MachineryLink

A case over the use of E15 in passenger cars and light trucks may be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, if a petition filed by the Engine Products Group is accepted. The group, which includes the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of Global Automakers, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the National Marine Manufacturers Association, is contesting EPA's decision to approve the use of gasoline containing 15% ethanol in model year 2001 passenger cars and light trucks, and newer.

Since the EPA approved the fuel mid-year 2012, E15 fuel has come to be offered in about a dozen states. "Today's action demonstrates that the Obama Administration is making good on its commitment to work to reduce foreign oil imports and increase domestic energy production, including production of renewable biofuels," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, at the time of EPA announcement last summer.

The Engine Products Group attempted to challenge the EPA decision, but was shot down last August by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Its members argue the new fuel will damage vehicles and fuel station pumps. But the D.C. Court ruled the Engine Products Group had no standing to contest EPA's decision. That is the ruling the Engine Products Group is asking the Supreme Court to overturn. With a favorable outcome, the group intends to continue its E15 challenges in court.

"This appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court reflects the seriousness of this issue for the outdoor power equipment and small engine industry," said a statement from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. "We feel strongly that this challenge to the E-15 partial waiver needs to be considered on its merits, and not held back on a procedural issue. We will push on to protect our consumers from the engine failure and product harm that comes from mis-fueling with E-15."

This group of vehicles approved for E15 includes more than 60% of cars and trucks on the road today. They include flexible-fuel vehicles, model year (MY) 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs).

Vehicles and engines not approved for E15 include motorcycles, all vehicles with heavy-duty engines (school buses, transit buses, and delivery trucks), all off-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles, all engines in off-road equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws, and all MY2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles.

While E15 is the subject of high political and legal drama in Washington, consumers are left to figure out what it all means. The use of any ethanol in small engines remains controversial. Ethanol is now blended into more than 95% of the nation's gasoline supply, making it nearly impossible to avoid.

Briggs and Stratton Corporation is offering a new product that it says addresses the presence of ethanol in small engine applications.

"Ethanol-based fuels are particularly damaging [to small engines] because they attract moisture which eventually separates from the fuel, forming a layer of ethanol-enriched water at the bottom of the tank where it does its damage," says Eric Risse, fuel systems engineer at Briggs & Stratton Corporation.

To mitigate that damage, Briggs & Stratton has developed a concentrated fuel treatment and stabilizer that, it says, treats protects engines for up to three years. One, 16-ounce bottle of Briggs & Stratton's Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment and Stabilizer treats up to 80 gallons of gasoline

The product can be used in any gas engine, including 2-cycle engines, such as those on string trimmers and chain saws, which run on a gasoline and oil blend. The fuel treatment is especially useful, says Briggs and Stratton, in equipment that is used intermittently or infrequently, including lawn mowers, generators, pressure washers, chipper shredders, outboard motors and recreational vehicles.

The company warns that certain gasoline blends should never be used in lawn mower engines and other small gas engines. Fuel blends containing more than 10% ethanol, such as E15 or E85 gasoline, or gasoline containing other alcohol blends can damage small gas engines.

Briggs & Stratton Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment & Stabilizer combines a "triple antioxidant" formula with ingredients to prevent rust and corrosion, gum and varnish build-up on engine parts, and to stop the aggressive chemical reactions caused by dissolved metal ions in the fuel.

The Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment & Stabilizer is available in a 0.5 oz. pouch and 4-, 8- and 16-ounce plastic bottles. For more information on the Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment & Stabilizer and other Briggs & Stratton service products for outdoor power equipment, visit www.briggsandstratton.com.

Before I go, here are two more product announcements.

-- Valley Irrigation, Valley, NE is introducing QuickStart (QS) prescription writing to its Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) product. QS allows growers to customize their water application throughout their field. VRI Speed Control is already built into the Valley Select2 and Pro2 control panels, and now with the new QS prescription service, growers can immediately implement VRI into their operation.

The Valley VRI Agronomy Team develops the one-time, custom QS prescription based on soil maps, aerial imagery, yield data and other relevant information about the field provided by the grower. When this information is provided with new orders, the QS prescription is preloaded in new Valley Select2 and Pro2 control panels. QS prescriptions are also available to growers with existing center pivots wanting to utilize Variable Rate Irrigation through panel upgrades and by using TrackNET and BaseStation2 products.

Along with their field-specific, custom prescription, growers will also receive a copy of the Valley VRI Prescription Software. With this program, growers have the ability to modify and generate their own prescriptions as field conditions and crop requirements change.

For more information go to www.valleyirrigation.com.

-- Thunder Creek Equipment, Pella, Iowa, has launched the sale of its Air N Arc 150, welder, compressor, generator. The compact machine automatically regulates what the user needs with an electric start 14 HP Kohler engine.

The unit is designed installation in the utility box of a Thunder Creek Equipment fuel and service trailer or as a stand-alone unit. For more information go to: www.ThunderCreekEquipment.com. To see a video on the Air N Arc 150 go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h30g90y2gI&feature=youtu.be

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