Is adding ethanol to gas a positive or negative benefit to our country?

[scrat]

Well it doesn't matter what happens whether barrels of oil coming down or ethanol being used to help bring down price. I was just watching the news and gas prices are going up anyway. It does't take much of a reason for them to go up on prices and the news media helps to scare gas stations into going up on prices. By morning here in my home town if the news media tells of a two cent increase the gas stations will go up twice to three times that much before morning.

[Hanr3]

ones opinion of ethanol boils down to their financial or political interests..........Those of us who have no personal interest in ethanol would rather not be forced to use it.

There is one other thing to.........If ethanol was such a good thing for everyone and it out performed gasoline there would be no need for ethanol production to be subsidized

ALL products, services or commodities that are subsidized by the government are because the product cannot compete on it's own merits in a free market.

I ignored this statement the first time, however since you insist on repeating it I'll address it for what its worth. Your opinion. My opinion is your opinion is incorrect. However because it is your opinion I will not bash you for it. I will only try to provide evidence so you can rethink your position. Maybe you didn't have all the facts when you made your opinion, maybe you did? However, your first statement about financial interest do not add value to the conversation, instead all they do is stifle the conversation.

The original poster asked for information. Information was posted, and most of it was the usual uneducated crap. When someone with actual knowledge of the industry speaks up you try to shut them down, not once but twice, without facts. Do you want all information to make an educated opinion? Or just more information to justify your position on the subject?

I don't have any vested interest in ethanol per the definition posted earlier. However I work where millions (with an S) is spent every year testing engines, and I don't mean little engines, like in your truck. Mostly big diesel (bigger than a semi), however there are alternative fuels being tested as well, again in the millions of dollars per year. The companies interest lies in selling product. They will sell more product if their equipment works faster and harder while burning less fuel than the competition. I am also a mechanic, no longer by trade. In fact not more than two hours ago I finished a brake job for a family member. Last spring I did an engine swap for a low income family, my labor was free. She did make me some Christmas cookies during the holidays though. It was appreciated as much as she appreciated the work I did for her. I run a 1957 Johnson outboard on my 1967 Alumacraft boat. This is my daily fishing rig. My Johnson will never see ethanol, however all my other motors do. I have no problems. My Astro van had 286,000 miles on the original fuel filter. Yep ethanol since day one. I never replaced any engine parts, except for usual tune up items.

The mechanic repairing your fuel system/engine isn't about to tell you the reason for your problems is because you screwed up. How likely would you be to go back to him again? I will say it again, ethanol did not create the problem. The problem was already there, you just didn't know it yet.
Ethanol eats gaskets, seals, and hoses that are not designed for it. Poor design, or the engine wasn't built for ethanol. Owner should have known better. Operator error.
Gasoline leaves residue/deposits, ethanol cleans it out, fouling out the plugs or worse. Operator error.

As for subsidies, obviously you don't know that oil/gas is still being subsidized? Last year it was estimated at $37.5 billion (With a B).
Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Overview - Oil Change InternationalOil Change International

I for one see no reason to subsidize the oil industry, however we still do it. Even when they are making record profits.

[Hanr3]

Note: My use of the word uneducated also stifles the conversation, however I left it in anyways. It is not there to insinuate anyone is uneducated. Your opinion might be uneducated is not the same as you are uneducated. So don't go taking it the wrong way.

[MrGoodtime]

Non-ethanol gas... now that's funny. Funny because their is no such thing now days. Any gas with less than 2% ethanol can leagly be labeled as non-ethanol.

[midcarolina]

@ Hanr3

Let me see If my uneducated self can muster the words to respond...............

The rub is not ethanol itself, It is many many people are tired of the Gov. forcing crap on us we do not want! If you want to run ethanol fine, If you want to be a vegetarian fine, if you want to drive an electric car fine..........But don't try and force that on everyone

See there are people that have no problem forcing their desires on others........And millions of us uneducated Americans are tired of it.

[Hanr3]

I still don't see any information related to the subject at hand. Ethanol fuel a benefit or negative to our country?
I have tried to get you to join the conversation, yet all you do is deflect the conversation, and make wild accusations without any supporting evidence. Really, you know what millions of Americans are thinking?
We live in a free market society. You are free to buy what ever gas you want. The government can't force you to buy it. Gas stations carry products that sell. Supply and Demand. Go read a book called the "Wealth of Nations". It was written by Adam Smith in 1776. It is the basis of our modern day economics. I understand your frustration with the situation, however beating your chest and screaming at the top of your lungs will not change anything. Present facts and persuade others to take action.