Poll Can your cars engine operate with E10 fuel?

[T.Neo]

Well, we will need to learn how to synthesise hydrocarbons for fuel, there are vehicles in existence- such as aircraft- that do not run too well on batteries.

or somehow won't need cars any more.

I don't think that is really an option, in very dense areas public transport works well, but in less dense ones personal transport is far more practical.

Public transport is worth very little if it is already physically distant from you.

 

[Ark]

Actually E10 can already do that damage, but slower. Also E10 does damage to engines with aluminum engine blocks, because of the combustion products, the alcohol reacts with aluminum and corrodes it quickly.

Officially, 7% of all German cars are incompatible to it, even if they already tolerated E5 fuel.

Still, it's not that hard to change out the parts that could be damaged by the ethanol.

As for the aluminum blocks, that shouldn't be a problem because most aluminum blocks have steel cylinder sleeves, so the combustion products don't really come in contact with the aluminum. I'm pretty sure GM's flexfuel engines are the same aluminum block and head engines they've been using for a decade, just with fuel delivery systems that can stand up to E85.

Fuel efficiency is one of the big downfalls of ethanol fuels, though. Ethanol's energy density is lower than gasoline, so you have to burn more of it for the same performance. Alcohol is used as race fuel because you can run very high compression without getting detonation, so you can burn a lot more alcohol than gasoline and come out with more power in the end. Great for racing, bad for economical driving. Bumping up the compression on E85 cars could maybe help, but if you did that you wouldn't be able to run regular gas.

 

[Artlav]

I don't think that is really an option

Why?
USA invades Libya, Muslim world rises, USA uses nukes, Pakistan uses nukes, India uses nukes, China uses nukes, Russia uses nukes, USA uses all the nukes, we're back into the stone age, there's nothing to run the remaining cars and industry on. Thus, no need for cars for the next bunch of decades, or even centuries.

 

[T.Neo]

Yes... that is a convenient way to remove the need for cars.

It's also a convenient way to cause societal collapse. Way to go, Artlav.

Also, I would be skeptical of no cars running at all after such a catastrophe... the northern hemisphere would pretty badly damaged, but there is still Australia, South America and a good deal of Africa that is very isolated. The kind of places were individual transport is really needed, nuclear catastrophe or not.

 

[Ark]

And Australia is like, "WTF, mate?"

 

[Artlav]

Way to go, Artlav.

Okay, scenario 2.
I invent a macroscopic quantum diode, allowing cheap, safe and easy translocation of matter, ala teleportation.
The world would be quickly covered with network of transfer booths, all the cars would be dropped into the ocean to make new reefs, all the bridges rusting, all the pollution and traffic jams gone for ever.

That future have only one disadvantage - now if you bait a nigerian scammer or insult someone over the internet, he can easily come to your house a few seconds later. Well, maybe that's a good thing.

 

[bande]

I don't know, my engine might do, but in my country E10 isn't sold. gasoline, diesel fuel and GPL (fewer) only.
anyway, I think future mobility will be based on many different solutions, like electric, bio-diesel, ethanol and so on.
nowadays, it's near 100% oil-based, but it won't last forever...

by the way, I hope our frends from USA won't spend a single word on complaining about gas price, this right belongs to all those who pay over 1,50 € for a liter of gasoline (over 7 dollars per gallon)

 

[Keatah]

I personally think that US gas prices need to go up more. That would help curtail excessive motoring a little.

And, the reason why we have no electric cars is simply because of politics. It would only take a a couple of years of intense research to squash the remaining bugs and bring us up to speed.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

The US automotice companies could also stand to put a turbo-diesel into some of their models (in addition to looking at hybrids and fuel cell cars).

I want to get a Volkswagon TDI, but they are in high demand (the Jetta, Golf and Beetle). When the new Passat is released (built here in Chattanooga!) I will take a serious look at it.

But there is absolutely no reason that a U.S. company can't put a diesel into a mid-sized sedan or a compact. Other companies can do it, why can't they? I can get a truck bigger than my living room that has a monster sized diesel engine, but not a small family car. What gives Detroit?

Dang... End of rant I guess.

