The US. Congress enacted the “Energy Independence and Security Act” in 2007, mandating the increased use of “renewal fuels.” The premise behind this was to supposedly help reduce our dependence on foreign imported crude oil and provide for an oxygenate for cleaner burning and lowered exhaust emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues mandates to oil refiners in the country each spring listing how much of their total gasoline sales must be renewal fuels for that year.

Ethanol, primarily manufactured from corn fermentation in the Midwest states, is currently the largest contributor to renewal fuels. In 2009, all refiners in the country were required to sell 10.21 percent of their total gasoline sales as ethanol fuel. In 2010, the requirement was reduced to 8.25 percent. Many U.S. senators complained to the EPA that their constituents were complaining about the substantial increase in cost of all food products made from corn (bread, cereals, milk, meat, all dairy products, ice cream, etc). As a result, the EPA reduced the 2010 quota for ethanol fuels.

In addition to contributing to substantial cost increases in food products made from corn, the huge increase in farmlands and fertilizer required to grow corn for ethanol production has contributed to an ever increasing of the larger and larger “red algae” or “oxygen deficient hypoxia dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. LSU environmental scientists have been studying this red algae Gulf situation for years and warn its continued growth threatens Gulf fisheries.

While ethanol gasoline appears to be tolerated satisfactorily in automobiles and trucks, except for 6-8 percent lower fuel economy, marine engines and gas powered yard and garden tools are an entirely different matter. Auto vehicles have sealed fuel tanks as required by EPA regulations to reduce gasoline emissions to the atmosphere. Boat fuel tanks, however, are almost always vented to atmosphere. Water is seldom found in vehicle fuel tanks unless it is pumped in from the gas station’s fuel tank. Boat tanks, however, always contain a water layer because it is vented to the atmosphere. The difference between daytime and night time temperatures causes the accumulation of water in the fuel tank- At night time, when the air temperature drops, the fuel tank takes in air to balance the tank pressure. With the air comes moisture, and high relative humidity in South Louisiana means lots of moisture enters the fuel tank.

This moisture forms droplets on the fuel-tank walls, and eventually these droplets fall to the bottom of the tank and form a lower water layer (water has a higher density — it’s heavier than gasoline, so the water appears as a lower layer in the fuel tank).

Water in the boat fuel tank presents a serious problem with ethanol gasoline. Ethanol is 100 percent soluble in water. It is “hygroscopic” and acts like a “water magnet.” So the ethanol in the gasoline will migrate into the water layer of the fuel tank. This creates several problems.

First, by losing ethanol in the gasoline, the octane of the gasoline will drop. Ethanol has a 113 octane rating. So, if there is enough water in the fuel tank, it is possible that all of the ethanol could migrate into the water layer, thus leaving the gas with a reduced octane rating of 83 to 84 instead or the original 87. Outboard engine manufacturers warn this lower-octane gasoline could damage the engine.

A second problem with ethanol gasoline is related to potential corrosion to aluminum fuel tanks. Since the ethanol/water layer is conductive, unlike gasoline, it can result in galvanic corrosion and acidic corrosion and could damage aluminum fuel tanks, eventually causing them to leak. Also, the ethanol/water layer is a ideal medium for algae and sludge to form. This could create plugging problem in fuel lines and engine fuel systems.

A third problem is potentially the most serious: Ethanol is perhaps the best solvent known to man. It will dissolve the gum/varnish film from gasoline which has accumulated on the walls of fuel tanks, fuel lines, etc., over the years. It could also attack certain types of fuel-line hose materials. These products will be fed into the engine and cause carburetor plugging and in fuel-injected 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines plug the injectors. Very serious engine damage could result. Certain older types of fiberglass fuel tanks also could be dissolved by ethanol. Older marine engines and yard and garden tools could also experience failure due to damage to rubber o-rinfls, seals and gaskets.

The shelf life of ethanol gasoline is also lower than pure gas. Problems can be experienced if the ethanol fuel is much older than 60 days.

Two marine engine repair shops who have been in business for over 110 years have indicated that ethanol gasoline has been their “worst nightmare.” They both indicate the frequency of repairs to marine engines since the introduction of ethanol fuels has skyrocketed. Shops that repair gas powered yard and garden tools also indicate the same experience.

Louisiana is one of many states across the country that has a law which requires gas station owners to post a decal on fuel pumps that reads “Contains up to 10 percent Ethanol” on each dispenser that sells ethanol fuels. Failure to post the labels if the station sells ethanol gasoline can result in large fines for the station owners (up to $500/pump/day).

The problems with ethanol gasoline is also about to get much worse. In March, 2009, Growth Energy, a lobby group for a large number of ethanol manufacturing plants in the Midwest petitioned the EPA to increase the amount of ethanol in motor fuels from 10-15 percent. The EPA is expected to approve their request in August/September of this year. There is not one outboard marine engine sold in the country which can operate on 15 percent ethanol gasoline. Neither can any gas powered yard and garden tools. Marine engine manufacturers all warn owners “use of gasoline with an ethanol concentration greater than 10 percent will result in serious damage to the engine and void the warranty.” Boat owners will be searching for ethanol free gas stations when 15 percent ethanol is introduced.

There are many cities in Louisiana which do not have any ethanol free gas stations. Several “major oil refiners,” including Exxon. Shell and Chevron have chosen to sell 100 percent of their gasoline as ethanol fuel even though the EPA only requires them to sell 8.25 percent in 2010.

Many gas station owners are erroneously being told by their gas suppliers that they are required to sell ethanol gas. That is NOT correct. The ethanol plants are being subsidized by U.S. taxpayers to produce ethanol. If it were not for this huge subsidy, they could not make a profit as it costs approximately $6/gallon to manufacture ethanol. These subsidies result in refiners getting a tax credit, gas distributors get a tax credit and gas stations get a 4.5 cent/gallon or more tax credit for selling ethanol gasoline. Many independent gas stations have remained “ethanol free” due to the large cost to clean their fuel tanks and add water sensing electronics to convert to sell ethanol gas.

Alton “Pete Landry of is a retired chemist who worked over 32 years in the petroleum industry. He can be reached at way2gopete@yahoo.com.