Ethanol (E85) in my truck, at $2 a gallon!

[danbob]

Just filled up on $2 a gallon ethanol today, made in the USA, instead of $3 a gallon gasoline. My 1999 Ford Ranger is a flex-fuel vehicle (one of the first US trucks to have that capability) and burns it just fine. About a 10% loss in mileage, still a bargain. I noticed no performance difference.

If your car or truck has a yellow gas cap, or is listed a flex fuel vehicle (mine has an emblem under the Ford label on the tailgate that shows a tree growing out of a highway) -- check your owner's manual. If you can burn E85 it's a bargain--if you can find it. Cleaner emissions, and no foreign oil involved (well, 15%). Folks in corn-producing states have a better chance of being able to locate some yellow pumps (that's the code, like green for diesel) and use E85.

Renewable energy IS homeland security. And buying it at a 30% discount helped convince me, too. I know, I know--I'm burning food in my truck while kids in India are starving. But ever tried to eat the field corn that they make E85 from? It's nasty, no thanks!
DANBOB

[namekagon]

From a cynic's point of view...global warming, home land security and even economy...it ain't going to matter.
Bio fuel isn't the answer to anything, but higher meat prices!
Nuclear, and let's really think long term, might make a dent.

BTW..this is my eco friendly, econ friendly, '98' Lariat on the lot before I bought her last summer.

[Flyrodde]

CONSERVATION will make a dent. As a world we need to learn how to make the most out of our energy and stop wasting 80% of it. Sun, Wind, Hydro, Green, Fossile, Nuclear all won't matter when we have stripped every inch of the earth of anything useful to us. We are not the only animals here.

If any animal on this earth goes extinct, it has a negative impact on another species. If human go extint, the world would earth would thrive.

[namekagon]

Conservation...fine...but we, or at least I know worldwide....it ain't going to happen!

[Flyrodde]

It isn't our lives, its our children and theirs. Just because you don't think everyone else will do it, do your part. And don't pull for answers for people that don't want to do their part. That is why their isn't enough progress. BECAUSE WE SETTLE.

[namekagon]

That's why I bought the Lariat!

[gonfishn]

Has anyone looked at how many gallons of water go into making a gallon of ethanol?
How much water and fertilizer are used to produce the corn it's made from?
How many acres of land are taken out of food production to produce it?
How much per gallon it's subsidized by the U.S. goverment?

You might be surprised at the answers!

[Photojoe4]

I'll be making the switch to Biodiesel here in the next couple months. Found a local Shell station that sells it for about $1.10/gal. Best part is I can always run off Diesel if I can't find any Bio stations.

Regards,
Joe Martin

[namekagon]

Well yuppie/Green mist...sounds like propaganda to me.

[DShock]

More 'Happy' News, Hybrid Cars aren't the answer because of the pollution caused by the mining and smeltering of the nickle that goes into the batteries. The battery packs seem to have a long life though.
Bicycles might be a idea!
Doug