Our pump fuel of the future

[Tomtall]

The follow statements were on line when I was looking at some stock market reports awhile back. At the rate the fuel companies are saying the ethanol increase is going to occur you had better figure race fuel into you yearly race budget starting soon. Our engines will run like crap on this junk they plane on selling and you might as well throw fuel testing out the window. I recently tested a racers "Speedway" brand gasoline here in Michigan with my Digitron fuel tester and it read +175 !!!! That's a lot higher than the + 55 to +75 we have been getting for fuel with 10% advertised ethanol. Be aware of what your running because soon you will be destroying your engines with this junk.


NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM 29.20, -1.19, -3.91%) said Tuesday they expect the U.S. to raise their ethanol mix with gasoline to at least 12% in 2010. Currently the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing an application to increase ethanol's share of the blended fuel to 15%, with a response likely to come Dec. 1, said Archer Daniels Chairman and Chief Executive Patricia Woertz. "Even if it does not respond to go all the way to 15, it's our expectation, or hope, that E12...is one of the likely outcomes," she said on a post-earnings call. Archer Daniel produces corn-based ethanol, which is mixed in with gasoline to help reduce the use of fossil fuels. The company is opening two new ethanol plants in Nebraska and Iowa over the next year.



They are going to have to increase it by 1% a year for the next decade because by 2022 we are required by law to blend in 36 billion gallons of ethanol into our fuel. With the new fuel economy standards that could well require s 25% mix! So be sure to buy a vehicle that is capable of using E85.

[Dave M]

It is Already Here

Tom,

The blends must be gettign higher already in my area. I grabbed some Torco 110 Race fuel from the local Speedway for the NBRA Nats. I blended it with 87 Octane BP Fuel. I cut it down to acceptable octane for our engines. In the past year or so the Digitron in both NBRA and APBA have tested it at -60 or so. This year, with fresh fuel mixed and ready to go it was reading a positive 10 on the meter.

Something needs to be done, even the race fuels are getting hit. Who the heck wants to spend $500.00 on a barell of good fuel from VP... not me. Lets face it, if you race more then 3 or 4 races a year you are most likley going to use a full barell or so. And if you are a serious racer who tests a lot..... well the math adds up.

So now that you have pointed out the problem is going to get worse, any suggestions ? I know you were an OPC inspector and might have some insider knowledge on how to keep the cheater **** additives out and still be able to run more or less pump fuels ?

[Tomtall]

Answers

Todd - Just because the pure gas is diluted with Ethanol does not mean you will get worse mileage. It seems that each vehicle reacts differently to the blends. The following tests were done and can be read at this link. http://hybrids.autoblog.com/2005/08/...ected-results/ My concern is that our 2 stroke motors will lean out and burn down due to the fact they are not self adjusting to the fuel being burned such that cars are able to do.

Dave - I wish there was a way to catch the cheats with fuel but with our current methods and the stealth products that have been invented over the past few years I feel the best way is to have the clubs take control of the fuel being used at their races. This will put everyone on an even playing field. The VP fuel sold at the Nationals at Grass Lake is an example.

[LarryR]

Our pump fuel of the future

The reduced fuel mileage, ruined seals, tanks and poor shelf life are just the tip of the "iceburg of stupidity" with putting corn in gasoline. Don't forget the pressure of increased demand effecting milk and other food prices, the loss in jobs of harvesting cotton and other more labor intenisive crops to
"king corn" and the lack of upward pressure on the price of gasoline iteslf which should be encourageing invetment in alternative and renewable energy alternatives. It may be the stupidest thing than we've done in the young centruy. Now, let's talk about racing.

[ZUL8TR]

Fuel

" ...... It may be the stupidest thing than we've done in the young centruy. Now, let's talk about racing. [/QUOTE]

Another one more stupid is the global warming issue from CO2 emissions no real proof of cause and effect here and the House of Rep passing the Cap and Trade bill to control CO2 that will cause everything related to electricity production to go up. Not much chance of the Senate squashing it.

