The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 198
odor is because of the gasoline. Ethanol often has a very sweet, pleasing odor,
even after extended periods of time.
You also wrote that the old unleaded or non-ethanol fuels left in an idle engine
will simply (and safely) evaporate sooner or later. What you left out is that the
gasoline will turn to a varnish-like substance that can destroy the engine and
fuel system. In the decades in which ethanol was not used in fuel the problem
of leaving gasoline in an idle engine for protracted periods of time always existed. This is not a new problem caused by ethanol, nor is it a problem made
worse by ethanol.
So when you write that you've "replaced more gas tanks and the parts above
than I care to mention," and imply that it is only because of the ethanol, you are
being terribly disingenuous. An American engine mechanic in the 1920s, 1930s,
1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s could have made the exact same declaration and it would have only pertained to non-ethanol gasolines.
It is true that American farmers are among the top beneficiaries of ethanol production; and this is true whether the ethanol is made from corn, sugar, beets,
or any other crop. But the thing I always say is that I would rather have my fuel
money go to support American farmers than to foreign regimes and terrorist
countries. If we're talking about doing what is best for the U.S., the best is to
keep as much money as possible here and to employ and many Americans as
possible.
Also, remember that no American service men and women have ever died defending domestic ethanol production and distribution. Depending upon which
wars you can subscribe to be oil-related it could be said that more than a million
Americans have died defending Arab oil countries and Russia.
I welcome any and all replies you would like to make, Lance. I only hope you
will carefully read what I just wrote and avoid inventing facts or taking my words
out of context. If need be, please read the sentences two or three times to get
the context correct.
Follow up from LANCEM:
I HAVE. Read my post above! I collect older 60's-70's police vehicles. IF a car
ever sits an extended length of time with ethanol in it you can kiss its fuel system
goodbye. You WILL be replacing every component.
