we're tossing out better names for e85 as a "brand"...

You couldn't get better then "white lightning"... dukes of hazard reference, moonshine in the hot rod.... though I think that now other people have probably trade marked that one...

That is a great name. LOL

HuskerFlex · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2010, 07:51:05 AM »

If we're tossing out better names for e85 as a "brand"...

You couldn't get better then "white lightning"... dukes of hazard reference, moonshine in the hot rod.... though I think that now other people have probably trade marked that one...

Most people are best described as being somewhere between sheep (sheepole) and lemmings...

SacramentoE-85 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:46:03 PM »

Yes, it should have been named something more like "Amerihol." U.S.Alcohol? Patriot Punch? Fierce Fuel? Uncle Sam's Special Sauce?

E85 is so...sterile and yet confusing. I don't think there's any going back now, unless a MAJOR E85 seller makes the change and allows others to use the name without cost. But would that only add to the confusion?

Or maybe it is early enough, having "only" a couple thousand public E85 dispensers--before there's twenty thousand. I kinda like "Patriot Punch", "Amerihol", or Outlaw's "Freedom Hooch."

1outlaw · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:13:32 PM »

Quote from: James48843 on March 08, 2010, 08:27:22 PM

If I only had $3K or $4K of marketing money, I would be able to run radio commercials and educate a whole lot of people.

Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of bucks to do so.

People have to hear a message about 7 times on the radio before it drills in past the noise and lands-- and that is the times they hear it- -what about the folks working other shifts and living in the non-9-5 times? $3-4K will not do anything except in one smaller market station with fewer listeners. It is nothing to spend 15K per month in 2-3 larger markets with only 2 radio stations. Necessary- yes- over the top expensive- yes. This is why you hear and see the companies that do advertise and not others- hard to be effective for the small guy with a limited budget. This is why it is hard to do battle with big "----" --they will outspend you on advertising, lawyers, websites, paid webbbies, and the like.

James48843 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2010, 08:27:22 PM »

If I only had $3K or $4K of marketing money, I would be able to run radio commercials and educate a whole lot of people.

Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of bucks to do so.

Jonny Energy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:47:38 PM »

America's fuel or American muscle. Educating adults is very hard and a struggle but it is well worth it.

1outlaw · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:08:03 PM »

Quote from: Jonny Energy on March 08, 2010, 06:24:11 PM

Unfortunately a good portion of the general public is not that smart. Also, the fuel should have never been named E85. So many times I here why use E85 when it is only 85 octane!

Agreed- I have heard the 85 octane bit (remember many regulators do not want octane posted-lest it confuse Ma Kettle into thinking she could go faster in her 36 Chev). I have seen and heard the 15% ethanol bit too --especially now that real E15 has been more in the discussion of late. Heck- in the seed corn industry every experimental seed for trial test plot work is called- E-XXXX- meaning E for experimental. The name could have been a bit more thought out from a marketing perspective. Maybe the Brazilians were the wisest for simply calling it Alcool. Personally I prefer it as "race booze" or "freedom hooch"

Jonny Energy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2010, 06:24:11 PM »

Unfortunately a good portion of the general public is not that smart. Also, the fuel should have never been named E85. So many times I here why use E85 when it is only 85 octane!

HuskerFlex · « **on:** March 08, 2010, 04:02:35 PM »

My wife and I have had our FFV 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan since just before the 1st of the year.... Absolutely freaking love it!

One of our neighbors, and a pretty close neighborly friend... has had a Town & Country for 1 1/2 years now... we didn't ever notice until now that it was a FFV

Just this weekend we noticed and asked if they were "using e85?"...

I was shocked when he answered (he's pretty intelligent, and pretty well informed IMHO), "I've been looking for it, but everywhere I look, they only have e10, not e15.....

Apparently, according to his logic and math... well, can't quite figure it out...

I walked him through it...
e10= 10% ethanol (hence e10) and 90% gasoline
e85= 85% ethanol (hence e85) and 15% gasoline

I pointed out the nearest several stations (he travels a lot around town for work) and pointed out the two that didn't price it well, and the 3 that were great prices.

We'll see if he does it. I'm sure he will... then again, I was sure he knew what e85 was also.