[Fast Freddie]

The Best Alternative

Is actually racing gasoline. Never has a problem being legal and runs very well, even in low compression stock engines - VERY WELL! This is one case where the economics can fool you. If you run a season and burn race gas, you might use a barrel in the larger classes. At even $7/gallon, that's about $385. Subtract the regular you would have used at $2.75/gal, or about $140 and the race gas cost you only $245 extra - if you used a whole barrel. Not even the price of a propeller. Now, balance that against throwing away some gas and expensive oil you mixed that won't pass; the cost of racing and then getting pitched for illegal gas; and your overall budget. It isn't a big penalty to pay for the peace of mind. How much do you spend for gasoline for your tow vehicle for a season?

My two cents.

Fred

[sam]

I priced race gas from a major supplier and it was $11 a gallon near me ... $605 for 55, $470 more than street gas right now ... but that is still in the range of a good prop or a rack of maybe props ... spread out across the race season, its still not much per race to be legal. Its sort of like pleasure boaters complaining about the price of 2 stroke oil ... how much are you using per hour ... pennies

[LarryR]

100ll

I guess it depends on what probem you're trying to solve and what you engine's requirements are. The price of gaoline, even at $11 is low compared to the total cost of racing for a season. 100LL, at less than $4/gallon, seems to the best solution to me, at least for stock outboard racing.

[sam]

100LL, at less than $4/gallon, seems to the best solution to me, at least for stock outboard racing.

Except that it is quite possible that $11 93 octane race gas will make some stock motors run faster than $4 100LL in the same motors

All we need to do for the present is keep the same rules and let racers decide how much to spend.

[Dave M]

Costs

Is actually racing gasoline. Never has a problem being legal and runs very well, even in low compression stock engines - VERY WELL! This is one case where the economics can fool you. If you run a season and burn race gas, you might use a barrel in the larger classes. At even $7/gallon, that's about $385. Subtract the regular you would have used at $2.75/gal, or about $140 and the race gas cost you only $245 extra - if you used a whole barrel. Not even the price of a propeller. Now, balance that against throwing away some gas and expensive oil you mixed that won't pass; the cost of racing and then getting pitched for illegal gas; and your overall budget. It isn't a big penalty to pay for the peace of mind. How much do you spend for gasoline for your tow vehicle for a season?

My two cents.

Fred

Fred,

I agree with you. However, I also can understand economics and the ability of some race teams to hardly afford what they currently are doing given the current state of the economy. The racers that struggle to make a race, and cut corners so that they can attend are, in my opinion, the backbone of our racing culture. They represent true dedication and love of the sport. It would hurt if we lost them because suddenly the cost of racing has went up per race simply for cost of boat gas. The cost for real gasoline varies a lot in different regions. Sam made this point clear with the cost near him.

Maybe we should all consider going four stroke afterall. With the demand going up for the race gasoline, I bet simple business plans would notice it and raise prices as demand goes up. Boat racers are not the only ones trying to find clean pure gasoline.

One more point and I will be quiet, I doubt we would lose the racers on tight budgets already, but it may force them to not attend one or two races. I like the idea of the club providing the gas on site, but I can see it offering problems with test speeds at home verses what is seen at the race site.

[26V]

4stroke

""Maybe we should all consider going four stroke afterall. With the demand going up for the race gasoline, I bet simple business plans would notice it and raise prices as demand goes up. Boat racers are not the only ones trying to find clean pure gasoline.""

Going to a 4stroke engine would not change our fuel issues at all. The issue is the availablity of unaltered fuel. or an alturnative to it.

[Tim Weber]

Yes, the cost is a bummer compared to pump gas but the biggest issue for me is FINDING race gas. I have to go quite a way to buy it.

I have a comuter airport about 10 miles away. I though AV gas may be a away around the race gas. The airport wouldn't sell me any. The guy there told me the gas was only legal to sell for airplanes and could only be dispenesed in aircraft. He told me that the Feds were worried it would find its' way into cars inspite it being 50% more costly.

Tim