 

[bande]

I personally think that US gas prices need to go up more. That would help curtail excessive motoring a little.

this could be a good idea, but IMHO, instead of increasing gas prices, it would be better to make people think that a 4000cc engine is far too much, while the other people worldwide who drive cars that range from 1000 through 1600cc don't feel any lack of power or displacement

I spent two vacations in the USA, both traveling long distances with rental cars, feeling the way the car is lived by American people. in 2008, I traveled 3900 miles with a Chevy Equinox, and I realized that a smaller car would had drank less fuel, without sacrifying any comfort.
for example, with this car
http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=...&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:18&biw=1419&bih=615
I had a 12-15 hour travel a dozen of times, and I felt any lack of space or power! and it's a 1200cc/78hp!
but since gasoline is so cheaper, there's no point in raising the price for that, maybe your European friends would be less "envious", but that's it!

 

[Hielor]

I don't know, my engine might do, but in my country E10 isn't sold. gasoline, diesel fuel and GPL (fewer) only.

GPL? Is that like, open-source gasoline? :lol:

I personally think that US gas prices need to go up more. That would help curtail excessive motoring a little.

Not really an option. US cities are very spread out and don't have the public transit infrastructure that a lot of European cities do. Some folks live a 40minute or more drive away from work, because they cannot afford to live closer to work (housing prices go down the further away you get). They don't have public transit options available to get them there (or the public transit options that are available would take them 2-3 times as long).

A long, gradual increase of gas prices that allow for the buildup in public transit infrastructure might be good in the long run, but not the "It was $3.50 last week and is now $3.75" increase we have now.

 

[Urwumpe]

GPL? Is that like, open-source gasoline? :lol:

I think he means LPG, liquified petrol gas.

Not really an option. US cities are very spread out and don't have the public transit infrastructure that a lot of European cities do. Some folks live a 40minute or more drive away from work, because they cannot afford to live closer to work (housing prices go down the further away you get). They don't have public transit options available to get them there (or the public transit options that are available would take them 2-3 times as long)

Of course, most of the 40 minutes are standing around in traffic jams caused by many people half asleep trying to get to work.

Sorry, but the "very spread out" argument does not really cut it. While you really have a lower population density in the USA, the metropolitan areas of the USA are not different at all to European ones.

The main problem is: In the era when European cities invested a lot of money into public transportation (around 1900), nothing comparable happened in the USA, and the price is now too uncomfortable (despite cheaper) to do the same again. You can't even do park'n'ride properly.

You need the cars, because the alternative would mean something pretty annoying: Having to change ways after a long time of different planning.

 

[tblaxland]

Yes, E10 is fine in my car provided it is >= 95 RON. Generally it is, but finding a station attendant that knows the RON is somewhat more of a challenge :dry:

Regarding public transport, I agree with you Urwumpe. Currently here we have a population who has come around to understanding this and is trying to change their travel modes but the state government is not cooperating. It is a hot issue for our upcoming election. One of the main barriers, more so than investment in physical infrastructure, is a ticketing system that is integrated across the various transportation modes. Both major parties seem to have missed that, but then it is not as sexy as new rail lines . The current program is to have integrated ticketing rolled out by 2015, currently running three years late, with the program having started in 2007. Now where is my local minister's email address... :hmm:

Regarding production of E10, how does it compare to regular gasoline? RisingFury was quoting 400-600 g/km gross emissions (ie, those from the tail pipe plus those from production).

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I would honestly love to take public transportation to work, but it doesn't reach out to the boon-docks where I work. I drive 45 miles north to a nuclear plant. My wife drives 30 miles south to a law office. And traditionally here in the U.S. they won't build a nuclear plant in a downtown urban area...

When the ability to carpool arises, several of us take it, not only does it save money, but lets a few of us catch a nap on the way to/from work. The 40 mile traffic jam doesn't apply to Bradley/McMinn/Meigs/Rhea county commute that I have. It's a lot of nothing-but-farmland.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes, E10 is fine in my car provided it is >= 95 RON. Generally it is, but finding a station attendant that knows the RON is somewhat more of a challenge :dry:

Believe me, that is nothing compared to the trouble you have getting the right oil. Not every oil sold here is according to Volkswagen specifications, which means in the worst case, you mix two kinds of chemicals together that form a sticky paste.

 

[bande]

I think he means LPG, liquified petrol gas.

I do, sorry for that

 

[Topper]

Whats about Diesel fuel?
My car uses other fuel than gasoline, but in real, it used diesel!

 

[Urwumpe]

Whats about Diesel fuel?
My car uses other fuel than gasoline, but in real, it used diesel!

Its other fuel - just like wood, frying oil, LPG or liquefied natural gas. And of course Uraniumdioxide, who ever has such a car.

 

[Linguofreak]

My car can certainly burn E10 (it gets sold around here and my car hasn't died yet), but I don't know how healthy it is for it...