Some facts about ethanol in gasoline. Here is a link to a map of the areas where the epa mandates oxygenated fuel in the winter time. This only means that the gasoline contains a minimum 2.7% oxygen content, doesn't specifically mandate ethanol but since they banned mbte the only approved oxygenate is ethanol. 5.75% meets that requirement, so by default the gas in those areas contain a minimum e5.75, doesn't mean they can't have up to e10 year round however.
http://www.ARB.CA.gov/fuels/gasoline/oxy/uswinter.pdf
Carb requires all fuel to be oxygenated year round, so again by default a min e5.75, but up to e10 is permitted.
Only 4 states minnesota, Missouri, hawaii and oregon currently have state mandates requiring e10. Missouri's law is a little unusual, it allows straight gas if the price of gasoline drops below that of e10, it also only applies to regular and mid grades premium is exempt. Oregon’s ethanol mandate does allow straight gasoline to be sold intended for limited uses such as that you have seen for "antique vehicles" and power equipment, marine and aviation use, but I sure can't find what they define as an "antique vehicle" in this case. In many states 25 years or older qualifies for antique/collector plates but does that apply to gasoline use? If it does all our IH's would certainly be qualified.
new oregon e10 mandate takes effect
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Missouri e10 mandate takes effect today; “transition already near complete”; joins minnesota and hawaii as only three e10-mandating states : biofuels digest - biofuels, biodiesel, ethanol, algae, jatropha, green gasoline, green diesel, an
California and florida, the last I heard, will join those states as of 1/1/10. Washington has a law that requires an average 2% ethanol content. Montana has an e10 mandate law on the books but it isn't triggered until 1 year after 40 million gallons of ethanol are produced per year in the state. Kansas, iowa, and louisiana also reportedly have ethanol mandates but I have been unable to find any definitive info on those states min e% or when they did/will take effect.
There is also the federal renewable fuels standard which mandates an ever increasing amount of ethanol be blended with the fuel supply. It doesn't specify how it is to be blended, if enough e85 was sold no other blends would be required to meet the rfs. Of course the epa non-attainment area winter oxygenated fuel rules would still apply until the standards are met. We did it in the seattle area and had that requirement lifted years ago.
However e10 is sold in many areas where it is not mandated by local laws simply because it increases oil company profits. "regular" e10 is produced with 84 "suboctane", "premium" e10 can be produced with 89 octane, increasing their gasoline yield per barrel and thus profit margin. Ethanol usually costs less than the gas it displaces it further increasing their profit margin. Since e10 results in lower mpg consumers will have to buy more, another increase in profit. Add in the federal fuel tax blender credit and the oil companies profit are increased even more. Also since ethanol is a strong solvent it negates the need for additional detergents to meet fuel detergent standards, another increase in profits to the oil company.
stop mandatory ethanol in oregon, the new reality of e10
To further confuse consumers the labeling laws vary by state. Indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, michigan, minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, north carolina, ohio, and the district of columbia do not require labeling of ethanol content. Minnesota mandates all e10 so the point is moot, Missouri mandates e10 when it is cheaper than gas, allows straight premium all the time, and doesn't prevent stations from selling straight premium from labeling it "contains no ethanol".
In the other states they do require labeling such as "contains up to 10% ethanol" which doesn't tell exactly how much ethanol is in the fuel. It could be as little as 1.5% or as high as 10%. Some retailers clearly post "e10" in states that don't mandate it while others have a "contains 10% ethanol" variation of the smaller sticker often very low on the pump where it is not necessarily noticed. In other cases the label May state "this pump dispenses oxygenated fuel".
So unless you live in one of the states that mandates e10, the pump is clearly labeled e10, contains 10%, or contains no ethanol what is coming out of the pump is questionable, particularly those states w/o labeling laws. The only way to know for sure what you are getting is to test a sample.
For small engines the other option still available is to head to walmart or a camping/outdoor store for some coleman white gas. Sure you could use it in your IH as well, but not very practical nor cheap.
so where do you store them? And do you keep them full of fuel and running all winter??
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