Ethanol Blog

Ethanol Over-blending Issues Seen in Wake of Hurricane Sandy

Myke Feinman
By  Myke Feinman , Refined Fuels Reporter

A shortage of gasoline in the wake of last month's Superstorm Sandy may have resulted in blending too much ethanol into each gallon of gasoline to meet supply challenges in the New Jersey market, which in turn might have caused engine issues for motorists.

"It seems that, with racks unable to get regular gasoline, they were upblending ethanol in order to keep shipments moving," according to Katirina Tracy, COO for CIMA Green of Park Ridge, N.J., a biodiesel trading firm.

Tracy said there have been "dozens" of cases of "fouled" fuel injectors due to over-blending of ethanol at a local dealership, with concentrations found by mechanics as high as 25%. Ethanol blends are capped at a 10% concentration in gasoline for non-flex fuel vehicles, while the EPA has approved of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend for cars and light duty trucks for 2001 and newer models.

Myke Feinman can be reached at myke.feinman@telventdtn.com.

© Copyright 2012 DTN/The Progressive Farmer, A Telvent Brand. All rights reserved.

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Martin Tjossem
11/26/2012 | 3:49 PM CST
I say total BS. If the injectors are getting fouled, it's not because of the ethanol---maybe they added diesel fuel to the mix. I've been using 30%to 50% ethanol is a 1992 Toyota pickup for 12 years, 30% in a 1995 Ford Aspire for 10 years and a 2000 Buick LeSabre for about 3 years. No check engine lights and no problems so far.