Re: Hmmm ... Maybe there are advantages to US cars

[smarinel@Flint.Mines.Colorado.edu (Steve Marinello)]

>
>According to DIN 51607, Super Plus (93), Premium (90), and Regular (87)
>gasolines differ only in anti-knock properties, so one should not pay
>extra for something an engine does not need.  In fact, using gas with
>octane higher than required actually can increase pollution because
>higher-octane fuels contain more aromatics.
>
>Phil's right about problems with unleaded gas: without lead's excellent
>anti-knock properties, cyclic hydrocarbons (aromatics) or branched
>chains (isoparaffins) must be added, and these present their own
>problems.  Additives based on oxygenous components (methanol, ethanol,
>MTBE) also work, but can only be used in limited proportion because
>they raise the volatility level.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
>Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
>WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94
>

Just to add my two cents in here as we talk about fuel additives...whisch
also relates to the recent media coverage lesson....

MTBE (methyl ter-butyl ether) is one of the nastiest environmental
compounds we've had foisted on us by some of the blinders-on, short sighted
nimrods who believe themselves concerned about the environment and the
health of the public.  There has been very little info on health effects of
MTBE, but what is coming forward now ain't good...but we can even forget
that and just look at it from a remediation standpoint.  If the stuff is
spilled and gets into the soil or groundwater, it is virtually impossible
to remove.  It is infinitely soluble with water and moves down gradient
faster than the water itself.  Since it can't be removed and it doesn't
degrade quickly, it's a long term problem.  Such incredible forsight!

Just a thought on the wonderful environmental/political establishment in
the US that brought us the the New Clean Air Act and oxygenated
fuels/reformulated fuels based on a seriously flawed study performed in the
Denver metro area and put upon the whole country as opposed to the few
places where such fuels might help...and at such a small cost, too.

Hey, I'm not bitter.  I just wonder if any of the people who pushed MTBE
were aware of its' environmental persistence or the fact that the
incomplete combustion of MTBE gas creates formaldehyde fumes which has
caused people to pull over and puke because these fumes are heavier than
air and stay at ground (read: people) level as opposed to the targeted
byproducts which rise up to attack atmospheric ozone and create the dreaded
"HOLE".  My most dreaded holes are the ones in between "their" ears.

Hey...anyone know of any large stationary sources that might be
contributing to the degradation of air quality just a tad more than todays
cars?  

Sorry, you hit the right/write button this morning.

Steve