re: "Green" fuel killing the Gulf

quote:

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I took 6 different toxicology classes in grad school and we talked about the phasing out of leaded and MTBE fuels in all of them. We also discussed it in enviro chem. This isn't new information.

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I am only addressing the anti-knocking claim not toxicology.

It is my impression that knocking occurs when the octane of the gas is not high enough relative to the compression of the engine to prevent pre-ignition. <-- what I call 'knocking.'

It is also my impression that ethanol effectively lowers the octane of fuel.

My impressions may be wrong, and I have never studied the matter, but I have been aware of all the public arguments put forth for ethanol. I just don't recall 'anti-knock' being one of those arguments. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed since it is - to me - illogical.