Re: FW: fuel consumption

[esw5@postoffice2.mail.cornell.edu (Ernest Wong)]

[from Zafer Mehmood]
>
>MTBE is added only during the winter months. In New Jersey, that's between
>Nov 1 and April 30. Winter doesn't last for 6 months here but thats what the
>EPA mandates in their infinite wisdom. EPA also claims that CO emissions
>are reduced due to the MTBE. But most people find that gas mileage drops
>15% to 20%, negating any benefits. So, 15 to 20% extra gas is burned to
>save about 10% in emissions. Plus you pay more for the MTBE gas. Make
>sense, doesn't it??
>
>Zafer

T'was reading last night this months's (september) Curb and Drivel. There's
an article in there lamblasting the EPA regs on MBTE and Gasohol. Seems
like the whole thing is a political sham. The oxygenated fuel is supposed
to put more O2 into the gas but our current Lambda? feedback O2 sensor loop
sort of negates all the wanted effect of the extra O2 in the combustion
process. Seems like the oxygenated gas helps only the pre-closed loop cars.
There was mentioned in the article something about closed loop engines
running richer cause the O2 sensor corrects (or overcorrects) for the extra
oxygen in the gas.

I fuzzy on the technical stuff. But it seems the whole oxygenated gas only
lowers Carbon Monoxide a little.

The only winner seems to be gas companies and Archer Daniels Midland-the
gasohol people. Don't want to offend ADM, don't know what they'll do to my
food.

I wish I had an S4 or a late 80's 5KCSTq with stage II and 16" forged light
alloys running the new batch of overkill performance rubber. (Audi ref.)

Ernest Wong
esw5@cornell.edu