You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join HDForums.com community today!
And therein lies what it's all about, a simple subsidy. You have an understanding but most consumers actually believe it makes economic sense, when it really does not. Kinda like the windmills.
And you sir don't think the oil industry ISN'T subsidized with taxpayer dollars?? Ever heard of oil well depletion allowance, or pipeline depreciation schedules, or other tax rebates given the oil co's? And the biggest taxpayer subsidy -US Military blood and treasure in far away sandboxes. Yep, lets add in ALLthe subsidies a gallon of gas is getting then compare.
Isn't the David Pimentel study out dated as most new plant are now around 2.9 gal of ethanol per bushel of corn. Also, he didn't take into account the feed value of the remaining byproducts of ethanol production which is sold to livestock feeders when he figured in net returns?
I've been burning E-10 in everything for years. Wore out 2 pickups, car, lawnmower without any fuel injector problems. Burn it in my '07 Busa and '08 Ultra.The HD consistantly gets 40 to 42 mpg, and had the heads off at 5000 mi when we did the SEII 103 kit, and they looked great. Ethanol is a cleaner burning, higher octane fuel than gasoline.
All this being said, I hate govt. mandates. Tax subsidies are a different thing, and it should sell itself, as it is doing (Last year 3% of all US fuel consumed was ethanol).
This ad is not displayed to registered and logged-in members. Register your free account today and become a member on HD Forums!
__________________
2008 Ultra Classic FLHTCU Stage II 103 HD kit- SE 255 cams, SERT, stock 96" heads, manual compression releases, SE high torque starter, Capt. Itch crotch cooler, and BUB 7 exhaust. 86 HP, 103 TQ
2008 Triumph Rocket 3-Touring, 2300 cc triple cyl. WOW!
We have had 10 percent for some time. I've noticed no difference in the mileage on any vehicles. Up here the trips are less stop and go so that may be a factor.
Why are we surprised...this is another government idea. Perhaps they should have asked some scientists and crunched the numbers but it did sound so good politically.
I knew alcohol burned from the time I was 12 and someone lit my shotglass. Anyone with a boat or that goes camping knows alcohol burns....which helps explain why propane is popular as it takes 8 of your 10 day vacation to boil water for a coffee using an alcohol stove.
There are some farmers that see it as a good thing...but not as many as you think. Another acre of corn replaces an acre of another veggie or wheat. I'm guessing...I am not one of those scientists ...that you could tune to run 10-20% water but I bet there is a downside to be considered. John
There is an article in this months AIM about this.
I was discussing this with the Service writer Sunday and he said that adding some Marine Sta-Bil may help some.
I haven't tried it and this was not a H-D or dealership recommendation just something he had been told by one of their techs who has been doing some research on his on.
PROCEED with caution......
__________________ I know I'm a biker because my t-Shirt sez so!
Ah! the old cost of production conundrum---gov't support and money is usually what drives the energy alternatives, in the late 80's Oil Shale was all the rage----huge quantities in Colorado? but there was not enough "cheap" water to make the steam required for extraction.
BUT I bet some day when oil goes back over $100.00 a bbl, it will come up on the radar again.
We've had 10% ethanol for many, many years. I can't tell any difference in any of my vehicles and at .10 cheaper it's an easy choice.
Our Gas America station has had it for several yrs but not the others.
Even that station has always been the same price.. No discount for it with Ethanol here! The new ones with it didn't lower there price either. All stations in our town are within .01 of each other..
Last night I found Marathon and one other local station has it without Ethanol.
Even if it sold at .10 cents less per gallon, which is a 5% savings, we will use more fuel (OIL) because of the overall 10-15% less mileage, which wipes out any advantage of going to it in the first place.
I am not just looking at the price or trying to save cost.
Point is ts supposed to help us be less Dependant on foreign oil and it really ends up making us use more..
Looks like the oil company's win again with more profit.
I hate all of the "go green" crap such as the ethanol in our gas but I do hope they find a way to make ethanol cheaply because I happen to love the internal combustion engine and can't imagine riding an electric bike! I believe hemp is the answer for cheap ethanol but politically not .
'02 Ultra & '96 1200 Custom Sportster.
